The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-05
LETTER
From the Secretary Of the Navy,

LETTER
From the Secretary Of the Navy,
IN answer 10 resolution Of the House Of Representa-.
tires 3fhs 5th Of March last.
NAVY DErARrMESr, April %, 1886.
Sra; have the honor TO reply to the resolution Of
the House of Representatives of March 5th, direct
ing the Secretary Of the Navy TO report "what pro-
visions of law necessary to effect the retreneh-
ment recommended In his annual report and with
out which his estimate for pay Of the navy may
prove dehcient and also what provisions Of law are
requisite TO insure the more exact accountability OF
dlsbursing officers in that branch of the public ser
vice"
As the cost of the United States navy is dlspro-
portonate 10 It's effective force, reform in It's
agepent 10 the most appropriate method OF provi-
ding Tor Its increase, and is required IN any con-
tngency.
The acts of Congress relating to the navy dis
close The intentions that have guided legislation on
that subject. The evils that have fastened them
selves on the system were not originally sanctioned
by statutes; and though they have been silently, or
IN some cases explicitly recognised, they may have
been rather tolerated than approved
u Is assumed that Congress is deliberately Of
opinien that the naval force to be kept in commits
sion in time Of peace is such as would employ about
seven thousand Ave hundred seamen, rather less
than more, and about a thousand marines. The ex-
penses Of such an establishment have hitherto been
estimated AT more than six millions Of dollars. A
series Of reforms has been begun, which, if vigor-
ousy maintained by necessary acts Of Legislation,
will have effected saving Of nearly a million ofdol-
lars, without diminishing the number Of officers, or
Of men, or Of ships, or ofguns employed at sea.
10 effect this, unity Of purpose must peryade
the entire administration of the Navy Department
The service must be relieved from the burden Of
supernumerary officers; appointments and promo
tons must be made Of none but officers capable Of
fNl I hnHna lhaA sVNaa al. II
be graduated according to length Of service the num-
Der OF shore stations, as they called, must be
still further curtailed; the complement and allow
ances Of ships al sea must be regulated by the
est economy consistent with efficiency; the number
OF the navy-yards must be no further increased the
employment of labor at the navy-yards must be d.
rected by harmonious system, that preparations
may not be made for doing at each Of our eight
nayy-yards what can be done only at one or two;
the pressure for places to he filled by persons who
wait for work, instead Of employing workmen when
work Is to be doDe must be resisted the contingent
expenses, especially those Of travel and incidental
labor, must be reduced; and the number and force
Of the squadrons to be maintained must never ex-
coed the limits required by the public exigencies.
The chiefs Of the bureaus have powers Of drec-
ton. Their act is esteemed the act of the secre-
tary. They have power TO originate, authorize,
and sanction expenditures. On their activity vigil
lance, scrupulous supervision Of expenditures, and
department must depend. If the business OF the
department is to be conducted on a system, the
number Of the bureaus sheuld be as small as posi-
BILE.
The purchase and inspection Of medical and hos
ptal stores for the squadrons fully provided
for by the act of May "a, 1928, and the provisions
Of that act may SO easily be extended to the sur
geons at hospitals and single ships and the surgeon
or surgeons stationed at Washington are so easily
accessible TO the head Of the department for Dur.
poses of consolation, thst the bureau Of medicine
may be dispensed with. Its disbursements are
about forty thousand dollars, and should be less
Its estimates for Its own yearly support are at least
seven thousand four hundred and seventy dollars.
But leaving aside the question of the reduction OF
bureaus, experience teaches that their present num-
Der need not be increased. The increase would &C.
cason expenses for bureau officers, clerks and mes.
sengers. Besides, new bureau, with not sufficient
occupation, would seek to enlarge its jurisdiction
and find new objects for expense. Each bureau
not absolutely necessary, makes the whole system
more complicated, and renders extravagance in the
remote parts of the service less easy of prompt de.
lection and Of remedy.
If change in the distribution of duties is needed
photography might 60 TO the Bureau of Docks and
Yards, 80 that all shore stations may be under one
head; and Equipment to the Bureau of Ordnance
which forms, indeed, but branch of equipment.
| There are two distinct modes of reducing the an
nual expenses for pay in the navy service of tn.
United States-the one by diminishing the compen
saton of officers where it is disproportioned to the
service rendered; the other by diminishing the mum
Der of officers, at least of officers liable to active
service
1t is to the second of these modes that reference
was had in the annual report Of this department
and combining myself at this time to this one branch
of the subject, shall proceed to point out som.
measures of relrenchment that may be accomplished
without diminishing the emoluments of one Officer
actively employed.
A disproportion exists between the number O
officers Of the higher grades and the number of sea
men. At the opening of the present session of Con
gress there were sxty-eght captains, ninety sever
commanders, and three hundred end twenty-si,
or three hundred and twenty-seven lieutenants. o
the captains but fourteen were at sea; Of the com
manders but Twenty-Five; of the lcutenants but on
hundred and twenty-six. OF the captains sixteel
had not been at sea since their promotion; of the
commanders thrty-eight were in the same condition
and in each of the two highest grades the number
still larger ofthose who within that time have mad
no full cruise. .. ... ,.. .....
The navy languishes from the profasion of off
GERS. $500.
"The practice heretofore in our SERVICE" say
Commodore Stewart, "of filling up the differen
grades with more officers than are requisite for duty
and the creating civil shore-stauoDs for their EN-
poyment, has ever seemed TO me mpolitic, and at
tended with injury to the officers themselves.
~" II is only an active and a devoted caree
on his own element that can constitute the acc ON
plished seaman and skilful commander. This is tn
only path for the requirement of distinction, homo,
and success, when the country calls. upon him t
meet the foe on the ocean. | would therefore re
commend reorganization of the navy-yards, an
the suppression shore stations as much as possible
i" In the views which have at ditferen
times set forth on naval subjects, it has been mai
point with me not only to restrict officers as muc
as possible from civil service, but also to keep thei
! numbers within the wants Of our navy in peace
And in these views have been actuated by cnnsid
erations Of permanent advantage to the officer
themselves and to the service in general; for it is
all times good policy to keep in mind that, in on
country, naval establishment can be readily d,
sroyed by the hand of profusion as by that of per
my. BY prescribing limit TO it by law, the exec
utive department would be relieved from the pre-,
sure of applicants, the corps would be rendere
more select, and the promotions less irregular an
more satisfactory in regard to competency aud Ia
emit" ... ... q.
In ascertaining the proper limits to appointment
of each grade, the statute book furnishes the be-
exposition of the purposes of Congress. Previou
to 1913 the number had been limited by law,
l842, to check system Of numerous promotions
Congress forbade an increase beyond the number