Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-12-14

foraIu j Hgai4 urbaa, nnd tt itasaHs u .sf"9 p"
its erection mentioned. -
some changes are recommended in the rules OF
the navy. Those in force were adopted II ioio'
and emergencies are continually liable To aflae u
which they vii not apply - -. =.
An increase in the nayy Is strongly ihHist-
ed on; the number of men on service 10 De en-
larged. rs soon as expedient. from 1,o0oto io'oVo'
aud xix LIST class steam propellers at once con
strueted. These, for economy and serYlceaDie-
ness. he prefers To other camel me horu-
fving failures of our war steamships 10 answer
the design of their construction has also at'Ine'-
ed notice, aud q commission tn investigate Tue
canse has been ordered. As a futher safeguard
against the recurrence Of such disasters a. nave
resulted from the inctiiciency or fraud ol the
builders, one-hnlf of the contract price Is 10 De
reserved until the work is successfully completed
and tested.
II is also submitted, whether it is not wise 10
have a few machine shops, in which the snpefVls-
ion and Judgment of its own snperlntendchts
may be exercised as to material, workmanship
and time, instead of relying on the services oil
comparatiyely irresponsible private contractors.
The Secretary then animadverts on the present
organization of the navy, by which seniority, and
not capacity and merit, regulate promotion
The following is his advice on this head:
81 entertain the opinion that Il retired list, ON
reduced pay, for the faithful who have become m
firm the discharge of the inefficient, who have no
claim on the bounty of their government Tor ser
vices rendered promotion regulated by ealael-
", merit, and not by mere seniority OF commits
sion; pay to some extent controlled by sea-ser-
yice-are reforms not only demanded by the con
dition of service, by considerations OF justice but
absolutely necessary to the preservation oi en-
cheney and usefulness.
II believe this plan of u retired list can be so
arranged rs to protect the treasury from the
heavy drains of an odious pension system. lhey
are now all ON pay. Reduce the pay OF the re
tircd-stop the pay of the Acknowledgements
thus II corps of efficient officers, and a. a question
of &C tnoIny. this system, with proper guards ana
restrictions, may be one rather of rctrcnchment
than extravaganza
Mr.. Dobbin does not consider Il return 10 the
nogging system necessary for the efficiency OF
the naval service, but he advises some changes
which may conduce more to that end than Is at
present provided for. He suggests, as one sub
stitute for the lash, the payment to the faithful
of the wages forfeited by the misconduct Of 9th
ers: as another, an increase of pay propottIoled
to the number of continuous cruises. Two still
more important suggestions are glven,as follows:
''lfthey have been meritorious, ! propose that ON
their return they be granted an honorable dis
charge, Ito be considered II leave of absence on
pay,) if within IL certain time they choose to re-
enlist in the service. This would possess "A two
1nd virtue W lar ana GENEROUS treatment at pan
ing, and an invitation to continue II member OF a
family caring for them during IA temporary alb
Scnce.
"Another change, indi spensable to the prompt
securcment of the services of first class semi N,
is to pay them as much as their skill, efperieice
and character wiH command in the merchant
serrice.'
The estimates for all objects coming under the
control of the department. for the year ending
June Both, 1853, amount, in the aggregate, to
/ SlI 40, 515 10.