Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-05-17

1lor tfanspArtatioh. Their commissions.
\ under this agency inthe years l e5a. 1855
land 1854 amounted y S5o.975 SO. while
1.-The commissions Of III other coal agents.
tot supplying our steam vessels 81 war
with lnnal. during the whole period from
1850 70 tie present time. amounted only
\ to the sum Of 0t9. 85l SO, and tor sup
plying TIL Navy Yards To- the further
sum ofS rs. $50 ~ This special agency
was abolished hy Mr.. Dobbin. id 1854
There has been no other change in the
/ system. except only. that in pnrsuarce 81
the policy expressed N the Act Of Con-
tgreas. II September Gath. I $50, of giving
lpreserence To- Amgicap produations. +
have caused anthracite coal 10 Be sent
from Pennsylvania mines. BIZ AmeFican
vessels. chartered BY the Department,
land without ans speoisl agency 70 The
/ East India. Pacific. and all other foreign
stations. where i could be delivered At
mo greater cost than thatof foreign coal
ldelivered II the same places. This has
Icauseda n increase Of purchases of coal IN
1this country. but i has proved nnst de-
sIfcidedly an economical and beneficial i'm
l|pfoyenent. as will appear BY detailed re-
tturns which arelnow probably before the
lcommittee, securing, without any increase
jofcost to the Goearnment, what is deem
ed The best cod in the world Tor war
steamers-she anthracite coal Of PennsyT.
lyania. Nochapge has been made in the
bituminous coal agency. nor any in that
for anthracite. except that the former
agent. Mr.. Tyson. At the end Of four
years from biz appointment, was succeed
led by Mr.. Hunter. The present agent.
Whom / appointed IN May last. upon the
IImost reliable recommen dations. leaving
Thin to the discharge Of his duty upon
Ibis own responsibility. ] was not aware
until the present Investigation that he had
lemploxed another psrson u aid him
following him to share in bis commissions.
rs his predecessor had done--nor Of any
lIwant Of attention on his part It was
.lwall known TO HE Department that The
4 Eayv was Supplied with coal of the best
kind and quality for naval purpose at
Hess cost than formerly, At what was
deemed in The zbureaux reasonable prices.
and that the bills passed hnder the In
Iepeelion and required ths approval Of the
most faithful and vigilapt officers Of ths
GoverBment. who were in the constant
practice nfi instituting inquiries into the
lreasonableness of prices and of refusing
payment when they were excessive. Il
| Is not now the opinion Of tie bgreaux. AZ
| ter full inquiry. that The price psid. e3.s5
per ton OF the best anthracite coal for
steam purposes, sefeeped. selected and
delivered at the vessel ia Philadelphia.
T has been excessive or. unreasonable.
The Department has at al times let
both these agents for the pnTchaseof coal
perfectly fires il the discharge n their
/ duty, upon their own responsibility, with
! such assistance as they might choose I'd
employ at their own expense. subject
i only 10 the cheeks which exist on ship
board and at the naval stations. where it
/ is the duty Of the proper officer to report
any deficiency ia quantity or quality. and
also to the nonetant supervision of the
4 chiefs Of the Bufeaux. under whose orders
1.-the purchases are made. and by whom
lthe bills must be examined and approved
before they can be passed. i Both these
high officers enjoy nv entire confidence !;
confidence, not only in their capacity,
but IN their vigilance and .fprightness.
Il j should BE- very willing 10 give full
\ details. of the action Of the Department
ii reference 70 the Navy Yards. and 70
the contracts for steam machinery for
vessels Of war hut is no evidences has
been. transmitted 10 me on those SUBJ
ljects. l shall content myself with brief
general statement
Il The system BY which the Navy u srds
are managed. il. the same KhichI found
established when / came into Office With
some Improvements The command,
ant of the yard il responsible Cor It's gen.
eral condition. 1t Is his duty to correct
4 Or report any abIse which may come 70
/ his knowledge. He receives all orders
d from the Department. and IL authorized
% use the proper means u execute them.
lIf an order Is given that aIyessel be built.
Eor repaired. Of other work done. he al,
/ reefs the employment Of the men and fx-
I les the number 10 be employed. without
J interferenca BY The Department He j.
authorised and required 70 dismiss any
workman, and to repor. any master for
neglect or misconduct. Wien master
b thus reported 70 the Department. an
Investigation is ordered. ne Is notified.
Witnesses are examined. and the testimo
I1y returned to the Department iol lis De-
don. The master has the selection Of the
men. subject 70 the approval of superior
i officers. and il held responsible for them
and the work done BY them under his
charge. and has. therefore. authority 70
dismiss them. This systemEof responsible
4 lily 10 found u work well in ths Navy Yards
generally. although there is greater diff
6culty and embarrassment NTH Brook
lIgn Yard Iromihe superabundsnt popu.
Iation Of The great adjacent cities. press-
| ing for employment and resotting 70 al
4 legitimate means 10 obtain It. This siiffi.
Guilty will nd Be obviatsd By any system
that can Be adopted. Men mnsi Be en-
ployGd they must come from the neigh
4 boring congressional districts. they lnusl
Be selected 81 some one. they should b
selected by the r.pofkmaf. who |.
Irresponsible for them. subject indeed. ID
proper restfictions and supervision, and