Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-28
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
In the Senate, on Monday last

In the Senate, on monuay last
Mr. HALE called up the following resolution, submitted
by him on the 9Th 81 Januaryi
Resolved That the Committee Naval Affairs be in
inquire into the present condition of the Navy the
being for the of the Navy the mode and
of procuring supplies for the Navy and the condnc Of
the Department generally and that they have power TO send
for persons and papers
the Senste which think will satisfy them Of the necessity
and proprety of nstutng some Of these inquiries II
will be by the estimates OF expenses, that are
called upon appropriate this year 42 900 900 for
val purposes. This is large small by comparison
have been at pains to look at the naval expenditures
Of Il civilized world they have been furnished by
one of our Assistsnt librarians find that the naval
pendtures of Great Britain during the year 1862
$50 400 g40 Of France for 1863 voted by the Corps
Leqisst $3e 900 600 OF Spain for 1862 421 6l7
OF Russia 1862 SIS 1878; of Austria per budget of
1868 00O of the Netherlands for 1862 1858 436
Of sweden Tor 1868, $35034 400; of Prussia for 1862
81 469 260; Of Portugal for lS62-63 $lll $50. These
sums are given dollars and they comprise the naval
penditure Of all the civilized nations OF the world, with
the exception OF Italy and Denmark Italy and Denmark
publish naval expenses separate from the general
ex penses but the of the civilized world for
year taking sometimes 1862 and sometimes 1862 and 1862
and sometimes 1863 they given amount in gross
TO $l3 69l that called upon to spend this
year four million dollars MORE than all the rest Of the
world with the exception Of Italy ana Dsnmark
1t may be said and said with truth, that these
pendtues IN time Of peace. have been at some pains
TO look the expenditures of England and France in
the gigantic struggle OF the Crimean That
declared the ~ Of March, 1854 and the Crimea
evacuated by the Allies July H. 1857 lasting little
than three years and FIVE months. The total naval
peDditures Of Great Britain during the 1862
032 80, and Of France $57677,556 making total Of
$349 55 for the whole naval expenses of France and
England during the Crimean war, which less than
800 900 year; that called upon this year
TO appropriate for navy $40 900 600 than was
spent by the combined nations Of France aud England
any year during the Crmean war | have got these
statistics for the purpose Of letting the Senate and the
country what are asked To do.
| But Mr. President, want 10 call the attention Of my
friend from Iowa (Mr GRIMEs) t. an explanation which
he made Of bill where eKtravagant prices paid, and
want 10 say to him that the explanation which he gave
to my mind is entirely unsatisfactory and that am 10
formed by those who pretend 10 know that ~ that class
Of supplies where thousand per cent paid above the
market price, there is not single article that was under
the market price and that will appear investigation
These matters that think Gght TO be Inquired into
end there other matters that think ought to be
i inquired into l think there 10 something very singular
in regard to the mode Of furnishing supplies But Judge
from the manifestations the other day that the Senate
rather to making these Inquiries at least
to trusting them to the Committee Naval Affairs II
spoke the truth in all my life, hope to do
! declare thar nothing on earth would relieve more
than that the Senate should take this matter from the Ma
val Committee and give Il to select committee, and that
they should be instructed 70 make these inquiries
1t seemed 10 be minated tnst these inquiries look TO
opposition to the Navy Department, and believe to the
Administration Not So Mr. President not here to-day
r. make profession Of faith II the history Of my humble
life has not chased il would be idle for 70 undertake
TO do by any professions opposed TO stealing
from the Treasury Whep il done by the Democrats
not IN favor Of having done by any body do not
that II n done but say there are things that ought
ia be iDyugsted Sir the Good Book tes az that Ju-
aas Iscarot te and carried the bag that held tie
contributions which belonged 10 the twelve disciples ia
common aud suppose that If any body questioned his
integrity Judas pronounced him at foe Of Christ
and Christ anty Not sir II there be dishonest prac
tees If there be defects In the law there be any thns
wrong all on earth that ash ia that there may be
honest inquiry into il,
Mr. HALE modified hs resolution, at the suggestion
Mr.. GRIMES, as to make u read ~ follows;
Rssolped That o eelect committee OF three be appoints
by the Chsr 70 investigate subject Of naval supplies
that they have power send for persons and papers
to employ a stenoS rapher.
The resolution, az thus amended, was adopted.