The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-07

ence to . letter from the Chairman Of the Com
mlttee Of Ways and Means, on the subjec
Of the amount Of the estimates for fofifcation,
this year, as compared with the grants Of las
year, | have to state, as TO the works enumeratel
in table sent to this Office with the above men
toned letter Of Mr.. Jones, that the appropria
tons granted last year were far beio,o the sums
asked for by this Office"
Notwithstanding official statements Of this
kind, that the estimates were "lhe iopest com.
patble with any sensible progress" we discover
from another letter Of Col. Totten TO the Secre-
tary of War, Of subsequent date Of nearly two
months, that disposition was still manifest 70
cut them dopn.
"ENGINEEa DEPARTMENT, March 7, 1910.
| +" Sir In answer TO the inquiry made by the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, whether n reduction Of
fioenty Twenty-Five per cent on the estimates sub
United TO Congress for Notifications cannot be made
without material injury to the public service and in
terests have the honor in obedience TO your direc-
tons, to report
- That great proportion Of the items, in the
Inmates for Notifications, for repairs that now
in progress, or that designed TO be Immediately
| taken up.
"The last annual report from this Office refers to the
Importance of placing Oiouf delay all the existing
Notifications that BIO retained parts the sys-
TEN Of defence, in proper condition for service; and
as the works requiring repair are numerous, those only
were selected for repairs which deemed most
portanf, and only such repairs comprised in the
| estimates deemed indispensable.
90 All the new Qualifications now in progress are
designed for the security Of the great points the
coastpoints which would be certain to attract the
| enterprises of enemy, should war find them with
incomplete defences Even with large appropriations,
time elapse before most Of them be put
in acondition to afford the full security demanded by
the great value Of the objects. In the mean time, it IL
proposed that the labors from year to year. shall when
is possible be directed bring portions Of
the works progressively into state Of efficiency.
80. The new works proposed to be begun are
among those Of the first necessity; and the amounts
asked for beginning were put in the estimates az
loo as was thought could be DONE with expectation
Of any material progress.
"Finally, this Department will devote itself 10 the
udlcious application Of the MEANS hateper they may
be, that Congress may grant, and will take especial
efficiency of the Qualifications to the utmost Butas,
at the Same time, bound TO say, that considering hon
much yet remains to be DONE before the important
places on the board will be in defensbie condi
on the suggested reduction cannot be made, without
material injury to the public service and interests.
"This is however on the suppostion that the coun-
uysis liable within few years, and perhaps suddenly,
to be engaged in war If it be otherwse--f il can
certainly be orescen that long years Of peace await US
then the progress of the works may be more delbe-
rate But this department has right to rest its esti
mates on any such view Of the future"
| The suppressed feeling and the argument Of
this letter will be seen and appreciated by all,
when the circumstances and occasion thereof
are considered 1t is indeed humating, that
it should have been required from such a quarter
to such quarter. 1t is manly, dignifed, patri-
otto, and though perfectly respectful falls with a
heavy rebuke on the quarter to which the advice
| is directed
| Precisely in coincidence with this policy Of the
late Administration is the effort made by its
friends in the Goth QasI Congress, to cut off
entirely the usual annual appropriation of $780,
900 for the increase Of the Navy, which had
been uniformly made from 1916 till 1910, when
it was stopped An attempt was made in Feb
ruary last, by the sincere advocates Of national
defence, to add this usual sum to the Navy APP
preparation Bill The question was vehemendy
debated in Committee Of the Whole, and lost
| by vote of CT against 81. II was afterwards
carried in the House by vote of "a against so,
thus evincing the disposition of the then domi-
nant party, now the Opposition, on all occasions
to act against this great interest of the country,
not excepting even the moment when hostilities,
with formidable power, were imminent.
In addition to this, the appropriations for the
repairs Of the Navy, or keeping it good have
for years been so inadequate that our public YES
sells have been left to rot at the navy yards.
We shall resume the subject at "a future oppor-
tunity.