New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-18
Stanford Says Department
Diverted Submarine
Money to Piers.
RR!TTEN WARNS
OF FAVORITlSM
Friends of Charleston Yard VIII
Again BE Busy, Says
Illinois Member.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE diversion
OF money appropriated by Congress Tor
building torpedo boat berths at the
Charleston Navy Yard TO the construe-
tion Of piers for battleships was again
,he chief topic Of the hearing o. inc
House Naval Committee to-day. Roar
Admiral Stanford, Of the Bureau OF
Yards and Docks. put the responsibility
sousrely up TO Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels.
The Bureau OF Yards and Docks
he declared. never takes liberties with
tho phrascology OF appropriation bills
This question was referred 20 tho de
pRTtment'
REPRESENTATIVE Briyten drew from
Admiral Stanford that The change mac
really been made .n ms absence anu
that he had nesitatcd 30 sign tne olue
prints when he returned and FOUND
what had been done.
After the hearing. Mr. Brtten. VINO
has been charging that political M
Huence. desiring to make Onarlestoh
ward for Dig ships, despite nc unlhNot-
able location. had brought about ms
change. declared he believed IL 20 ne
the purpose Of the Yards advocates 20
fgh, for an additional Appropriation
this year.
Predicts More Tampering.
when that bill comes back from me
senate" ne said. you Will find that
little appropriation has been slipped IN
10 provide for increasing The battleSnip
piors nj the Charleston yard. 1t Nlll
he found that the pier - too snort ior
bcrthine a real battleship. so money
enough TO make D. adequate Will De
asked. The political juggling is TINS:
Last year an appropriation was got
ION tbrouph 70 build berths a Cparles-
ton for torpedo boats. Without any
authority from Congress hail OF TINS
was used Tor building part Of per
Tor q battleship, 20 that instead OF
berthing forty torpedo boats accom-
modations for only about twenty were
provided. Now. this year an advocate
Of the ward in the Senate viii call at
tention 10 this short battieshlp pier,
which should be heightened he VIII
say. or no use will be gotten out OF II.
But ON going 10 fight II out on the
floor # they attempt 10 get anytn'hG
like that over
Representative Roberts. % Massachu-
sets. attacked the yard during the
hearing. bringing out from Admral
Stanford that the only ships OF the iirst
line that could get into the yard at an
al mean high water were the Mlch i
gan and South Carolina. drawing 24.e
feet. while At mean low water the oid
Baltimore. drawing l5.6 feer - Nr
largest vessel that can get ln.
4 posinre no was the answer or "A
riirsl Stanford to n question from Keep
resentative Oliver, Of Alabama. as TO
whether there had been other instances
of diversions Of funds for some Pur-
pose other than that intended by Con-
"Isn't this an attempt TO make TINS
first class vsrd?" inquired Representa-
.ive Rutler. after obtaining the state
mon. from Admiral Stanford that Tor
stratoric and practical reasons Charles.
ton wa not fitted for big ship naval
Officers Are Ambitious"
.I have NO doubt" said Admira! stan
ford. "that the officers Of every Fa,u
are naturally ambitious 20 increase l'e
;r,nort3uco of THEN own station.
To-day marked the beginning o. 'hf
,,ird week Of the testimony OF AdmlIal
stanford. Invariably. in past years me
oyan,ination Of the head Of the bureau
If Yards and Docks takes about one
dav. 30 that the contrast Is strlhlhs il
moving how the naval committee -