The daily union., 1852-12-10

hundred be authorized be made 10 the establishment
and that correspondent addition be made TO the yearly
estimates OF naval pay IL equally necessary that pro-
vision be made for increase OF wages either month
ly pay in the shape OF bounty, to be given after
isment The amount OF this Increase should be regu-
lated By reference the wages given in the
chant service which so much higher than the
naval pay TO increase the difficulty 10 which have
heretofore alluded in the procurement OF the best
reference TO The report O the Bureau OF Medicine will
inform Congress OF the condition OF the medical service
OF The navy and the pressing necessity that exists Tor
increase OF officers in that department. Great relief
would be afforded by an authority TO appoint a number
not exceeding twenty assistant surgeons and to make
correspondent promotion OF equal number or OF so
many as by proper eHgh OF service may be qualified
for II, into The upper grades.
beg leave also to call the attention OF Congress TO the
report OF The commanding officer OF the marine corps,
which Will show how inadequate is the present limitation
Of tina, corps to The ordinary demands OF the service:
The opinion OF General Henderson upon this point, Of
itself entitled 10 great weight, is Je-enloced by that OF
many oil the most experienced officers OF the navy will
be IN the correspondence accompanying The report
TO which invite careful attention. In conformity with
these opinions, respectfully recommend 10 Congress the
passage OF law 10 authorize the enlargement OF the
corps by the addition OF eighty sergeanis eighty coporals,
thirty drummers and hefs, and thousand prlvates
and that The four captains, four FIRST and four second
condtonaly allowed TO the service by the
provso TO the naval appropriation bill OF March D. lS49,
be retained permanently in the corps
The same necessity which has led to this representa-
ton OF the embarrassmenls OF the service in those
branches 10 which have just alluded compels TO ask
division OF the naval organization is found 10 stand
need Of aid than the present allowance affords.
The corps scarcely furnishes that proper rotation in
vice which the peculiar duties OF the purser demand IL
is necessary after every cruise TO allow this officer su
hcien time shore 10 settle his accounts period
which will not always place him at the disposal OF the
department Tor early return 10 sea, II II were even
proper TO compel these officers 10 repetition OF duty
without seme time for such rereshment on shore as
every officer requires,
II Congress should think proper, in consideration Of
members, i would earnestly recommend the establish
Aent OF grade OF assistant pursers to which only The
new appointments should be made that these assistants
should undergo an examination as 10 tner physical and
mental abilities previous to their appointments that the
age OF admission should be regulated by the Navy De-
pament and that applicant should be nominated for
the corps without satisfactory conformity TO the prelm
mary condition. Promotion and pay should be regulated
by law and no promotion should be made but upon full
evidence OF the capabty of the individual to comply
with all the demands OF service this evidence TO be OBJ
taned by such OF examination the department
may prescribe. With such conditions, would recon-
mend that Congress should at present authorize the ap
pontment OF twenty assistant purser2 to be attached
the corps.
As subject OF great interest to the efficiency of the
navy, beg leave 10 the recommendations hereto
fore made by this department for the gradual reduction
OF The number Of officers who are incapable of useful
vice, by the adoption OF some suitable plan for retiring all
oil TINS character from the sphere OF ordinary duty
well organized naval system requires that The officers
charged with Its administration should lar possible,
be maintained in condition for whatever employment
may be demanded OF them, and should always exhibit
the utmost alacrty their obedience to orders There
no better test OF the spirit OF the corps
meRdahe sign OF good officer than his readiness 10
cept every call OF his profession. This high character
can only be maintained in the navy by exempting from
command all who obslruct the path of duty Those whose
disability has been the result of long and faithful toll in
the national service should be provided with honor
able retreat, in which old age and nhrpity may ind
pose. They who without service 10 plead for their in
capacity, only stand in the way OF more willing and
capable men should be consgned TO a retirement on
smaller pay, by the operation OF law which should rem
der their retirement ompulsory.
may be worth the consideration o Congress TO make
permanent provision for these two classes OF officers
This might be aivanageously accomplished perhaps, by
law which should confer upon the first class rate cf
retired pay, graduated from half pay up TO that allow ed
TO leave OF absence, according TO the amount oil
vice they may have performed, and adding 10 this an
honorary promotion OF one degree IN rank, and which
should dispose of the second class by retiring them on
halt of eaye-of absence pay.
The details necessary TO such system may be easily
regulated whenever Congress shall nd occasion to take
he subject into their deliberations.
repeat also my in the views presented by
my predecessor IN his report of November $780, the
proprety OF Recognising by law The Office OF commo-
ioFe and the creation of least two officers OF the rank
oi rear admiral" can add nothing to the satisfactory
Arguments with which that recommendation is enforced,
md therefore content myself with reference TO the
report and earnest invocation 10 Congress give it
favorable consideration,
MISCELLANEOUS.
The reports from the chiefs OF the several bureaus of
his department wall make Congress acquainted with the
ieais OF the naval service in each branch OF ts admns
ration respectfully ask their attention TO the many
valuable suggestions these reports contain for the better
government OF the navy. Amongst these, select for
more special notice the recomme ndaons of the Bureau
u Provisions and Cohing touching the mode OF making
in respect 10 which II is proposed that
discretion should be lodged in the bureau to authorize its
election OF contract when offered by bidder who has
IN any previous occasion failed to comply with his
yagemett
particularly commend 10 the notice OF Congress tie
representations Of the Bureau OF Yards and Docks in ref
rence 10 the several nayyyards under its Tie
'ard al New York requires early consideration. large
oron OF the land belonging to IL has not yet been paced
inder the exclusive jurisdiction Of the United States and
consequently subjected assessments for i'm
movements by the city OF Brooklyn, and exposed TO The
'ery incOnyenenl demands of that city IN the opening o
reels leading 10 the channel of the Waaboul, which, IL
,pened would seriously affect the security OF the yard
md greatly ncommode lis operations So important s IL
0 the government that this difficulty should be removed
hat think II would even be advisable to transfer the
works OF this yard TO some other convenient location,
the jurisdiction the land be fully conceded 10
he United States Efforts have been made, and are still
making. obtain this cession from the legislature, and
trust will now be successful II they should not there
reason 10 believe better site may be obtained for
he yard free from The present nconvenlences and that
he expense OF The establishment might be betrayed
" the sale OF the old.
The hoating dfydock in California; contracted for in
,bedencs 10 the several OF Congress heretofore pass
d, has been completed and delivered at San Francisco
70 appropriation was made for the basin and railway,
Without which The dock cannot be safely usefully EN-
Dyed submit 10 the decision OF Congress whether
hose structures should not be made without delay
The naval asylum al Philadelphia is well conducted, |
md is found valuable refuge 10 the nhrm and disabled
eamen who have been admitted into II. concursn the
opinion expressed by the head OF the Bureau OF Yards
DocEs pQstiinn NOT cd ital