The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-16

auna'oh made Tor the purpose OF getting Information
MI. DOWNS, think II can be got without the ex-
pehse OF such formal commission. ! was going on 10
remark, where s The necessity oi this commission! The
amendment authorizes the Pfesiden, TO appoint com.
mission composed OF civilians and military men, and
suppose lhey VIII be just likely to dlter in their on
IONS on the question military officers and civilians do
now IL y be necessary 10 have an inquiry, why shall
we nave ms totRal cOnnlsson Is II not the duty OF
the President and the executive officers 10 have the
sary inquiries made If well-founded allegations are
made that the system works badly is II hot the duty OF
the President and The executive officers 10 have the facts
asceaned and brought before Congress, in order TO
able them to give correct Judgment upon the question
Is customary or proper Tor Congress TO travel out Of
Their way and impose upon the President other public
oihcers duties other than those which the law assigrs
them These officers have their appropriate duties IN
the army, and II the public service requires an IN.
vestlgaiion the President the Secretary OF War can
order II without this extraordinary proceeding OF Con-
gress authorizing commission composed Of civilians and
military think then, that there IS no necessity Tor
the propostIon have as much confidence as any man
that suitable and proper commission would be appoint
ed do not make any objection on that ground, but can
see no necessity Tor any commission at all TINS system
has been tried There is great dissatisfaction with IT. Let
at least have time to try the other system and see II
does not operate better Think IL is great mistake, and
it will be found to be agrea mistake in this and other
matters, that should depend for the construction OF
our public works. the building of ships and other things,
military naval architects and engineers. have not
examined the subject very thoroughly, but unless am
very much MISTAKEN the construction OF steam vessels
now by the Navy Department is mitch interior 70 the
construction OF those made by private individuals ldonbt
very much whether IN case OF war there would not DC
shown to be very great disparity between the steam
vessels constructed by the government and those con-
srucled by Individuals 1t seems to me SO, snd probably
the rule would apply IN thus case There IS strong
feeling in The public mind IN favor OF such change as
The House has proposed There necessity Tor con-
tnuing the old system Let us Try the new We have so
decided once and certainly Il is now too late IN The ses
sion 10 sci aside what have done. or to do anything
implying doubt the opinion OF Congress as TO the
course which should be pursued
Mr. BELL. / do not mean TO make any reply to The
various suggestions thrown ont by gentlemen who OPP
pose this amendment, but ! want 10 state lew facts
The effect OF the provision IN this bi as II came 70 as
from the House. to change the system OF management
at the public anorles rom the supernendence OF mill
ary officers 10 The superntendenco q persons taken
from civil life. One SPECIFIC ground alleged Dy sn non
orahe senator yesterday for that change IN addition 10
the general ground alleged that there was now great
dissatisfaction and complaint on the part OF the comnun-
y which these armores are located and another reason
given was that the military superlnendence is NOT be.
eved to WORK any better than the former system OF civil
uperinendence Sir, ] have made il my BUSINESS not
now hut several years since, tc inform myself carefully
upon this subject The civil superntendenoe obtained
for fifteen twenty years preceding ls4l and tot2
There complaints and many alleged abuses at mat
lime in the management OF these armones and upon
that ground The executive government changed The sys-
TEN from civil 10 military supeTnle ndence, and Congress.
in l942 approved the change and regulated the subject
by law after full investigation by commission, and
alter report by a commce OF The House OF Represent
aives That report slated that the change which they
proposed to make, giving the superintendent OF the
mores to officers oil he ordnance corps, was founded on
an investigation OF the facts on both sides oil the ques
ton Thus commission was lnstituledi and commit
tee OF the House, upon the report Of that commission,
repored in favor OF the change and Congress soemnly
enacted that the military supenntendence 10 be pre-
eed the gfound mat The public interests would be
The senator from Texas MIR Hoosrosl yesterday
stated that he had picked up statement or representa-
ton, or some document other, which satisfied hun that
there was no Improvement, no advantage 10 the public
service, in the military superln'endence over the former
systsm Of civil superintendence. That deny. say
49,.
the subject any gentleman who will take the trouble 10
look into The public documents OF Congfess which have
beer heretofore pubshedi stating the grounds which
The change OF srperinlerdence mss made, and pefse
yered in he will find the pepoEdersnee OF testimony is
largely favor OF the military system OF supetintendenee
stated however, the other day, that bad seen gentle
oi high character and respectabty who alleged the
contrary, and believed they made Their statement SIN
cefeiy Think, however, Their convictions on The sub
jec are founded ID error upon want OF information as
TO the true facts OF The case or upon Preudce SAID
then that regarded il highly polite II We arc TO up-
hold these public armores al all, and not to abolish teu
that we should institute an inquiry into the present con
diton and management oil the armoes lor the sasfac
ton Of tie intelligent public mind upon the subject, and
that no change should take place here suddenly upon an
ebuton OF popular sentiment IN the neghbofhood OF The
armores by outsiders! or those not IN place. and who
NAV be iaify subject TO the mputaoD OF wanting the
places of these officers though do not say that they do
ray that under the circumstances II Is but fair, both to
those who complain and those whose conduct IS called
in question, that should have an investigation. To
satisfy even the local communities concerned We should
have an examination and report In deail by mixed com
mission.
If il be objected to the proposed commission that il
may be composed OF majority OF military officers Jet the
majority be Of civilians, II gentlemen please. have no
direction 10 that, because, understand, the report
which we require from such commission not the
opinion OF scientific gentlemen or OF civilians or OF the
sound common opinions OF mechan We want
the facts 10 be reported IN detail the testimony OF wit
nesses-evdence that cannot be reiuted. | care little
whether the persons appointed on the commission have
bias on either side not care little for the opinions OF
scientific or any other class OF upon the subject All
want is The ac,s and that is necessary satisfy the
public mind in the negbborhood of the armorles | said
the other day thai thought an investigation necessary,
because the idea oil the odium OF military rule-whch
understand does not in fact exist al-is difusing IL
self through the country Why, sir, we the great
State OF Virginia Infected through all lis borders by these
representations OF amltary rule, emanang from little
from Virginia, although the most strenuous advo-
Gates for economy and reform The administration OF
The general government are Ginning IN with the honor
able senator from Texas Mr. RUsK in his efforts eff
feet change IN The supeDtendence OF these armores
That senator III part of the argument presented by
him this morning, spoke OF the great expense of
mission TO be constituted as he said, of "God knows
how many" He was for an economical expenditure of
the public moneys by the government; he would go Tor
no expenditure but what is necessary 10 the public
vice and yet be IS advocating proposition 10 introduce
two new otcers two unnecessary superncndents of the
public arDor1es. #.4#
Mr.. RUSky do not regard them as unnecessary
MIR. BELL y But they additional officers, and there
be doubt that ordnance officers competent for
the postiti is not alleged that they not compe
ent-oiliceTs who receive their pay any how wheher
they be employed al the armones or not Now, upon the
honorable senator's own argument OF economy. which
believe, by-he-by is OF the articles in the creed of
,ha IaN, Fattn .i.s