New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-23
DIR NAVAL POLICY.


What kind of a policy is this which is proposed
for an increase in the Navy? Secretary Toucey
wants more new steamers, and proposes to rob
Peter to pay Paul in order to get them. He cphers
it out that the last twenty which have been added
to the Navy will have cost the Treasury next to
nothing. eff Congress shall continue the policy of
suspendng improvements in the Navy and
" restricting the appropriation for equipment and
"repair during the next fiscal year." The vessels
cost nearly S. 900, 600, and more than S3,OOO,OOO
have been retained in the Treasury during the
present fiscal year, and the balance of the amount
may be retained the next year by this policy. This
novelmede of raising money retaining" tits only
equaled by Secretary Cobb's system Of enlarging
the revenue by premiums on loans.
The truth s, business ability is sadly wanting in
the conduct of our Naval affairs. The Department
does not know how to get its moneys worth from
it. employees and contractors or else it does not
care to do so. We have shown that the d0y.Pay
system of labor makes all vessels built in the Navy
Yards cost too much; and this is equally true OF all
works carried on for the Improvement OF the Yards
and for the repairs of vessels in which day labor is
used. The Secretary says he has ISSUED instruc-
/" tODs to all the NavyYards establishing uniform
system of organization and management adapted
" to insure economy efficiency, and responsibility"
But we do not believe dollar will be saved BY
these " instructions" where there should be twenty
by reformation of the spendtbrilt system of en-
ploying labor which prevails. The saving of money
should begin at the Secretarys desk; and it would
be well for Congress to issue some rules for bis
guidance in letting contracts. Let Us see how Dir.
Toucey might have retained" money enough for
at least one such steamer as ne recommends to be
built in greater numbers:
The machinery of the seven small steam Sloops.
of.war cost, in the aggregate, 1851, 900. Now the
very same machnists would have done the same
work at least twenty per cent cheaper had there
been business-lke management of the bidding.
This saving would have amounted to $4,000,
which should build and equip steamer of 1000
tuns. The system by which the Treasury is de-
pleted of such sums is this Bidders are required to
furnish plans and specifications, and make bid on
the same, and on no other. They are neither in
yited nor permitted to bid on each others plans
nor on the plan that may be adopted, but each bids
on his own plan. The result is there il no true and
legal competition, but the successful planner and
specifer takes the work at his price. This is
very well understood by wide-awake contractors
who have not failed to profit by it during the last
two Administrations. When plans and spcciica-
tons with bids have been received by the Depart
ment, they are referred to Boards of Examination
for approval or disapproval-the price being left
for the consideration Of tho Secretary but unless
he shall reject the written verdict of his Board,
how can he avoid accepting the bid He has
practically but one plan and specification and one
bid before him, and be is bound to accept it, if not
grossly fat beyond precedent The merit of the
plans thus selected may be deemed doubtful, par
ticulaIy as the success of the fayorte bidder is
always certain under this system.
Men of straightforward, business habits, when
they have work to let get their plans and Specica-
tons prepared beforehand, and invite bidders to
real and fair competition on them. In getting up
| their plans, they sometimes call upon architects
and engineers to compete in their preparation, and
pay them by premiums or otherwise for their labor
Politicians only could have invented and operated
the unique contract system of our Navy Depart
fishes Of the Treasury. 1t should be oyerhauled by
Congress, and we surprised that the late Inves
tgating Committee did not discover it to be the true
cause Of the unsatisfactory awards Of contracts
which they were appointed to examine. 1t should
be forbidden by law for any Department of Gov.
eminent to receive bids on separate plans and spe-
cifcatiOns.
Another practice unnecessarily increases the
price of machinery for naval vessels; that is, the
requiring Of machinists to guarantee their work
for several months after ship goes into commits.
sion, and to pay for all repairs required in
quence of bad workmanship or material. Nothing
whatever is gained by it; contractors laugh in their
sleeve ut it, but take care to nsist extra price
in consequence of it. No engine-builder has yet
paid dollar on account Of such guaranty, although
we have had all kinds Of mishsps to the new ma
cbnery of several steamers. 1t is mpracticable to
distinguish between the accideuts due to the faults