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

There has been no report ag4inst any
master-workman Of any of the! Atlahtic
Navy Yards since ! hare been il the
Depariment. except 10 Ave cates one
lpr alleged misconduct several yea ago.
which was fully investigated BIZ uav pre-
decessor one for intoxicati0n. WhichEhas
Ibeen investigated and followed BY new
Impeachment; one for temporary insane
Iity. whens the master Was afterwards re.
stored upon his recovery aud producing
i certificate from his physician that il
would not Be likely 10 rscur. and ilieOth-
sr two eases recently for neglect of duty
which have been Investigated, and ihs
retnrns having just come IN. win soon be
disposed Of These are the only ihstan-
ces Of charges presented to tie Depart
ment. and Il there be any presented 10
The Somnittes which h&ve not been pre-
ferrsd to the Commandant Of he navy
yard, and opportunity given 10 The par-
/ ties implicated % defend themselves. Il
IS. Al least, very doubtful Wherher| such
tchasgss can Be or ought TO be sustain.
led IL al events. neither the Depart
ment nor The officers Of the yard hava
had any Knowledge Of them. There has
been an increase Of the number Of men
employed, but It has taken place simni-
Itaneously in all the yards. and OF The
reasons already stated--the Increased aG-
ltiyity OF the service; the expedition 10
the neighboFhood Of Cuba !; the expedi-
ton 10 Pafagu u the construction Of
eight new steamers, :. as speedily IS
might be consistent with the public in
tssests," III obedience 10 the injuhclions
Of Congress-. There Is one instance
where the bureau has been induced % d..
part from the general rule 81 non .ialer.
Ference with The number Of men to be
Iemployed! and what was Ii lhs nnvy
yard al p hiiadelphia, 70 an inconsidsiabie
Extent. in useful work. upon tie nfgent'
IpieIof necessity. humanity. and usill ).
pressed by a gentleman Of high and tol-
Eorabls eharaster. incapable 81 Eslsehoods
l. The course Of the Department in refer
lence TO contracts for steam mach ibefy for
vessels Of war. has been 10 prescribs Ger
tain conditions. advertise for plans and
Proposals. subject to such conditions. and
award the contracts according 20 tbs
merits Of such plans and proposals hay
ling due regard TO price. They canaot;
from the nature Of the case, Be awarded
ito Tie lowest bidder having reference 10
iprice only, because no twp persons bid
FOR the same thing. each plan being DIFF
IfereEt from tha others, and Il being the
lobiect OF the Government 10 obtain the
result .of the highest skill. The bids are
given under seal, are NOT opened nnril
Elhe time for receiving them has expired.
and Of course no one can know Whist
fthey contain. except the party himself
and those 10 whom he may tommunieats
lit. a Board Of Engineers is appoi I d
and each Is required d give hrs 'individ.
G,A opinion and bis reasons for ii Often
they are unanimous somelimes there IL
+ single dissenting opinion soIns lines
They are equally divided. have,
in no case that am aware Of. award
led : eol;ract 10 opposition 70 the opin-T
lion Of. 9 majority. although ! should
feel at liberty 70 do 90. The contract
given to Messrs Merrick a Sonssy Of
Phihdelphia. IN regard to which i letter
from Colonel Paterson 70 Sihe President
was By him in the usual course, without
nm iIltimalion Of any wish OF, his part, re-
fsrred to this Depsi tment, was awarded
Et6 them on tbs merits Of their plan and
proposals -ih accordance with tIa llnans
Iinops opinion Of the Board Of Engineers
Their bid being lower thsa those az the
Iothef bidders Y hose plans were approved.
The President did not in any msnnsr sin-
Eterfsre 10 this case. nor has lie III any
Eother case Of contract since hare been
Lin thu Department In al eoutTacis.
Imade under The act Of the last session.
frhe- Department obtaiRedg an absolute
lguarantee Of the number cfrevplutions Of
The propeller 10 = minute; instead of lhe
usual number Of about 4l.s the contract.
tors guarantee 30. and in one instance
100. La one contract-thaI for the vessel
under construction al Norfolk arded
70 Messrs. hurry q Hazlehurst. Of Bal
limore. there b guzrantes Of the speed
Eof Is statute miles an hour, under for.
Eeiture Of $4,000. 10 be deducted from
the Rrice, If the speed fall d ~ milee Der
hour. and Half TIA. sum il i fall 70 loar-
leen and ! half miles.
In the contract fOr the vessel At Phila-
Idelpiiia. awarded to Messrs. Reany. Neal.
Re and Co.. there is = guaranly not only
for one hundred revolutions, of the pros
lpfl.rs per n.inuss. but also for the iced
iof sixteen statute miles per hour. under
Ia forfeiture Of fifteen thonssnd dollars. 10
b deducted from the prizes, il The speed
fall % fifteen miles par hour. and half
thh sum il il fall 10 ifteen+and Ashalf
miles. a more stringent and advanta-
geous contract for the Government, his
not been made.
The awarding Of this contract having
been the subject Of comment. II MilLtaks
the occasion % say. lhal DE charge made
against . very competent and faithful Of
icer. lths Engineer 10 chief. By al ex-
cited and Interested party was fully in-
vesIigated BY me- and found - Be With
out The slightest foundation. ! xceptin Z
MISREPRESENTATION Of thai party. fully ex-
/ pIainsd and that The eontfRss vas auNrd-
cd % ths lowest price. to tie bsst glsr-
anty. % the hiShes.sxperiencs u The coz
slrncticn Of marine spgiaes against n
sxperiencs at al. and y 4ecefaeAes