New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-25
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Il appears that by the books Of the Department
bere should have been IN TIE yard at Brooklyn stores
h the value Of 4l4 52 90 the let Of July last
But whether that amount ia hand or not mas not
been ascent sined. No inventory has been taken for
bears. ADsOn HeTrick the present storekeeper, was
EppOipted in March, 1857, aud durDg that year an at
teIopt TO make inventory was commenced but, ~
her some months trial, was abandoned.
| From the msDner In which the books were previ-
busy kept az shown by Herrick, it Is utterly mpOs-
kh To ascertain the oniitiOn Of the public stores,
IRON the accounts az the Department, until detailed
Inventory il completed MIR. HeIrick testlhes that
hIeYious IN his time when vessel was b'tsd ont f0r
keryioe all her stores OfNvery kind furnished were
Enlarged AZ expeuded. III the snip returned with part
of tie stores board they were passtd over to the
storekeeper and OF charged 20 him. Thus the books
Of the stoYekeepe showed that but two comparing
watches furnished the forward officers on soing 70
sea were charged 10 the sOTekeeper as 90 hardi yet
there bad been IL or 10 in the drawer. OF these,
about seven were stolen, and the stoTekeeper could
deliver ever IN the Government the two watches called
for by tie books, and bave several left;
They also find that the present stOrekeeper neglec,s
his official duties. He active editor in the city OF
New-Yoki has experience as storeB eeper except
that as boy he used TO attend grocery stOr9. he
s seldom in bis Office, ard considered his dutee well
done when he signed bis to receipts aod returns
pre wed by HE clorks and carried TO his Office IN New
York for sigu AZURE tie tesfes that his clerical force
was too small and that the returns are behind, and
lCannOL Dc NTllIcu up hJhth0t NA't hO N0
1.-TWO clerks-tNo wrteTs-One foreman, VINO sSns
lMr HsTrck's name 70 receipts to contractors, and
lsevepteen isboring mem and yet he testified that ne
Ibid not know thst he speut oLe-seventh OF ms Tune 10
1.-The duties of stoekeeper. To use his Own language:
do not spend very little time In the yard, for this
reason these papers oocumeDs bouggt TO by ny
me.euEeI-one the brieg employed nessenger
appObed ny sou fret oft because could as, COON
WIN am cot at the YARD brought to auo 81 account OF
q the business In the ,AId Brought TO my house
lend reported 70 me-"
Commander Roo'es testiGes that the force in the
lsorekeepers department has always been too large,
laud that this fact ard Mr. Herncks neglect OF duy
have been reported TO the department. without FUR
tber detail and referring the testimony, tho under
Isgned report that the OWL officers OF tho yard nave
!not and do not general rule, attend properly To
their official duties; that their appointment mas oeee
tcOntIoed by peucs reasons, aud not by tAe hSneSs
lOT qualifications for their respective Offices
PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD.
The attention of the Committee was directed 70 one
transaction at this YARD In August lsst Iequsl1n
sas made upon the Naval Constructor for eighty
Ioakum spinnere. There were then employed Ten TO
fifteen spDUers, who were generally " Oh SelIs' as
tabled for active duty and yet competent 10 SPIN
ioakum; the work If nothing but rubbing OAkum upon
Ithe knee. The Naval Constructor did not deem q
rreater force necessary aud refused 10 sign tne reqn
sOn. The master oaulkeT brought II 10 Capt Cafr,
1.-The Commander IL the Yard, who sso refused To syn
1.-The reouisition IheTeupop, the Hon. lDOmas Is
IForence member of this House, came 10 Was oing-
lton and asked the Secretary to direct tho eighly
IoAku spinI ers TO be employed. lt was referred 10
the Bureau of larcs and Docks. COMMODORE Smth
Eecnet at first but he received shp OF paper signed
Eby Mr. Wefh the chief clerk, on Shich was written
IN mcneil as follows: " The master wOrknen have
30 MADE requisitou for eighty additional pckers; You
n" will see that II e complied with: ms WsS lhcoseo
xyas then issued 20 tue Commander OF the fard ana
Btbe oak um spiuueIs were set to work. Commodore
ICaIr testi6es that when the meu came IN ne went
down and took lock st them" they We're the lame
l a the halt aud the blind; but they Oil the work. 1
made place for them until they worked tie oskum
/" up" They were then discharged.
AL the O6kun spinning FOR year Vas croW1ea ihJo
few weeks. The undersigned refer ~ the testimony
Of MIR Florence for the motive Of this transaction
REMEDY FOR ABUSES.
L Your Committee have directed their attention, as
far as tuae would permit, to the best mode OF correct
l ing existing abuses In tue management OF Navy
l ards They have considered whether, Let, all or
some OF the Navy Yards could not be dispensed VITA
with advantage TO the pubic service, ana tae con-
sructon ana repair OF vessels be done Dy private Gu
lterprise. -, VI,
"a Whether work in al or some Of The Navy arls
Icould not properly be suspended and they be paced
lin ordinary until existing abuses are VI to
Your Committee have not fully considered these prop
toSi,ions, and dc rot report upon them.
All work in the Navy Yards or upon vessels OF the
limited States depends upon the annual appropriateness
Iof Congress- go inst Congress, by granting or WITH
thod;ne Appropr atoms determine these quesIN ns
without changing existing lave.
In concluding Ueir report upon tnis UiSu"" va N1e
the undersigned csG the attention Oh
opgress 10 the necessity OF general law. prescr6log
1.-The manner Of making Government contracts Inc
existing laws consist of detached sections OF various
Ilsrs In most cates attached to sppropra ST IN ouS
and otter uuconnected with each otner III Is ouicut
Ito sscertslp from the law the powers ana dotes Oh
kofcers authorized to make contracts. Abuses, Ihere
fiore naturally occur The undersgned, q, TINS ,aSe
Aperoi Of the sesson, have not time 10 mature ol
let Deem II their doty to cal the attention OF Con-
pess 10 the subject.
n CONTRACTS FOR MACHINERY.
! The inquiry of your Committee into the conuac's
cbireIy for the yesse!s of the U1ted states ne
n uanly confined TO the contracts inside Tor the ma,
.aaesy OF The vessels now building under the act u
\ ssee, A. d., 1853
0. toe 10Th Of July, sealed proposals were invited
gite Secretary OF toe Navy for tho steam msChiuefy
It. for the seven slOOps-Oi-~8r authorized oy thhI
4 ~ The specifications aid not prescribe the form,
Aa on details Of the machinery, bet promised drA"
q Il the section Of the weasel 70 any Que MAKING ap
on therefor. I.requued TIE b. ideI 70 saafs15.eS
vi WAN results such as power, speed, eoonOuy =. @
~ Tie ike bus left the design ana the i..I
see machinery with tbs party whose piCpos,tloo
sa,d DO accepted Under these specihcHuons pro
eak wefe made by most Of the leading ineiine Gu,
es builders in the Ulitod States, accompanies ~
va osse BY plans "a drawings. The iono"lhs - .
I<ntrt Of these bids: .....,rx.
AusE sLoop AZ posrsuoTTH, y. n, 900 HorssPoNLN
III hopEa Ircp Wola New YoEs.....'''''"s 1900
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