The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-10

sfs
NJ-THE NALgeARMORIES.-T
subject of achange in the system of mi agement of
the National Armories is now before the Legislature
OF the country. Misrepresentation in regard to
1t have been extensively circulated. These rnisre
presentations 1t suffered to pass unnoticed, NAV
mlsiead many to the advocacyi and support of a
measure fraught with serious mischief to the publ
nc service IN one OF ito important branches. As
the person charged with the immediate administra.
ton OF that branch, and responsible for ts proper
management, it is my duty to see that it receives
no injury which it may be in my power, fairly
honestly, and truthfuily, to prevent. L therefore
present the following statement, and aask of the
members of the National Legislature to give it a
careful examination, and to pause and inquire be-
fore taking a step which my long experience, ac-s
CURED In lie devoted to this particular business
and my best judgment and reflection tell me- will
very seriously injure the public interess. s9iEsq
In April, lS4f, the civil snperintendents Of the
two National Armories were removed from Office.
by direction OF the President of the United States
and officers of the ordnance corps were detailed to
direct the concerns of each of the Armories, agree
ablyt to the 9th section of the act of February 8.
lel5, which places the public armories under the
direction OF the Ordnance Department. (See
Senate doc. No. 345 I'd session 9th Congress- ) III
In the following August board of citizens8 was
appointed by the War Department, to examine into
the condition and management of one of the Armo
ries. That board made full examinations and
their report is published in document No. POT,
House of Reps, 9th Congress- I'D session. re-,
specifically ask your attention to particularly to
their views in regard to the system of superinten
dence page 5of the document y4a 1T 95 Bluo
BY the I'd section of the act of the 23d of Au-a
gust 1912, the offices of Civil Superintendent of
the Armores were abolished, and their duties were
devolyed on officers of the ordnance corps to he
detailed by the President, and this system of su-
perintendence has continued since. When the
ohcers OF the ordnance corps took charge of the
Arnorles they found many abuses existing, the
correction OF which and the complete reformation
OF the manner OF conducting operations were i'm
peratiyeiy demanded by the public interest. This
reformation was violently opposed by those who
mad been prohting by the abuses. They awaited
themselves of the plea of military despotism and
oppression of citizens by officers of the army and
succeeded in arraigning the Superin tenderlt of
Springfield Armory before court of inquiry on
various charges; The proceedings of that court,
which show full, impartial, and patient inyesti-
CATION OF all the allegations against the Superin-
tendent, involving also the comparative merits of
the military and civil systems of superintendence,g
are puDlshed IN full in Senate document No. 344,
18th Congress-, lat session. | respectfully refer
you to this document for information on the sub
Ject, and particularly to the testimony of Mr.
pomeroy, pages $50 to l52; and to the opinion of
the court, as derived from testimony under oath,
pages 1879 to 205. The diminution in the cost of
arms, and the improvement in their quality, found
by this inquiry to have taken place since the su
perintendence Of the Armories by ordnance Off
GERS nave steadily continued; and the operations of
the last hscal year will show far greater return
Tor the amount expended than was ever exhibited
IN the best days OF the civil superintendence At
the same time the workmen receive as good, if
not better wages than are paid at private estab.
llshments tor the same services and skill and
they actually receive more than they did under
the old system. Of these assertions there can be
figures.
The saving of labor musket, at Springfield
Armory, since lS4l, is S 3 "a, making total on
rs ooomanufacturedi in 1851, of more than $SS, O0O
The average pay received by each workman in the
year lo4O-4l, the last of the civil superntendence
was $37 81 per month; in the year lS50-5l it was
$5S "a. An examination of the arms, made UNI
DER the two systems, will show Immediately and
conclusivey great superiority in quality for those
last made. The Springfield Armory, taken alto
gether, will compare fayorably, in all respects,
with the best-conducted manufactures in our coun-
try; and it is now fully equal, if not superior, to
any mandatory of arms Of any other nation.
Although the Harper's Ferry Armory is still be.
hind that at Springfield, the improvements there,
since the change of the system Of superintendent,
nave pee n many and important, and are steadily
advancing. IL had run down, under the old svs-
tenn, more than the other, and requires more time
to bring 1t up; but at both Establishments like
system OF administration is producing like effect
No one acquainted with this Arrnory prior to lS4l
and the mode Of conducting operations there at
that time. who will visit and examine ii now can
fail to be struck with its improved condition and
better management. At both Armories, abuses,
disorder, and confusion have given way to regu-
larity, order, efficiency, and economy; the mode
OF manufacturing and the quality of the manufac-
cost; the workmen are better paid; their moral
character Ia Of higher grade, and the great ma
jority of them are satisfied and contented These
are the fruits OF the system of superintendent
existing. ,'a ~
That some of the workmen employed at the Ar
mories should have been discharged is not to be
wondered at. They had acquired, under the loose
management of the old system, habits altogether
unsuIted TO the sricter one of the new. A change
OF measures was absolutely necessary to a faith.
fui eHcIent, and economical government of the
establishments, and it was impossible to effect it
without change of men. The removals and dis
charges have been as few as possible consistently
with the public interest, and have in no instance
been made without cause, and good cause Politi-
cal influence or personal feeling, have good rea
son 70 Deiieye, and 90 conscientiously believe has
mao nothing TO do with them.
IL the present system Of superintendent should
be abolished, this department will still do it's bes
| Tor the proper management of the Armories; butt
have not the least doubt that it will prove highly
injurious, almost ruinous to the efficiency of these
establishments and to the interests of the country
| connected with them. I" -
One ARGUMENT has been advanced in favor of
the proposed change which seems plausible, and
| on that account may be worthy of such brief no.
tice as may be requisite to expose its falacy. 1t
Is that the superintendent Of the National Armo.
ries is not proper duty for officers of the arxnY,
who should be at the head of troops in the field; in
command only of trained and disciplined soldiers.
This ls very true of certain portion of the officers
of the army; but the laws Of the land include in
our army other officers besides those to lead and
command the troops; and define their duties, too,
which, if less brilliant and striking in their nature
not the less essential to the efficiency of the
military service. Among these officers are those
whose duty and business is to erect ortifcations
| to survey roads, to provide food, clothing, and
shelter for the troops to transport all military sup
plies, and to contrive, construct, and supply all
arms and munitions of war, These duties require
education and experience for their proper per
formance; and the officers who perform them, first
selected for their peculiar fitness for such occupa
tons have since added to that fitness the advan-
/ tagea acaurad hY eYne rience -lalI