The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-10
For Floating Dry Docks Ba.ins and Railways 6500o
Completing Stone Dock at New York -. 400 OOt
Improvements, &c, at Navy Yards. 8463lt

For Floating Dry Docks Ba.ins and Railways 100000
Completing Stone Dock at New York. $40. 100000
Improvements, &c, at Navy Yards. s46,3lo
s2,seo,9lo
which sums being deducted will leave for one years.
expense of the naval service, including nvalds' and
widows pensions and the mari corps So 997 o46 So.
have the honor herewith to transmit a statement
from the 4th Auditors Office showing the exact
amount of appropriations and expen dtures made for
the entire public service under the control of the
IS44 to the LIST July ls4s by which it will appear that
the aggregate amount of the expenditures for the
fiscal years ending on the 30th June 1915 and 1916
amounted to Sl4967 036 co. and the amount
expended in the two years. ending on the 3oth Of June
1876 was $21, sos 661 49,
The first two were in time of peace the last two
brace with trng exception the entire period of the
with Mexico In the last two 1t is worthy of re-
mark that for the construction of war steamers au-
thoIzed Congress- but int nded expected TO be
employed in the war, and for other special objects,
very considerable expenditures were made under ap
propriations for the purpose 20 that the ordinary
increased by the war with Mexico.
On the lst July last it appears that there remained
in the Treasury unexpended balance OF the year.
appropriations of the naval service of So 2e5 $50 81
OF this sum ST, 195 $50 81 carried to the sur
plus fund, and as authorized by law the balance re-
mains subject to expenditure II required during the
current fiscal year.
1t gives pleasure to bear testimony the result
Of my eyperie nee to the efficient organic alton Of
the Navy Department Personally, | acknowledge
grateful obligations to the distinguished who
and have been in charge OF the several Bureaux Tho
division of its duties to the civilian who may
be at the head of the Department the aid and council
of experienced officers whose professional information,
at all times freely but unobtrusvey give nent-
y useful to him in the conduct of the vast and diver
sifed business under his direction Besides the ships
on the stocks, in ordinary and undergoing repairs,
and in commission, and excluding navy yards and
other public lands required for purposes Of the navy
with their costly Improvement the reports herewith
submitted show that the public properly on hand for
The subdivision of dates and superintendence
amongst the several Bureaux, has led to the introduce
ton oudcious for the Of stores
and materials and the enforc of strict
biity and thus guarded against an immense waste of
Under this wise distribution of duty and labor eco
nomy and efficiency have been promoted great i'm
introduced in the purchase and inspection
Of Timber hemp, canvass and other materials for
struction, repairs and equipments series of we'll
Quoted experiments in gunnery have been made, and
ordnance stores and munitions of Of the most i'm
proved descriptions are procured.
judicious system has been established and main
tanned for the buildings at Navy Yards
and for the uniform regulation of the quantity and
prices of mechanca and other labor in public employ
ment, and the Navy is supplied with medicines, pro-
visions and clothing Of the best quality and on
nomical terms, under regulations dyested with care
and skill.
There is, however one great defect in the' present
organization of the Navy Department. The duty Of
ordering and detailing of officers for SERVICE of the
general superintendent of enlstments, of deciding
primarily on applications for service, relief or dis
charges occupies too large portion OF the Secrearys
time and cannot be satisfactorily performed by him
as by an officer Of rank bearing the relation to the
Department and to the Navy, which the Adjutant
General does to the War Department to the Army
The establishment of Bureau for this most important
duty would involve trifing expense. There would
not be required for the purpose additional clerical
labor; the Register and Clerks engaged Cd the
same duty would be sufficient. It cannot be doubted
that the effects Of such Improvement in the organi
zation Of the Department would be highly beneficial
revised book Of regulations for the navy is very
much In the OF the navy ss
the service Those in force contained in
raj publications made at different times AID in general
orders to the Department 1t is often difficult for off,
GERS to know what they are revision and republica
ton in book, would prove Of great advantage to
the service; and small appropriation would probably
/ renew my recomms. dston that the appointment
OF small number Of assistant pursers may be author
lied by law.
A Joint Board of Officers of the Army and Navy has
been organized with orders to proceed to the West
fornia and Oregon, with view to the coect ton the
necessary information to determine proper points
fSr i0rticston and navy yard when It shall be the
A navy yard on the California coast, with suitable
me for the repair of vessels would in my judgment,
be Of the highest public im portance.
submit herewith the annual estimates for the sup.
port Of the marine corps.
In obedience to he direction of the act of Congress-
March I'd, 1S47, at the term nation of the Mexican
the II arine corps reduced both in and
officers to n number not exceeding the number in
effected by discharges they arrived in the
United States. The duty Of reducing the number Of
officers more difficult 1t necessary to drop
from the rolls four captains, four first leutspan
and four second lieutenapts.
It was determined to organize Board Of Officers Of
rank hyperion to that of captains, and they in
ttruced to designate the officers who could be best
spared from the service They made their report aud
the officers design were dismissed without alleged
fault Copies Of the Instructions and report here
with submitted. The efficiency Of our ships Of
would be promoted ii the marine guard allowed by the
regulation could be enlarged AID the increase Of the
rank and file of the corps from 1000 to 1900 would in
nv NJ ta hane fcia Tha NH Of
andsmen might be re duced to the fame amount
Such increase Of the commissioned officers and
privstes would justify additional number Of COM
missioned officers equal to the number dismissed.
By the joint resolution Of Congress- approved the 10th
August 1895 the efhcers, Don-commssioned officers,
prvates and musicians OF the marine corps who have
served in the army in the with Mexico, plac-
ed in all respects as to bounty land and other remu-
with the ofcers non.commissionsd pcep.. privstss
and musicians in the army
On consultation with the Attorney General felt
clude the marine guards attached under orders to the
ships Of war in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico 1t did
not appear to me that they could be regarded
ing with the army, within the meaning Of the resou
ton did the battaons of marines who marched into
Mexico and formed part Of the army. It is known
that the marine guards Of both were ofe
land, operating in the most gallant with
the land forces and encounterng ell the dangers and
privatonsof the service with the army The discri-
minaton has been painfully felt by them, and may
not have given to the terms the resolution the
larged construction which it's trainers intended How
ever that deemed ~ the SAFER TO wait
and submit the subject again to Congress. | am en-
tirey satisfied that while both classes Of the marine
ofic' - and men did their duty there nothing In
the D rvice Of the battalion serving with the army
who'll. entitled them to any higher privileges than
theil brethren who to the ships also served
ashore. The number OF these was not great; and
respectfully recommend that they be put footing,
to bounty land with those who have already receiv
ed what was given by law to the officers and men OF
the army have the honor to be,
Very respectfully
Your obd't servt,
JOHN Y. MASON.
To the PRESIDENT.
JOHN mitchell AT BRRMUpA.-There appeared