The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. THOMAS $. BoCoUK,

The House being in the Committee OF the Whole on
the OF the Unon and the bill to authorize the
slIueon OF SIX hfstcass steam irsales being under
consideration
MIR BOCOCk said:
Nh Chairman know that perl form an ungracious
task when | call back the attention of the House from
The exciting debates OF the last few days the consdera
lion OF matter OF plain and practical importance But
must be paIdoned i prefer for my own discussion SUB
ects OF utility rather than subjects of feeling, and if
direct my efforts rather TO accomplishing good than
a,iog a sensation shall employ the most OF the time
allowed me under The rules OF the House in assigning
some OF toe which induced the Committee on
Naval Affairs, al early day OF the session, report
this bill, and which, in my judgment. render it highly
important that It should promptly become a law
Before proceed however, 10 enforce the principal OBJ
ec, OF the bill, must ask the indulgence of the House
while explain OF It's features, which may call
mere matter OF detail.
Il is provided in the bill that the six steam propelers
authorized TO be constructed shall be built by contract
in the nayy-yards oi the government as the Secretary
Of the Navy shall think most advisable for the public
interest
There difference OF opinion in the Committee on
Naval Ataifs and OF course il will be more serious in
the House OF Representatives, regard 10 The relative
merits Of The two ,odes OF construction either plan
should be adopted The friends OF the other might, from
the modification OF defeat, become ukewarm if not hos.
ue and il desire 10 enlist the cordial support OF
all friends increased navy Indeed, the provision
10 me TO be good one in itself apprehend that
few members of the House of Representatives, however
able and experienced. have sufficient acquaintance with
the science and history OF naval construction in
country to have formed very positive and confident
opinion on the question Arguments both sides sug-
gesl themselves to my mind and confess that have had
difficulty in striking the balance and determining
the preponderance between them. The vessels in our
mercantile marne built OF course BY private enterprise,
admitted 10 be equal to any in The world either for
beauty or for service Can procure good work TO
be done for the government by the same persons'
Tina. is no, SO sure He who builds for himself looks
10 the usefulness OF his work but be who builds under
contract with the government looks to the amount of his
profts and with the best supervision on the part Of
government, ageR how ample will be the opportunities
lprp IouIc ('on ,f ,kar
be inspected, every bolt OF iron tried, before is
ployedl
Mr.. Chairman, make no special impu,a'ion against
shp-bullders They are, doubtless, honest other
classes but sir, IL is too much the with all classes
that the United States government is considered in state
Of oulawry, and fairly liable 10 be plucked and robbed
by every person who passes We have ali heard sug-
gesed sort OF distinction between private and political
honesty. Well, here is practical exempfcation OF it,
There are, alas, too many honerpoate upon the BIZ
BILE, and, when the commandment says thou shalt not
steal, add, IN their reading except from the United
States government
We quite sure, then, ,ba, we can by contract
the skill and fidelity in the government work
which are employed IN building merchantmen
On the other hand, We have had as fine ships built in
the government yards have been found in the world
The excellence and beauty OF American men OF
once proveIbla II we have good constructors and en-
gineers, why should they not always be well built :
There are likely to be any fraudulent shifts in the exc
cuion OF the work.
Employees who work for the government upon daily
OF monthly pay have not The same motive or nducement
10 uefrauu as tnOse VINO bulid by contract hey may
also want the same inducemen, TO industry and skill
There lies the question.
We have within few years had lameniable failures in
The working OF certain steamships built by the govern
ment alude more particularly TO the San Jacino, the
Allegheny, and the Princeton.
But have we not also failures in vessels built by
private enterprise Where are the four revenue. cutters
built by contract under act OF Congress Their
names may stand on the register but pfac-
eay the greatest part oi them The Erebus and Terror
still stand the British navy list but with the gallant
lndrF thaN hau lima
doubtless, gone to The bottom of the deep
These revenue-cutters, II | am correctly informed,
might or all useiu purposes. amos, as well be there
Again Almost every man who inspected the late Ill
lated San francisco bears testimony that its defective
construction principally The cause of It's loss Other
cases might be named, but forbear. The application Of
steam TO the propulsion cf vessels is comparatively
amodern design, aud all great mechanical inventions
pass from their inception to full success, through tenn
PoTaty disasters and partial failures.
The English had many and great failures in this matter,
but they passed through them 10 brilliant success. and
shall we he less bold and enterprising'
u may be that we have by our failures, acquired al
ready all the knowledge necessary for future
The members OF this House have doubtless observed,
IRON the printed report Of the investigation OF the
Of The failures mentioned that they in every case
but one oat OF detects IN the steam machinery, and
not 10 the vessels themselves
The ships, excepting the Allegheny, were well built
Ihe steam machinery, wherein the defect lay, in
every other prepared and furnished under
- needless 10 inquire whether the fault lay IN the
Pai VI NftCihcatoh OF IN the execution MINK " lay
in both
The contractor was in either case however bamable
lor II the plan furnished was imprselicsble, IT his
duty before carrying IL out into costly failure. TO have
exposed its defects At any rate, the difficulty in the
way OF the contract plan could not that preext be OBJ
vaed because the government continue TO furnish
the plans for its vesselso war
Building steamers is very different thing from
building merchantmen mail steamers. The plans OF
The vessels ~ the two very widely different
and though we have private pbudeTs skilled IN the
one kind oi construction, s by no certain that
they would be equally expert at the other
There would be proptiely in running the hazard.
The gentleman now at The head OF The bureau OF con.
stfucton iu the Navy Department not only thoroughly
educated and trained IN his profession, but he enjoys
hgh reputation for skill and success We can more
safely conhde in his skill, with The aids which be will
ENJOY, than 10 the plans OF whose experience ex-
tends no further than TO the planning OF merchant
sells
ln all probability. however, the steam machinery for
ihe vessels which propose build must in any case
De furnished by contract II disposed, and vested with
suihcent authority the department may not be able 10
make arrangements 10 time TO have them prepared in
our navy.yards. The question then naturally arises
now viii yos avoid like disasters future answer,
mat you may do So | think, by adopting The otm of
hact lately used by the present Secretary Of the Navy
" bargaining for steam machinery for the San ia
eno by the terms OF the contract the Secretary is 10
pay olhing until The work finished Then, II IT serves
s ne s TO pay half Of The contract price, bul the
ons nai We reserves until months trial shall have
HsV thoroughly tested The quality of The contract Job
eec.s appear IN The OF this trial, they are TO
~ e"tuled ~ The cost OF the contractor and il only y
neu tne WORK iound by such trial 10 be reliable and
penaneh, mat The final settlement is made with the
ssol ne secretary takes also, in The beginning
Inc surely iot ihe proper discharge Of his duty BY