The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-02

of Mr. Fillmore OF purchasing coal for the use Of the
navy 10y the nstrumentay Of two coal agents for
antlraete the other for bitunnous coal with COM
pensatiOn OF five per cent commission the cost Of
purchase and transportation contracted or by The agent
There was also during Mr. Fmore's administration a
special agency for supplying with coal the East India and
Pacific sluatrons duing the Japan Expedition AIessrs
Howland & Aspinw II, OF New York, the special
agents employed by Mr. Graham Secretary OF the Navy
under agreement of the date Of April 3 1852 10y which
they allowed ten per cent commissions the pur
chase money cost Of transportation insurance. aud other
unavoidable expenses, deduoiing tbereirom the commits
sious allowed the agents for supplying coal within the
United States. This agreement WAS modified by Mr.
Dobin the llih of August, iS53 by which, after the
LIST September following the agents to ship not
exceeding thousand bushels per month, the depart
ment agreeing TO pay the cost Of the coal iightefase
cartagr, fright, primage, and demurage, and coni
mission of per cent tire cost of the coal including
freight transportation The commissions under this
agency in the years 1862 1853 and 1851, amounted To
S50,0 ,0T5 SO, while the commissions of all other coal
agents for supplying our steam yesselso war with
coal during the whole period from 1880 to the present
time, amounted only to the of Si9,s5l 80, and for
supplying the navyyrds to the further sum OF
Sis, ,35S a.. This special agency was abolished by Mr.
Dobbin in 1894. There has been no other change Ia
The system except only that in pursuance OF the policy
expressed in the act of Congress OF September 2S 1890
OF giving preference 10 American productions. have
caused anthracite coal to be sent from Pennsylvania
mines, by American vessels chartered 10y the department,
and without any special agency, to the East lndes Pa
cc and all other foreign stations where it could be de-
yered at greater cost than that OF foreign coal de-
liveIed ut the place This has caused Increase
OF purchases of coal in this country but has proved
most decidedly economical and beneficial improve
ment, will appear 10y detailed returns which are
now probably before the committee, securing, with
out any increase of cost to the government, what
4 is deemed the best coal in the world for war
steamers the anthracite coal OF Pennsylvann No
change has been made in the btuminous coal agency,
in that for anthracite, except that the former
agent, Mr. Tyson at the end Of four years from his APP
pontment was succeeded by Mr. Hunter, the present
agent, whom appointed in May last upon the most re-
liable recommendations, leaving him to the discharge of
/ his duty upon his own responsibility. not aware
until the present Investigation that he had employed an
other person to aid him, allowing him To share IN ms
commissions his predecessor had DONE OF any want
Of attention his part 1t well known to the de
partment that the navy supplied with coal of the
best kind and quality for naval purposes ut less cost than
formerly at what deemed in the bureaus reasonable
prices and that the bills passed under the inspection and
required the approval Of the most faithful and vsi!ant
officers Of the government. who were in the constant
practice of nsutng inquiries into the reasonableness
Of prices aud of refusing payment when they We're ex
ccssyc 1t Is not the opinion of the bureaus after
full inquiry, that the price paid, $3 50 per ton OF the
best anthracite coal for steam purposes, screened So
lecrd and delivered at the vessel in Philadepha, has
been excessive unreasonable. M # .
The department has at all times left both these agents
m the purchase OF coal perfectly free in the discharge OF
their duty upon their responsibility, with such as
sistance they might choose to employ ut their own
pensc subject only to the checks which exist ship
board and at the naval stations where it is the duty Of
the proper officer 10 report any deficiency in quantity
quality and also to the constant supervision OF the chiefs
of the bureaus under whose orders the purchases
made, and BY whom the bills must be examined and APP
proved before they be passed Both these high OH
enjoy my entire conidencecontidence not only in
their capacity, but in their vigilance and uprightness.
l should be very willing to give full details OF the ac
on OF the department in reference to TO the navy yards
end to the contracts for steam machinery for vcsselso
war, but evidence has been transmitted to me on
those Subjects shall content myself with brief general
statement. a s|t
The system by which the navy-yards managed is
the same which found established when L came into
Office, with some improvements. The commandant of
the yard Is responsible for its general condition 1t is his
duty correct report any abuse which may come TO
Ills knowledge He receives all orders from the depart
nent and is authorized to The proper means TO exc
them. II an order is given that vessel be built OF
repaired other work DONE he directs the employment
of the men, and fixes the number to be employed with
out interference by the department He is authorized
and required to dismiss any inan, aud to report
any master for neglect misconduct. When mas
ter is thus reported to the department. investigation
is ordered he is notified, witnesses are examined, and
the testimony returned to the department for its action
The master has the selection OF the men, subject 10 me
approval of superior officers and held responsible for
them and the work done by them under his charge,
au ,gc therefore authority to dismiss them his sys-
ten OF responsibility is found to work well in the
navy yards generally although there is greater dhculty
aud embarrassment in the Br0oklyn yard from thG spe
abundant population of the great adjacent ces pressing
or e,popmen and 1esoting to all legitimate means TO
obtain IT, lIls difficulty will not be obyated 10y any
system that can be adopt d. saa igGst be employed
they must from the ncghboring congressional qs
tricts they must be selected by they should
be selected by the master workman, who Is rcsponsloie
for taam subject indeed TO proper restrictions and sI
pcrvison aPd ts master workman innst always ieei
Gpd haye 70 contend IN ie presence of vast numbers
seeking employment ahd tb 2pll daring periods Of
commercial distess He is aso cSposeq 70 lli qccIsi
tcns of dismissed and disappointed worhmen, and TO w
scrutiny vgilant competitors seeking his place, and "
there be any efounded charge against him. 1t s quito
sure to be made known TO the officer whose duty IL
Is to inauire There has been report again any
nasssr workman of any of the Atlantic navyyaids since
have been IN che dpyrtart except in live cases one
alleged misconduct several yeasa ps9. Wheh was
fully investigated by my predecessor ono for nto2ioa
op ,ch has been Investigated and followed by now
appointment, .y temporary insanity where the mas
ter was afterwards restored ufo. his recovery and pfod
cling a certificate from his physician that is ~L, ,Qf ne
y 10 recur and the other two cases recently Tor neg
ect Of dply yhh haye been investigated ana the re-
turns having just ~ will saoA be disposed o. ihcsc
are the only instances Of charges presented 10 me aeF
ment and II there be any presented to The eolnHi'lee
which have not been preferred TO the comanoant OF te
navy yard and opportunity given to the parties lmphch
ted to defend themselves it is at least very doubtful
whether such charges be ought to be sustained
III l eelts neither the department nor the officers OF
tho yard have had any ,aotSdge Of them, There has
been an increase of the number OF nen'empioy hf "
has taken place simultaneously In all the yards and Tor
the reasons already satedthe increased activity OF the
seyiee the expedition 10 the Geghborhood OF Cuba the
expcdon 10 sasaspgy the construction OF eight new
steamers as. speedily as might no sonsspn YIN me
public interests in obedience to the innncsohs OF Con
Al l...,,