Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-17

table NOT so much to the head Of the Department. as TO
The steady and Jealous efforts Of those officers OF The
Navy who have had charge of the Navy yards. Liile
is now required, excep, TO establish rigid system OF
accountability in every branch OF expenditure MUCH
has already been done 10 attain this Object
The law for the re organization Of this Department
has heel carried out, tar as has been found Practl
cable The advantage of this change, IN the increased
facilities transaclng The
# responsibilities manifest and great. regret to
say however, that the system is yet very imperfect
It is with extreme reluctance that bring this subject
nca!n to your notice; and should not do so, 1t were
moi convinced that is the wish of Congress TO make
The work of reform, which they have thus
as perfect as possible The BILL as passed the Senate,
would il is believed, have proved complete and efec-
tive IN its provisions could be reasonably expected
of any new mcosurc running much into details; ou.
the changes which made in Il by the House OF
Representatives, have produced difficulties and emoar
rass.ens in practice which were not oreseen al the
time. The uniting of two bureanx, whose duties are
wholly distinct and require wholly different order oil
Qualifications to discharge them, has been found ex-
Itremely inconyenient and embarrassing The bureau
lpf construction and repairs, for example, IS chargeo
with duties of the bureau of equipment IT requires
shin carpenter to build or repair vessel OF war; u
squires naval officer to equip her. In like manner,
lie providing Of ordnance and ordnance stores has mo
natural connexinn with hydrographical surveys; ana
these two subjects ntrusted to the same BUREAU
| Il would probably be impossible 10 find any ONE man.
properly qualified to perform all the duties OF building,
rtpairinr, and equippng vessel OF war; and alhough
il would not perhaps be so difficult to find compe
,ento the duties of the two bureaux Of ordnance and
hy dopraphy yet it would probably happen, in most
instances that he, who best qualified for the one,
would be least qualified for the other. Besides, great
conhsion will necessarily exist, in keeping, by the
same set of clerks the accounts of matters so wholly
distict The clerical force allowed to these two bu-
rea,x is much loo small Indeed, this is true, though
not o the extent of the other bureaux The Sc
we're abors imposed and the small salaries allowed are
positive discouragemens to Jealous and energetic dis
cbaEe Of duty
Ir proyidnc a chief Of the bureau of construction,
enunment, and repair, the alternative was between
Naul Captain qualified 10 equip and naval construc'
tor qualified to build and repair did not hesitate TO
pretr the former, and the place is filled by member
OF te late Board of Navy Commissioners But, in
nnna the two bureaux, i, was, presume not per
ceivd that the salary originally contemplated Tor the
bnriu of construction and repairs, resrained-
Thu happens, that of the Captains, at the head
of aburean, receive five hundred dollars per annum
esspay, than his pay Captain in command, and less
by ne sum- than is received by each of the Cap
tain holding correspondent stations in the Department
Thu was doubtless, not Intended and will be corrected
Iilso respectfully suggest, that there is no good rea
sonfor giving the chief Of the bureau of medicine
esssaary than is received by others in corresponding
POSITIONS He ought to be, and it is presumed always
WILDE, man Of high order OF professional attain
mes, and general education holding social position
eqal, in all respects TO that Of any other man. lbs
exenses of course, will be great, and his sacrifices
ceranly will not be less OF the importance and utility
of his bureau already have the most satisfactory
pro, in the improved organization of the medical de-
partaent of the service and in the saving of expense
greatly beyond my expectations. An expenditure,
twiceas large as the bureau calls for, will be more
than vice saved annually BY its services. Its claims,
thareSre to the increase of salary which recommend,
are ofthe strongest character, in every respect
Thee defects in the law nbvious. Whenever
they sail be corrected, it is confidently believed that
Sysleu of administration may be established in this
Department, prompt, exact, and efficient as Gun be
found any other Department Of the Government =
The act of the last session, establish and regulate
the Nav ration and $40 regulate the pay Of pursers
and ohe officers of the Navy" promises the most be-
nefcnl ,fus the economy Of the service; and will
proLablyremove many Of the difficulties which would
otherwyhave existed in accomplishing ali the objects
proposedn The reorganization of The Department.
(To be continual.