The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-21
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY

w HEDN ESDAI mORN1NG. DEC. 81, 1893
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY.
The report of Secretary Do'bin has great
cruises Of various squadrons with which the re-
pert opens, have however no more attraction
than usually attaches 10 tie d. tail of naval ope-
ra,ions during time OF peace. The same may
be said Of lha, part of the repor, which, concerns
The yards and docks. On these various points
the Sscfetary's observations shew careful OBJ
servation and highly honorable zeal in the trans
action Of the laborious duties of his department.
The increase of the navy and its reorganiza-
ton however are subjects of more interest, and
on these subjects, the report is well worthy a
close perusal. The importance Of this arm Of
our service and The demands Of our CONNIE rciaI
interests for its perfection, are well set FORTH -
The recommendations of the Secretary based on
the considerations already given, we subjoin.
81 recommend, therefore, that the department
be authorized to have constructed at least six
first class steam frigate propellers., The opinion
is entertained that that number may be built in
our several yards in addition to the work now
going on, and the repairs usually needed on the
return of vessels from long cruises. 1t is esti-
mated that they will cost between four and five
millions Of dollars, and can be built in about
twenty months. With the exception Of some
deficiency in the supply Of white oak and yellow
pine, which can be without much difficulty pro-
cured, we have on hand at the various yards
ample material to accomplish what is recon-
mended. Il will be perceived, on referring to
the estimates of the Bureau of Construction,
&c, that an estimate is made of the entire cost
-of the cost without purchasing any material,
aud of the probable amount which would be ex-
pended during the fiscal year without regard to
great despatch. This was done in order that the
subject might be understood properly, and that
such action might be taken as appeared wisest
As it is deemed des rable TO make this addition
10 our naval forces as early as practicable, in
consideration y. .Ie nuuibrr OF vessels which
will soon be unfit for service and rot worth re-
pairing, and as ii is important to retain on hand
for emergency reasonable supply Of building
material, venture to suggest the policy of max
ing the appropriation at an early day, 10 enable
the department to build them with despatch, and
purchase supply Of material, SO as not TO di-
minish the amount on hand.
There are two frigates-the. Santee, at kit
terry, and the Sabine, at New York-which have
been on the stocks since 1919 They can be
altered and made TO conform to modern improve
ments, ard be most useful substitutes for two
frigates of the same class withdrawn as worth.
less. recommend that they be thus recon-
structed and launched. Estimates of the cost
will be furnished, should the suggestion be adopt
ed. The old ship Of the line, the Franklin, is
being repaired at kttery, and her model much
rhn
first class steam frigats.
Should these recommendations be adopted
our naval force will be materially strengthened
by the addition Of two first class sailing friwa,es
and OF seven first class steam frigates, capable
OF mounting SO guns each-th.rc being no
steamer at present of more than ten guns. NV
opinion is, that it would be sound policy 10 DIS
pose of such vessels as are deemed unsi, for
service as vessels of war
The remarks enforcing The necessity Of ie-
organisation are of enough importance, as it
seems 10 US, to warrant their insertion. The
Secretary says:
''fhe great evil in our present system is, that
neither merit, nor sea service, nor gailantry
nor capacity, but mere seniority Of commission,
regulates promotion and pay. The gallant,
chivalrous men Of the navy feel subdued, dispi-
fire OF their young ambition and pride is well
nigh exinguished; many are leaving the ser
vice to which they have SO long fondIy clung !;
many reHain only because Of the cherished ex-
pectation Of reform. The officer who encoun-
ters all the perils of the deep, wins the admira
tion Of the world for his brilliant achievements,
and makes his countrymen prouder than ever Of
the country, returns to rest while from his
tolls but 10 feel mortified in seeing the indoent
the imbecile, who have known no tolls, and
have never met the enemy, daily promoted over
him. II is true that the Executive has power,
to some extent, to interfere and exercise dis
cretion as 10 promotion, but so fixed and we'll
settled has been the almost uniform course since
the organization ofthe navy, of promoting nc
cording to seniority Of commission, that the
effort by any Executive to deviate from il with
out the sanction of law could only be made at
the hazard of charges of favor,ism and preiu
dice, productive ola discomfort as injurious,
probably, as the evil itself 1t is true, also, that
the Secretary Of the navy has the discretionary
power to place officers On furloush, and thereby
reduce their pay. It has frequently been done
have exercised the power myself. But in the
absence OF some uniform rule, sanctioned by
law, the effort at discrimination, however
sincere and disinterested, is 30 embarrassed with
dificulties-by no meaas diminished by their
that this power, if not paraiyzed, is divested
almost entirely of its salutary and corrective
virtue.
To illustrate the unfairness Of the present
system, permit me to mention few facts, not
with the view of finvidious comparison but
solely to elucidate the subject. There are
officers who have been in the navy more than
forty years, whose total sea service is less than
tea gears, who receive tha same pay with those
OF their grade whose sea service 10 fifteen,
eighteen, and more than t,oenty years. These
ofhcers, who are thus receiving pay, prevent
the promotion of those below them who have
seen more than twice their service at sea, and
have helped TO give their country a name
There are inefficient officers who have not done
duty, on sea o- shore, for twelpe, fifteen, and
ttccnty years. There are licutenants who have
seen double the service of some of a highe,
grade, and receive but half their pay There
are many passed midsA,pmen of more than ten
years sea scrUice, whose pay ON leave is STA
hundred dollars, and there are their superiors il
rank Of less than ten years. sea service, whose
pay is t,oenty.foe hundred dollars
The remedies proposed for these manifes
evils are thus concisely given
81 entertain the opinion that a retired list, o,
reduced pay, for the faithful toho hare bccom
iafrm; the discharge If the inefficient ,sha hgp
no claim on the bounty Of their gocernment fo
| services rendered; Pror1otion regulated by capu
city, merit, and not by mere seniority Of com
| MISSION; pay to some ertcnt controlled by sea
seruiec-are reforms not only demanded by tn
condition of the service, by considerations o
justice, but absolutely necessary TO the prcscrv
alton of efficiency and usefulness"