Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-06-21

service wero thus ordered TO bo applied 10 such
unfinished works as could he made available, IN
whole or in part in reasonable time, It IS proper
to state in this connection, that directions were nj
the same time given to supply, without delay,
the works already completed with their appropri
ate armament.
The promp,itude and berality with which tho
Governor OF New York aud the Commissioners of
public lands in that state responded to the recent
application of the Department TO I've put in posses
sion Of the works constructed on Staten Island,
under tho supervision aud Mt tho expense OF ihn'
State, for the defence of tho New YORK hninor'
deserve the thanks of the country, AMI should be
further acknowledged 10y the inn. 'diate appro-
pria,ion of the sum demanded as n compensation
| for the ground upon which they nre siinaicd--
Tho works IRE regarded as OF great importance TO
he object for which they are designed, and they
are now in course of repair and Improvement,
uuder the direction OF competent officer OF the
corps of engineers The correspondence be
twrcn this department aud the Governor Of New
York, aud the report Of tho Clioi Engineer will
show tho terms upon which tho tile oi this
pr perry will 10 vested IN The United States
| Ii will he seen from the accompanying report
from the Ordnance Department, that sonle adui-
iiOual appropriations for that service are believed
to lie important to the public interest The n
mount called for is S220,C00 The importance OF
The operations Of this Department, and It's hume
dinte conncxIon with the national defence, III pro-
wiling guns, gun carriages niItl oihcf nnnnuilS,
VIII AT once he perceived.
| II is necessary that the attention Of Congress
should be called TO the policy recently adopted in
the management Of the public nrncsits. The du-
~ Of increasing, Ivy cry practicable means. the
efficiency of these imporlnHt establishments, not
less than due regard to economy, influenced the
| Department IN giving its sanction 10 The plan Of
dispensing with the civil SUPPLEMENTARY MT
thorizrd by law. After full consideration, il was
believed that this could he safely and al, nnnge-
oiSIy done. Accordingly The nrmorirs IRE NOW
in charge of skiul and experienced officers Of the
| Ordnance Department. One defect in The policy
of taking superintendent from civil lie, MS shown
10y Inst experience, is the want 81 proper quail
ii aiions in the persons usually selected. some
degree Of science, as well rs practical knowledge
III The construction and use OF arms, nre ndlsen-
sable requisites in the supcrntcndents. The de-
sired and proper qualifications are rarely to I've
found united in the same person in civil Hfe
whose services can be commanded by the Govern
mcnt. Another md moro serious objection to the
system OF supervision heretofore prnc scd is found
III The detective and inadequate control winch the
Del ur,uIrnt has ben able to exercise over the
Suicrnienlrnls IL has been found impossible,
III sooie instances 10 enforce the most Snluiary
regulations. The necessary degree of Difference
10 the orders and wishes of the s,,yeriur authority,
ii is manifest, has nol been felt This probably liz
the inevitable result Of the nature of the Interests
and influences, in no uinnner connected with the
objects of these establishments, which too often
control the conduct OF the supcriniendenls. For
these reasons, it is deemed Of erent Importance
that the armories should he separated as lar as
possible, from all ronnGXion " ilh the party politics
T. "i the day. The force of The objections suggested
10 II clyiI supcrintcnduucr cannot lie better illus
i iraIed than by The statements contained IN the
:, accompanying memorandum OF the Ordnance
Is Department., which appears to he lakrn chief,
from the correspondence between that Depart
e ncnt and the superintendent of the arnory II
e. ilarper's ferry.
e But The cxpclitncy Of continuing The supern
II tendency OF these officers must finally be decide,
% by Congress Soue hesitation felt, in drop
Ne ping, temporarily, the evil SUPPLEMENTARY; In
al Us neither OF the late superintcndcnls though o
" much personal wcril, was regarded us possessing
y IN duo degree, those particular qualification
,r which are important III the management Of s,rl
W, establishments i,cir removal was thought fit OF
,sl caSion to introduce a new system. Time has M
~ ye, been allowed to its advantages or defects
y lift shall he the pleasure Of Congress to allow III
Of existing vacancies under the law it now stands
of to continue for short PERIOD tie public interest
a. will he sui served, whatever may he the result
al the experiment. IL tho policy recommended II
the Ordnance Department, and so far sanciune
or 10y This Department., shall succeed, it will he VIC
he for the public service II il shall TAIL there wi
nj 10 longer be any retext for future changes;
an the Department will look TO the selection Of Ill
ne most competent superintcndenls from civil lii'
val aud TO the means OF Improving the efficiency
lac these establishments by such new regulation
Is under your direction, as mny hc suggested 10y L,
s. pcricnce.
ar Additional appropriations, to the amount
", S625,G:}7 Sc. are +, required by the Pay and Gun
id lermasler's Departments for the service OF IN
ng present year. The amount asked Ivy The Qua
ne ;ermnsler General appears 10 he Indispensable
nd 1t is about the which Congress ut The last
c. sion failed TO appropriate, though included in II
ny estimates, and understood TO he in part for AREA
e, ages for the year 1910; an large portion of Il
re present demand may not TIC improperly set dow
mi to tho same account. a portion Of the sum r
Use uuircd hy the Pay Department is for arrearascs
he the year 1910, as will appear from the report
ire the Paynasier General
~ The agents and superintentcnls heretofore Ell
mi ployed in The construction OF the various improv
of cnis the lakes, the seacoa,t, and in the int
~. rior, have been discharged except such us la
en- been retained NJ a small compensation, TO qua
The some Of the most important works remaining
or, I'M unfinished state, anl the public property co
Nj nected with them. In few instances, II has bet
gh found expedient to employ IN ngent TO take Ca
ny of the property Of the Government collected !
But the construction Of these works, until COngre
in shall determine upon the question OF connu
The or abandoning them, where there was no fund o
of Of which, they could he paid. Sumo of these
'd gents have been paid frou the proceeds OF q
ure sale of portion of the public property OF
h- ers caa BE paid only by further sales under
and appropriation by Congress. IL has MISC been
sent ceriained That the expenditures upon several
these works have exceeded the appropriate
re- made foe their construction. These arrearns
ned generally due TO contractors and laborers IN
the way responsible for their error; and provsi
the should therefore be made for the pay ment oil the
g Of The amount necessary to discharge teID. MS I"
OF as TO pay the expenses of the agents employed
ON nboye stated ap,'enrs from tho report OF the Oh
y in of the Corps Of Typographical Engineers to
Sve S30,997 IL.
war. The subject Of the cxpediency of complei
ere the Cumberland road, and improving certain h
'be, bors OH the navigation of certain grea, riv,
sys- which muy be regarded necessary and pro-
the in making adequate provision foe the public
to fence, propose 10 postpone the further notice
of mill the stated ouu the cf