The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-08-15

aafv." ANXIOUS TO bo I" clearly uHderstood,"
he observes {" fhatfn me year 1900, IN .rvhfch
ovr erhensea amounted 10 3,449, 900 dolls. qve
Ind three ~ gun Jrigates, 6 .frgafes from ~
70 SO, fueo Of 30, Of large size Jour Of 80,
smaller fran 80 10 20; sioohs Of sv1r
ami 4 6rigs, from 10 10 10, and 5 briys and
5rhooxeys, fror1 "a 10 t2 guns, employing a
totaf Of 1890 seamen," which nu,nber he i'm
mediately after augments to 8,ooo. lie goes
on 20 observe" The adriniarafion (Nir.
AIams's) 100, il should be reeoHected, NOT only
6uit eyery /rigaie, every yessel IF respectable
force, 4vl;ch the United States now hare, 6uf
r9ny Others, which heve been since sofd, and
the proceeds Of which haze gene into The
TrtasUry."
From these observations it would be infer
red that IN the year 1900, we employed 5000
scailicn at AL expense Of S,4ss,ooo dollars
and ihut no vessel Of respectable force was
built u1tler the administration Of Mr.. Jeffcr-
son. How stands the facts Why thus: 10
the year 1900 We employed, including marines
7,446 men in our navy, (see printed report,
n. 93) OF this number 1923 svere marines, see
same reporO which number deducted from
the whole number above stated, viz. 7,446
leaves 6,353, or l,647 Tess than the number
stated by the Konourable Member and un-
der the administration of MIR. Jefferson the
following yesscls OF war were buit---vIz.---
The ship Washington carrying g guns.
The brig Hornet, carrying ] guns.
The brig Argus, carrying 8 guns.
The brig Siren, carrying 10 guns.
The Vcsuvius u guns.
Ihe Eips J 3 guns.
The Oncida, 10, and 100 gun boats.
Mr. Randolph m i attempt 10 shelter him.
sell, from the effects Of these mistatements
by observing that he did not know the differ
cnce between seanen and marines that no
thought them one and the same thing, and
that as the vessels OF war and gun.boas built
uhder the last administration he does not con-
slider than of reshscto6ke force )" but as
Statesman and Legislator, il was his duty to
inorm himself as 10 the obvious distinction
between seanaen and marines, and he knew
th,t whether he considered the vessels OF war
anJ gun-boats built under the last administra-
ton as" Of resheefa6ie force" or not, they
cost not much short of fpuo millions Of dollars
and therefore ought fairly to be taken into the
comparative estimate which he 30 reluctantly
undertook to make. .tr
Upon the incorrect statements thus made
Mr.. Randolph proceeds to remark, that IN the
year 1900, each seam an costs about 472 dolls.
annually and then contrasting the, expenses
of that year with the year 1909, he. observes
that in the year 1909, there were 2,723 sea-
men employed, " Which coat the nation
2,427,ooo--for each man employed within
trife of 900 dollars and thence infers that,
grossly extravasant as the administration Of
Mr.. Adams was, If tried by tho criterion Of
thc succeeding one, it was a fanern Qf re-
sreschp,ent aud economy" ! cannot find out
whence Mr.. Randolph derived his knowledge
of the facts assumed by him as to their being
2,723 seamen employed in the year 1909,
which cost 2,427 900 dolls but, ON referring
10 the estimate of the Secretary Of the Navy,
dared 10th February, 1909, (thc estimate up
on which the appropriation law was passed)
t;nd that the number Of navy officers and sea-
men estimoied FOR that year was 7,45l ereiu-
Sivrky o. mariaes. shall here, hope be
permitted to indulge in "a" Htth comharative
folincdt a'ia,oisy,' and will fairly contrast
the estimate of the years 1900 and 1909.
In the estimate for the year 1900, (scc
painted report n. s3) it was stated that there
was required
For pay aud subsistence Of
officers and pay Of seanen, l,28o,6ss,4o
The number Of officers
and men then required and
estin ued tor, was 6,3s3.
Ia the estluia,e for the
year 1902, (sec report 10th
Feb. iscs) it was stated
that there wac required
For pay and subsistence Of
officers and pay OF scamen, l,323,o77
The number Of officers
and men then required and
estimated for, was 7,45i.
6 In this I can discover no inconsistency
which cannot INN. lately rcconciled. AT
first view it does indeed appear that the sum
stated as REQUIRED for the support of 7.45l