Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-17

ted States before the expiration Of the period Of enlist
ing" re- ,e ~.
He then to the important question of the Navy
Yards-states that they are located at the "folowng
places: Portsmouth. New Hampshire, BROOKLYN, New
York. Pensacola Boston, Philadelphia washin yon and
Norfolk. There Is scarcely any part OF the expendi
ur- Tor the establishment OF Navy which has contribu-
ted 50 much to exhaust the general fund intended for
ITS support, az that which has been applied to objects
CONNECTED with the building aud lsning Of Navy
Yards. IL appears FROM the report made to Cong
by the Secretary OF the Navy for 1923, that the prra
nent expenses under the head, including Naval Ordi
nary. Hospital. aud Civil. amount. annually. to Soss
IA The great expense incurred in The support Of
these numerous establishments, makes IL proper to in
quire. whether IL may not be materially diminished by
reduction Of their number, without eecting, injuri
susly, other important interests OF the Navy The o.
pinion entertained by those most conversant with such
subjects, he. that the number in operation
IL greater than the public service demands; that the
reduction Of them would effect important dminution
OF expenditure; aud that by concentrating the
and materials for building, repairing, Sc. at two or
three points most favorable for such purposes il would
t"nd greatly TO promote the general objects Of these
tiblishincnts
He proceeds 10 show that the Commissioner of the
Navy Board had been specially instructed on their
late witt OF inspe c,ion into the condition of the Ma
w Yards, 10 examine them with view this
reduction OF their number and TO ascertain far
practicable, whether there may no, he selected. The
numerous bays and habors of the United States. other
those which have heretofore been employed for those
obects.-The result Of this enquiry has been (as APP
pears from the able Report Of the Navy B,ard) pre-
serve only two great yards; one in the Chesapeake
(GosporDto which the Navy Yard at Washington is to
be subsidiary, AMI the other in the Narrag
NewporD TO which the Yard at Charleston, NJ ass. is
to lie auxiliary.
He insists upon the necessity Of preserving the Live
Oak the Southern of the United States from
page and d.predaton--and recoun,nen ds as a sub
-'iluie for The agents. now distributed over diff
ent districts on the coass ca marine force, adapted
the navigation OF the bays and inets which it is pro.
duced"
He relates the experiments which he had confided
TO Commodore Elliott upon cofton canvass and ccrdage
and mentions his intention TO institute series of ex
pernents en- the manufactures Of American waterrot-
ted hemp
lie speaks in earnest frank and manly spirit If the
mschievous effects Of the extra compen alton ao,,d
TO certain officers OF the Navy. Pursuing in this res
pect the example OF his Colleague OF the War Depart
ment he alluded of those abuses which are 90
esnphaicaly developed in the accompanying Report of
the 9TH AuditorHe admits that the conpe "a ion nov
made the oihcers Of the higher grades in the NAVY
is probably FAR below what their distinguished talents
and services entis them receive; and compared with
the amount given TO officers of the same, or CORE
dent rank in the Army Is remarkable for its inequality
and INSULT 'iency"but insists upon the necessity OF
regulating them by law-He dweils particularly upon
the abuses that pracsed under the present system
OF Pursers OF the Navy.
"The mode of compromising them il not s,ch a, IN
lead discharge of their duties; nor such a.
likely to advance the public interests The profits of
these officers arise, principally from per cenagc which
they authorised 10 charge the articles they sell
to the OF ships part OF these is furnished from
the stores OF the Government, anhe remainder by an
advance made to them, to be sold their risk and for
their advantage The temptation 10 increase their
profits by improper demands upon class of p rsons lit
tie qualified to detect imposition, may sometimes be
difficult TO be resisted, and ought TO be presented TO
them. When their dealings are conduc ed upon prn-
cpies OF the utmost Harness. The income of pursers in
ships Of the largest class, two or three time,
the compensation of the COMMANDMENT extent of re.
Enumeration which their services cannot merit and
which is the odios wheni is known 10 he drawn
from the pockets men, who, of all others in the EN-.
poy oil Government, earn their scanty wages with the
NEST unremttcd toll, and ncessant personal danger
ln lieu OF their present emoumens, il is proposed
that they receive an annual salary varied according TO
the responsibility imposed them by having larger
or smaller amount OF stock entrusted to their care and
the degree OF labor required for IFS disposition and pre-
servaon. Under a system of regulations which would
enable the TO obtain his little supplies of naui
cal comforts, at rates hxed known and moderate and
without dread of imposition, the Naval service would
acquire popularity with them has enrye and
the present difficulty OF recruiting would be d
minsied 10 extent important time and expendi.
ture."
These suggestions appear to be excellent points
out the advantages which might result from the estab
ishnen OF Schools for the instruction of Junior Officers
of the Navy-and states the condition of the Schools
which hare been employed at NewYork and Norfolk,
Tor the Instruction OF nidshpmen in the elementary
branches OF the mathematics.
He alludcs to the vessel which chartered under he
Actot last Congress and sailed for Liberia with those Ar
cans who were stranded the Fora and speaks
OF drafts which were drawn by the Agent at Liberia
or the purchase OF munitions of enable the Co.
onsts TO defend themselves against the attacks of the
neighbouring tribes, with which they were threatened
These claims were rejected the ground that no law
was known TO exist which authorized their PAYMENT or
Whlch JuSuncd any expenditure beyond a Temporary
support to the restored cap,ves.''
lie brings to the view of Congress the mechanically
Finances OF his Department-and thus introduces the
Impressive Report OF the Foarth Auditors: " The pre-
sent condition of the fiscal concerns of the NAVY DEPART
pa makes IT proper that the subject be brought TO the
notice OF Congress- since, il is believed that their inter-
position alone can lead to equitable and final adjust
ment In the month OF March last, when il was dis
covered that those arrangements in the finances existed
reference was made TO the Board of Navy Commission
srs, for such explanations they mgh be enabled to
give. Their communication in reply accompanies this
report, marked e. From desire to present such mi
mute and detailed information this subject as NAV be
necessary for its proper Illustration the Fourth Auditor
OF the Treasury was requested by letter. Copy of which
is annexed marked Fl to report the present condi-
ton OF the accounts of his Office showing the probable
origin OF these embarrassmcnts, and TO suggest such
measures as he might think necessary to correct the
evil His answer is anne yed, marked l."
lie touches upon the Navy Yard at Washinrton--the
Marine Cocps--the Navy Pension and Hospital Funds
Tho Naval Board, and iustly questions whether the
present organization Of this body such secure the
necessary attention TO the diversified subjects placed un
der its direction, and whether udicious division of
its duties would not facilitate the proper execution of the
objects proposed by the institution of this branch oths
Department"
Corps OF the United States, which he considers more
numerous than is required for the of the service
ana more than can be aavantagcOusy employed, with
reference to their own advancement in the knowledge