The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-08

ence to letter from the Chairman Of the Com
matee Of Ways and Means, on the subject
Of the amount Of the estimates for Notifications
this year, as compared with the grants of last
year, have to state, as to the works enumerated
in table sent to this Office with the above men
toned letter of Mr.. Jones, that the appropria-
tons granted last year were far beloi0 the sums
asked for by this Office"
Notwithstanding official statements of this
kind, that the estimates were "lhe Ioi1est COM
patble with any sensible progress" we discover
from another letter of Col. Totem to the Secre-
tary Of War, Of subsequent date of nearly two
months, that disposition was still manifest to
cut them dol0n.
"ENdNEER DEPARTMENT, March Z, 1910.
Sin: In answer to the inquiry made by the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, whether a reduction of
t,oenty or Twenty-Five per cent the estimates sub
mted to Congress for Notifications cannot be made
without material injury to the public service and in
terests have the honor in obedience TO your drec-
tons, to report
81. That great proportion of the items, in the es-
Inmates for Notifications for repairs that now
in progress, or that are designed to be Immediately
taken up.
"The last annual report from this office refers to the
Importance of placing aoiout delay all the existing
Notifications that to be retained as parts ofthe sys
TEN of defence, in proper condition for service; and,
the works requiring repair numerous those only
were selected for repairs which were deemed most i'm
portanh and only such repairs comprised in the
estimates as were deemed indispensable. VI
80. All the new Notifications now in progress are
designed for the security of the great points the
coast-points which would be certain to attract the
enterprises Of an enemy, should war find them with
incomplete defences Even with large appropriations,
some time must 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, il is
proposed that the labors from year to year, shall when
ever possible be directed to bring portions Of
the works progressively into state Of efficiency.
"3. The new works proposed to be begun are
among those Of the first necessity; and the amounts
asked for be, inning put in the estimates
ow as was thought could be DONE with expectation
Of any material progress. N
Finally, this Department will devote itself TO the
judIcious application of the MEANS uhateUer they may
be- that Congress may grant; and will take especial
that the means applied as to advance the
efficiency Of the Notifications to the utmost. But
at The time, bound to say, that considering hoaO
much yet remains to be DONE before the more important
places on the ea-board will be in defensible condi
ton the suggested reduction cannot be made without
material injury to the public service and interests.
"This is however, onthe supposition that the coun-
tryts liable within few years. perhaps suddenly,
to be engaged in war. If it be otherwise-if il can
certainly be foreseen that long years Of await us
then the progress Of the works may be more debe-
rate But this department has right to rest its es
mates on any such view Of the future"
The suppressed feeling and the argument of
this letter viii be seen and appreciated by all,
when the circumstances and occasion thereof
it should have been required from such quarter
to such quarter. 1t is manly, digni6ed, patri-
otto, and though perfectly respectful falls with
heavy rebuke on the quarter to which the advice
is directed. sas,.sra4g.ar @f lalH
Precisely in coincidence with this policy Of the
late Administration is the effort made by its
fri, nds in the 26th Qas) Congress, to cut off
entirely the usual annual appropriation of $780,
900 for the increase of the Navy, which had
been uniformly made from 1910 TIL Io4u, Wnen
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 Ap-
preparation Bill. Thequestion was vehementfy
debated in Committee of the Whole, and lost
by vote of 81 against 81. 1t was afterwards
carried in the House by vote of 81 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. r -..a