The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-10

paDsAscE oyTlcE.

the country Misrepresentation in regard TO il have
been extensively circulated. These Misrepresentation
II suffered TO pass annoced, may msiead many 10 lhe
advocacy and support OF measure iranght with serious
mischief 10 the public service IN one OF IT'S import
ant branches As the person charged with the lnne.
date administration of that branch. and responsible o
lis proper management, II Is my duty 10 see that re
ceives no inary which IL may be In my power, larry
honestly and luthfuy 10 prevent therefore present lns
legislature 10 give careful examination and 10 pause
and inquire, before taking step which my long experience
acquired in life devoted TO this particular business anu
my best Judgment and feeeuonl tell me viii very seous
ly injure The public interests.
In April, is4l, the civil superintendens OF the two
national armores were removed from office by aifecuoh
of the President OF the United States, and ocers Oh te
ordnance corps were detailed 10 direct the concerns o.
each OF the armores ageeaby TO the ninth section oil me
OF February s. 1918, which places the public armo-
res under the direction Of the ordnance department
(See Senate Doc. No. 345 I'd session 9Th Congress
la the following August, board OF citizens was APP
pointed by the War Department. toesanine INTO Inc con
diten and management OF OF the arDories. iha
board made full examination and their report is pub
ished in document No 207, House OF Representatives.
9th Congress- 81 session respectfully ask your at
tenon il, particularly their views IN regard TO the
system of supernlendence page Ave OF the document
BY the I'd section OF the act 23i OF August 1912 me
Offices OF civil superntendents OF the aImoTes were abo
ished and their duties devolved on officers oil me
ordnance corps TO be detailed BY the President and this
system OF snperlnendence has continued since, When
the officers OF the ordnance corps took charge OF me ar
mores they found many abuses existng the CORRECTION
OF which, and The complete reformation oil the manner oil
conducting operations were imperayey demanded BY the
public interest. This reformation was violently opposed
BY those who had been prohtng by The abuses. lhey
awaited themselves OF the plea OF military despotsm,
and oppression of citizens by officers OF the army and
ceeded in arragnng the superintendent OF Springfield
armory before court OF inquiry on various charges Inc
proceedings of tina, court which show full impartial
and palen investigation OF all the allegations against the
superintendent involving also The comparative merits OF
the military and civil systems OF superintendent, are
published in full in Senate document number 344 29h
Congress- st session respectfully refer you 10 thus
document Tor information on the subject, and parllcu-
larly to the testimony OF Mr.. Pomefoy, pages $50 TO
1872 and to the opinion OF the court, derived from les
tmony under oath, pages 1879 10 2o5 The dmnution in
the Of arms aad The improvement in their quality,
ound by this inquiry TO have taken place since The
perntendence OF the armores by ordnance officers, have
steadily continues and the operations OF the last fiscal
year will show tar greater return Tor the amount ex-
pended than was ever exhibited in the best days OF the
civil superintendent Al the same time. the workmen
receive good if not better wages than paid at prlI
va'e establishments for the same services and skill and
they actually receive tnan they did under the old
system. OF these assertions there be doubt, for
they are demonstrabe by facts and figures.
The saving OF labor on musket at Springfield Ar
moty since lS4l is 3 81 making total on $4,000
utaclured in 1881 of than Sss,o0O. The average
pay received by each workman in the year ls4O-4l
the last of the civil supernseHdence, S37 81 per
month in the year 1S50-'51 il s3S 64. An exami-
naon OF the arms made under the two systems will
show Immediately and coDclusiyey, great superiority in
quality for those last made. The Springfield Armory,
taken altogether, will compare avoaby in all respects
with the best conducted manufactures in country
and il is now fully equal if not superior, to any manufac
tory OF arms Of any other nation.
Although the Harpers Ferry Armory Is still behind
that at Springfield. the Improvements there since the
change OF the system OF superintendent have been many
and important, and are steadily advancing 1t had run
down under the old system more Than the other, and
CURES time to bring il up but al both establishments
a like system OF administration is producing like effect
No acquainted with this srmory prior to lS4l and the
mode OF conducting operations there at that me who
will visit and examine it fail TO be struck with
its improved condition and better management AT both
armores abuses disorder, and confusion have gwen way
10 regularity, order, efficiency and economy the mode OF
manufacturing and the quality of the manufactures have
been improved arms are made at less cost the work
men are better paid their moral character is OF higher
grade and The great majority Of them satisfied and
conented These the fruits OF the system OF super
intendeDce now existing.
Tha, some of the workmen employed al the armories
should have been dsebarged to be wondereda They
had acquired under the loose OF the old sys
tem habits altogether unsulted to the srcler one OF the
change Of measures absolutely necessary
faithful, efficient and economical government OF the
Adjustments and i, impossible 10 effect it without
change of The removals and discharges have been
as few possible consistently with the public interest,
and have in no instance been made without cause and
good Political influence or personal feeling
have good TO believe, and do conscienlousy be-
lieve has had nothing 10 do with them.
If the present system of supernteDdence should be
abolished, this department will still do its best for the
proper management OF the armores but have not the
least doubt that it will prove highly injurious, almost
ruinous to the efficiency OF these establishments and TO
One argument has been advanced in favor OF the pro-
posed change, which seems plausible, and on that
count may be worthy OF such brief notice may be
requisite expose lis allacy II is, that the supernend.
oil the national amones is not proper duty for Off
Of the army, who should be at the head OF troops
the held-in command only of trained and disciplined
soldiers This is very true OF certain portion OF the Of
hcers OF the army But the laws OF the land include in
army other officers besides those to lead and COM
mand the troops and define their duties, too which, II
less brilliant and striking their nature Aot the less
essential 10 the efficiency OF the military service Among
these officers are these whose duty and business II
is TO erect Notifications, 10 survey roads, TO provide
food, clothing, and shelter for ibe troops, 10 trans
port all military supplies and TO contriye, construct,
and supply all and munitions OF war These
duties require education and experience for their proper
performance and the officers who perform Them hrst
selected for their peculiar fitness for such occupations
have since added 10 that fitness the advantages acquired
by experience
To the ordnance corps of the army in intrused by law
the construction and preparation OF all and ammun
ton Under the direction OF the ordnance department
the national srmones placed by law To remove its
officers. therefore, from the immediate charge Of these
establishments, and topace them under civilians who will
doubtless be OF high political influence either per
sonay through their friends and whom department,
OF the army from the nature OF things control
will be TO do the great injustice that department, OF re-
curing from il By law that which the passage OF the law
now before you will deprive II OF the means OF
plsbing.
II. X. CRAIG,
Colonel Ordnance.
ANOTHER wosDEr.-A monster iron steamship, il is
Z, -. H.. llt. Il.