The daily union., 1854-07-25


than under that Of civilians and that so far the
cost to government OF keeping up these establishments is
an item to be considered it is greatly TO the interest of
government to employ civilians.
During the whole period of civil superiniendence forty
seven years the entire expenditure by government for all
purposes connected with the armories SI2,524,5lS
This embraces the original of the establishment every
cent expended upon buildings and improvements for
chinery and repairs and for manufacturing all the arms
made by government during that period 1t every
item Of expense incurred by government for both armories
during period Of torty-seven years When the military
superintendent assumed control of them large portion
of e property for which this expenditure made
then hand The ground the buildings, the machinery
and tools belonging TO the government transferred
with the control of the armories The civilians commenced
with nothing but the military commandlnts had this cap
ita to start upon During the twelve years and quarter
of military control the money expended at both armores
to the of $5046,a05. The average amount
spent each year under the civil system superntendence
only S266479 while under the military was SILL
9S4.
The appropriations made by Congress for the support of
these separated in the bills and granted under
headsone for the manufacture OF arms and the other
for repairs improvements and machinery, The latter
of these the which affords the greatest latitude for
extravaganza and is expended with the least restraint
The expenditures for repairs improvements and ma
chnery during the whole period OF civil superintendent
only 81 I22053i The expenditure for the pur
poses during the twelve and quarter years of military
control was 81 0l 1903 The military commandants had
too benefit of the expenditures under that head by the
civil superntendents, while the civil supernendens com
menced with nothing.
is out of these appropriations that buildings are
built that delightful pleasure grounds and highyor
namened gardens enclosed and beauted that fount
aims made to cool the atmosphere and sparkle in the
rays of the sun; that nelypolisIed machinery fit
for show than use is obtained admit sir that far
elegance and taste in these respects concerned the i
tary comnandants have improved the old order of
things and the plain substantial busnesslike manutc
turing establishments OF the civilians have been magcay
metamorphosed into very paradise. But mere glitter
and polish do not add to the efficiency Of these establish
ments render them useful to the government for
the purposes they intended how this
species Of improvement made at such immense expense
be considered beneficial That the efficiency of the
Establishments have not advanced in proportion to the money
expended is beyond dispute and that very large proper
ton of this 81 1868 has been wasted upon objects which
could very well have been dispensed with will have
the hardihOod to deny venture the assertion that
civilian would have been allowed to expend money in
lavish manner for such purposes would any have
taken the liberty Of doing In the civil service of the
country there is no example of such extravaganza.
These statements in regard to the expenditures at the
mores derived from the most authentic sources and
furnished by officers from the Ordnance department. and the
reports Of the Secretary of War. There is for
qubble evasion in regard to them,
Now comparing the products of the arnories for the two
periods with the aggregate of expenditures under each
pectivey and arrive at the true cost Of the
actured by military commandants and by civilians This
test will enlghten still further which system is the
most economical Under the civil system there were
uctured eight hundred and thrtone thousand and nine
y-eght mnskets and the whole amount of expenditure
was ST., ,5245lS This gives SIS OF the cost Of each
nusket Under the military system there manuac-
ured three hundred and thirteen thousand one hundred
and ffour muskets, and the whole Of expendi-
ure was S5046ee5. The cost of each muske was there
fore SIG IL, or ST OF more than under the civilians.
This calculation based upon the aggregate of expend
lures for the support OF the armores excluding nothing
1t is the oaly fair and reasonable mode Of determining the
expense to the government and any other mode be
uncertain and deusiye The wages of the worlmen and
the cost of the material used in the fabrication of the
ke do not show the whole cost to the government The
shops the machinery the tools and many other objects for
which money expended are a necessary to the efficient
operations of the establishments and why the of these
should be excluded from the calculation of in The pro-
ducton of the musket is something cannot comprehend
If the expenditure of large of money for elegant and
paata residences necessary for the military command
ants and these conmandans necessary for the
agement of the arnories then the of these structures
much part of the TO government in the manu-
cture of muskes the steel iron, and wood which
into their construction This is the comor-sensc view of
the matter, and the only which business man could
take OF it. If these miskets were manufactured by private
armores they would cost the government the price of the
labor upon them the price OF the material of which they
are constructed and fair and reasonable profit to the
manufacturer. This is ALL But under the government
system only pay these necessary items of cost
for all the extravaganza and luxuries which the military
authorities think proper to indulge in the adonment and
improvement of the grounds theerecon ofstately mansions
and the procurement of finelyposhed md showy ma
chinery.
have already shown that the of the muske during
the civil system o superintendent averaged only SIS OF
each while under the military system it has cost SIG H.
1t will be remembered that these establishments
menced at period when but little advance had been made
not only unskilfu but tools and machinery
in their most primitive state These disadvantages the
tvil sulernendcnts had to encounter; and IT, notwit
standing this they produced muskes for less
amount Of money than the military commandments it
liny is proof conclusive that they better adapted to
the positions they occupied and better calculated
save the public money. But sir there period
IN the history of our government when the mechanic arts
have improved more rapidly than in the last twelve
fifteen years Not only have vast Improvements been
made every description of machinery and especially that
used in the manufacture Of arms but the skill Of wornen
IN every branch Of mechanic industry has advanced with
rapid progress All the advantages in these respects the
military comnanians have had; but, instead of showing
saving to the government in the cost OF manufacture
sutng from these great advantages the expense govern
nen has actually been increased 81 Of upon each muske
know, sir hat the mode of calculating the of the
muske upon the aggregate of expense is not the military
uode and that my statement Of the of each will
be excepted 10 in this debate that account not
what others say the true node my judgment convnces
that any other Is false and deusiye, aud only cacua
ted TO mslead and deceive The Secretary Of War and the
clerk of the Ordnance Board both submitted to
the committee of the cost of the muske for two periods of
twelve and quarter years eachoue under civil and the
other under military rule They made the cost under the
period of civil control 3 76 41o0 and under the militia,
~ only S2 30 43loo The calculation has at least the
rpoarace OF accuracy ii extends to the fractions
of cent but it is only in appearance 1t is
tery worthless when tested by principles II in
clues only portion OF the expenditures and just much
the Ordnance Board chooses to estimate Lands build
n2s and Improvements carefully excluded But sir
this calculation is in direct contradiction OF the official
makes The cost of manufacture under the civil SYSTEM for
the period named larger than the annual reports OF the
colonel of ordnance made to Congress at the time.
Now sir these reports show that the of the muske
made by the civilians for this very period did not exceed
average of twelve dollars each For what purpose sir
Raj. at,4