The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-20

As regards the relative quality OF the arms about nine
y-seven in hundred Of those made during the superin
endence by civilians Of the old model" which is
inferior in workmanship and material well as
in pattern to the model arm which alone has been
made since the superintendent by ordnance officers the
remaining three per cent of the made under the civil
superintendent of the model and of superior
quality to those previously made and there has been
gradual and steady improvement in the quality of the
since the change in the mode Of superntendence
Most of the made during both superntendences
hand the armories and arsenas and be
had to them determine their relative qualities So far
in actual service settle the question the arms
made under the superintendent Of ordnance officers have
been used by troops both regulars and volunteers in
peace and in war, and there has been complaint
against their quality the contrary, during ali the
vcssudes incident to almost every variety of service
10 which be exposed these have uniformly
maintained character of high excellence. As regards
uniformity in the corresponding parts of different arms
ample furnished at Harpers Ferry armory by
food of 1852 which is thus stated in the report of
the Inspector of armories;
The completeness of the present system, far
oyy is concerned, is made manifest by the
late submerson Of 900 during the highest food
known the place In cleaning those per-
tied their parts being thrown into great and after
being repaired the eassembed from these lots of
coponen having distinguishing mark, every limb
filling and fitting it, appropriate place with perfect
Had not this perfect uniformity existed the parts
have been separately observation-disclosures must have been
provided for these several and parcels great
would have been requisite to avoid mixture. Every limb
every have been numbered and the expense
Of the operation would have been greatly increased.
All these have been obvintcd by that
of md
componens Of the arm which obtains in such perfection at
this armory.
To determine whether this general uniformity extended
the fabricatons of both national armores, caused
musket Of the manufacture Of 1851 Of either amor 10 be
taken pieces and then applied all the component parts OF
other mixing them in almost every possible
ne and applying the parts likewise to the receiving gauges
The result wasi the oonponsns well the hoie
identical for every practical purpose only almost nap
variation in the length Of the front end
plates being detected and this did prevent perfect
assembling Of the arms"
II thus appears that the have made less cost
under the ordnance officers superintendent than they
when the ermories supernended BY civilians
and that they unquestioned excellence regards
quality SO far then the public interest demands change
in the superintendent, existing.
The question that arises is the treatment Of
the wormen at the armores by the ordnance officers
rannyr and military dcspotism exercised over free
and intelligent mechanics have been made by the OPP
poncnts of the supcrin,cndence BY military officers and
denied by its friends These charges having been confined
gencralies without the production ofspecGc
excepting such as not allowing the read news
papers 10 do their marketing other racing the
shops during working hours which mnnstly proper
s impossible answer them except in al
general way II may be remarked however in regard to
this part Of the subject that the workmen who are en-
ployed at the srmores bound for any particular
term Of service but free 10 leave the employment when
ever they choose; that they not and have in in
stance been subjected martial law armory regua-
tons and that they have and enjoy similar privileges and
rights with other workmen ia the employment Of private
Of manufacturing companies Indeed Il
is reasonable TO suppose that intelligent mechanics
would submit military despotsm and petty tyranny
and this charge although made by those protesting 10 be
their friends complimentary them Il is also dis
proved by the that there is not and never has been
under the superintendent Of ordnance officers any df
Guilty in obtaining any number OF good and compe-
tent armorers or other workmen at tho national ar
mories. On the contrary mechanics now Geek en-
Payment at the armores and will leave private estal
ismens to take IL and have occurred where they
have voluntarily gone from national armory while
der civil aperntendence TO work arsenal command
ed by an ordnance officer The workmcu are required at
the national armores, they at all private factories
TO observe certain rules which essential the ante
nance Of proper order and regularity and to the econom
cal and Efficient management Of such works The rules
the armories stringent than those Of ether
welEconducted factories examination Of them win