Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-20

NAVY BEREAVEMENT, 18th, Feb. 1928.
Sir: have had The honor to receive your letter of
the 18th instant, transmitting copy ola resoluti-
on adopted by the Committee on Retrenchmont
The Navy Register for 1928, which was prepar-
ed at this Office, amt sent 10 the House OF Repre-
t1ntatives at the commencement of the year, md
a copy oil which is now enclosed, exhibits the mum
Der and compensation of all the officers yho are in
any way connected with, or under the control of,
this Department.
They consist Of Officers ofthe Navy, properly
so called, Clerks, Navy Agents, Naval Storckeep-
ers, Naval Constructors, and Messengers.
To the first class il is supposed that the pre-
sent call applies. Should this suggestion be in
correct, will cheeriuily give the opinion enter
tained Oh the questions in the resolutions as appli-
cable 10 them; which will, however, be only re-
petition of the views heretofore presented in oici-
al reports from this Department.
The Navy Agents, Naval Storekeepers, and
Naval Constructors, located at places where
such officers arc Indispensable; and are engaged,
diligently, in the performance OF duties which
must from the necessity of the service be dis
charged IL is believed that an inspection of the
Register will show that they cannot be dispensed
with.
The only other persons under the control of this
Department are the Clerksand Messengers
! enclose copy of letter addressed on the Dist
SANITARY, 1926, to the Hon. Louis McLsne, then
Chairman OF the Committee of Ways and Means
Which presented my opinion of the duties, &C. of
the clerks AT that time. l have seen no cause TO
", IL
confirmed by every days experience since and 1
hesitate not to declare il my conviction, that
public money would be saved, and the public n-
terest and accommodation promoted if two or three
clerks were added TO the number already in the
| Department delay of iew days in answering
call of Congress, in expeditin a ship to sea, or
In giving direction order necessary TO the pro-
per performance OF some prescribed duty, will Of
ten occasion much greater1oss OF money than the
amount OF their salaries. The business of the De-
n.ll n. hiram
ing. The applications for appointments alone
nave augmented 10 such an extent that more than
one half OF the Office hours of the Secretary espe-
cIaiIy during the sessions of Congress, is Consumed
by visits from applicants and their friends One
clerk Is almost constantly employed in attending
10 the correspondence this subject; nor is il
ceiVed how this can be avoided, although in nine
cases out OF ten, neither the calls nor the cores
pondence can lead to any valuable end. a refusal
10 receive the visits answer the letters is uni
tormiy followed by complaint and censure.
l believe ii has not happened for several wears
past that the Department has been able to perform
ITS duties after the greatest possible exerions and
some delays, without calling in The aid nf extra
clerks, who, being ignorant OF the proper manner
OF doing the labor assigned TO them, often cause
delay and inconvenience. Most oil the dutias per
formed by the clerks require not merely the abil-
ity to write good hand, and copy what is placed
before then but Information, Intelligence, sagaci
ty, and experience.
have the honorto enclose copy Of a letter from
the Commissioners OF the Navy, as part of this
answer, and have only to add, that 1 know OF no
officer In this Department whose services may, in
my opinion, be dispensed with, without detrinent
to the public interest"
The Navy Register also affords statement OF
the salaries or compensation received by each OIL
hcer. Their amount Is iiXed by law, in all cases
except those OF the carpenters, who are omitted i'm
the laws fixing the pay OF the Naval Storekeepers
and Naval Constructors, which is determined un-
der the direction OF the President according TO the
labor and responsibility Of the places where ,hcy
are employed; and petty officers, which is liked by
Tie President, in virtue oi the first section OF the
law passed on the 18Th April, 1914. inmy opin-
ioD,' the salaries OF mons of hem can be r.duc-
ed, consistently with justice aud propriely" /
nave heretofore expressed my opinion" that
" justice and proprieiy" require that the compen
saIon OF some OF The officers the Navy sho4i De
augmented
am in doubt whether the last INJURY. as to
" the expenses incident 10 the Department" was
intended to extend 10 the general operations of die
naval service, or to be confined TO the expenses OF
this Office If to the former, have, resp cuully,
10 refer to reports heretofore made and winch nave
repeatedly urged certain chang ia the naval SER
wee, as conducive TO yicirncy aud economy ;espe-
caily TO one TO thc House OF Representatives, da-
ted E4th January, l62i, aud two 10 The Senate, Of
LIST January, 1873, anu I2sh january, 1923
believe that the plans proposed III those report are
Calculated lessen the expcn.es oil the service.
ii Tie inquiry be directed solely to thi, Office.
my answer IS, tat the expenses OF 81 consist of the
salaries before mentioned, aud OF the contingent
expenses WHICH are annually provided for ny sn
appropriation Of two or three thousand dollars
This appropriation is designed to supply station
cry, blank and other books, binding, printing
maps, charts, newspaper fuel, furniture, rr palts
&c. &c, and has not heretofore been iounl 100
great, nor can IL q" be reduced without impairiug
the efficiency Of thu Operdto ;" Of tie ohice.-
The accounts Of lhe expenditure o. each year are
regularly settled, pudor vouchers, at the Treasury
Department, and may be referred to ia the ohce
Of the Register OF the Treasury.
have the honor to be, very respectfully. &c
SAM'L. l.. SOUrHARD.
Hon. JAMES HAMILToN, Jr.
Chairman Cf the Committee on RefrenchHlcnt,
Of the H. OfR
To be COufinUcd1