Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1841-06-17
Gbe Free Dress.
THR PunIIc AnMoRIra-

We take fren he late Report q The Secretary
Of Wf, shs following sxlFncs, eoalaining the
whole Of Mr.. Bella remarks in relation 70 he
Public Armofiss:
tits Necessary that the attention Of Con.
grsss should be called 10 the policy re-
Gently adopted in The mAnsgemenl Of The
public armoffes. The duty OF inere asing,
by every practicable means, The efficiency
OF thsss important establishments, not
less than q doe regard TO economy, influ-
eneed The Department 10 giving its sane
ton TO the plan Of dispensing With the
civil sePerintendency suthorized by law.
After full consideration. il vas believed
that this could be safely aud advania-
geoesly done. Accordingly the aFmories
are nov Ia charge Of skilfDl and expert
eneed officers Of the Ordnsncs Depart.
ment. One defect in The policy Of TAX
ing superihtendents from civil life. a.
shows By past experience. is the wart Of
the proper qualifications iE the persons
usually selected. Some degree Of science,
a. well ~ q practical knowledge ia the
construction aud use Of arms, are indis.
pensable requisites in the supefintendenls.
The desired and proper qualifications are
person IN civil life, whose services can be
commanded by the Government. Another
and more serious objection to the sys,em
ofsuPervision heretofore prsesised 10 found
10 the defective and inadequate control
which the Department has been able 20
exereisO over the supeTintendenls. Il
has been found impossible, in some in
ssanees, 10 enforce the most saluiasy regu.
lalions. The neeessaiy degree Of defer
ence 10 the orders and wishes Of the su.
perioT authority, Il IL manileat, has not
been fell. This probably IL the inevitable
result Of the nature OF the interests and
influences, ia no manner connected with
the objects. Of these establishments, which
too often control the conduct OF the SUI
perintendenis. For these reasons, il is
deemed Of great impoTtsnee that the ar
mories should be separated, a. far ss pos
sIbse, from ell eonnexIon Gith the party
politics Of the day. The force Of the o6-
Elections suggested 10 q civil supeTinten.
denee cannot be better illuslTated than
BY the statements contained in the accom-
Panying memcYondum Of the Ordnance
Department, which appea-s 70 be taken
chiefly from the correspondence between
that Department and the superintendent
Of the Armory at Haspars Ferry.
But the sxpedieney Of continuing the
SuPeriniendeney Of these ofieeFs must
finally be decided BY Congress. Some
hesitation was felt in dropping, tempo.
rarily. the civil Supeintendeney Sui as
neither ofthe late superintendent, though
Of much personal worth, was regarded ss
possessing. in due degree, those paEiieu.
lar qualifications which are important Ia
the management Of such establishments,
their removal vas though, 81 occasion
10 introduces q new system. Tins has
not yet been allowed 10 test anfieienlIy
lie advantages % defeeis. IL Il shall be
the pleasure Of Congress to allow the ex-
isting vacancies under the Law, ls il now
stands, 90 continue Tor 4 short period, the
public interests will be subseTved, what.
ever may be the result Of the experiment.
Il the policy Eeeommended by the Ord.
mace Department, and 30 far sanctioned
By this Department. shslI succeed. Il win
b wek for the public service. n il shall
fail, there will 20 longer be any pFeiexl
iog fasase changes; and The Department
wiH look 10 The selection Of the most com
Peisnl superintendent from The walks Of
civil lie. snd 10 the means Of improving
the efficiency Of these Embellishments Nv
such nav regulations, under our difec-
iiou, - may BE suggested BY experiences.