New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-10

the navy, is 1895 600! 1t is fact worthy OF no
ticc that under the old pay in 1924, there were
! 23 CAPTAINS, 4 of whom were waiting orders;
| of 80 commanders only were :. waiting orders
Under the new pay, in lS43, there are TO cap
tains. of WHOM, 3e are waiting orders" 81 coHi-
manaers, of whom 81 are waiting orders and on
| leave"
The item of pay, in 1871, amounted to s2,335,
GOO, and we are asked to appropriate for the next
twelve months, 1888, 139. Togive employment
to as many officers as possible, tits proposed to ex-
tend greatly our naval force; increasing the num-
Der of our vessels in commission largely, ana upon
every station, Notwithstanding our commerce is re-
duced and we are at peace with all the world, and
have actually purchased our peace from the only
nation from which we apptehend difficulty.
II was stated somewhere, in some of the reports,
that the appropriation necessary defray the ex-
penses of Csurt-Martials in the Navy would be,
this year, $4,000. This was very large amount
when consrasted with the service. The disorderly
conduct of the Navy was netorlous-no one could
defead it. The country was losing confidence in
it daily, aad becoming more unwilling TO bear the
| burdens of taxation to foster or sustain 1t. few
years since its expenditures did not exceed tour
millions and half; they are now up TO near eight
millions OF dollars. Its expense is greater now
than during the late war with Engla Notwth-
at the last session. against the increase of the Ma
w, and necessity of its reduction, the Secretary
passes all unheeded, and moves in his bold ca
| leer of folly and extravaganza, without abiding
for moment any will but his own. Nothing
more can be hoped for, SO long as the Navy has
such host of hackers, urging its increase and ex-
travag gance from motives of personal interest too
often. The axe should be laid at once 10 the root
of the evil: cut down the pay and it will not then
be sought after 80 much as convenient resort for
iders, who seek the Offices for the pay, expecting
and intending that but litte service shall be rem
dered in return, because but very little Is needed
The salaries are far beyond any compensate paid
| to any other officer of Government either State or
| Federal, for corresponding services. "A lleuteN-
ant receives higher pay than very large majority
of The Judges OF the highest judicatories known to
| the States a commander far surpasses them, and
equals the salaries of majority OF the Governors
| of the States. Remove the temptation which high
pay and no labor present, and you will obviate the
evil. Put down the salaries to where they were be-
fore the act of 1885, and you will have greater
effort after its Offices than you had before So long
as the salaries are higher than similar talents can
command in civil life, so long will applicants flock
to the Navy for admission, and the constant ten.
dency will be to increase its expenses. The policy
| of eur Government is to keep very small Army
and Navy during time Of peace, to ensure light
taxes, and to induce the prepondevance OF the civil
ovor the military authorities In time OF peace
| we shall meet with no difficulty in sustaining an
| efficient Navy, as we always have done. In time
of war patriotism will call forth our people to the
| service Those who would not heed this call are
not wanted for those who fight for pay will, un-
| der all circumstances, fight for those who will pay
the best. The Navy cannot complain of this pro-
/ e y1yac Incrpac ced
of the increasing value of labor and property
| throughout the whole country. No other pay was
| increased, and why should not this be reduced Z
Net the whole amount actually increased, but only
| small portion Of the increase? 1t is due to the
country, and no enc should object. We a!e now
supporting the Government on borrowed money
| The revenues will not be sufficient to support it
hereafter and reduction has to take place sooner
or later, and upon some or all OF the Depart
ments. Upon which ought it to fall mere properly
than that which has been defended against the
| prejudces resulting from the high prices which
have recently fallen upon every department OF la
Dor and property?
By the adoption of the amendment proposed,
| there will be a permanent annual saving OF about
$400, 600 in the single item of pay. And, from
the embarrassed condition of the Treasury so
large sum of money might, with the greatest
the late British treaty concluded at this place,
annual increase is to be made TO the Navy ex-
penditure of some $6O0,000, as it is stated, TO
keep useless squadron the coast of Africa.
The estimates for pay for the present year greatly
exceed those of the last year. We appropriated
for the last years service, &C., 335, ,OOO The
sum asked for the same service this year is
So ,953, ,l39 Besides, there is the of $3.50, 600
asked for clothing-a new appropriation never
asked for before. The clothing for sesmen being
paid for by themselves, so much of the item OF
pay as was necessary had hitherto been expended
in clothing for them, which was received by them
in lieu of money. Now separate fund IS asked
which is to be used as pay, and will increase that
item much, making sum total OF S3,333, l39,
over and above that appropriated for the like Pur-
pose last session.
1t seems not to be necessary absolutely to make
this increased appropriations The Secretary OF
the Navy says that has plan of keeping the ships
sailing over the ocean (where possibly no vessel
can or will see them, and where the people with
whom we trade can never learn any thing of our
greatness on account of the absence of our ships
from their ports, being kept constantly sailing
from station To station) will "require larger
sq,adrons than we have heretofore employed
He then states that his estimates are prepared for
squadrons upon this large and expensive plan,
This, he says, I" it is my duty TO do, submitting
to Congress to determine whether, under the cir
cumstances, so large a force can properly be put
in commission or not. IF the condition of the
Treasury will warrant it, (of which they the
Judges have No hesitation in recommending the
largest force estimated for" 1t is we'll known
that the condition of the Treasury will not war
rant this force. We must fall back upon the force
Of last year, the mltimatum that can be sus-