Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-01-25
. Especial to the New YO'k Times, Rep.l
rHr nopprRlrs ~ ran WAR prpAnrxEyr.
special To tine New York Herald.
THE ABUSES ~ rHE NAVY DEPARTMENT

THE ABUSES ~ Tux NAVY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON Jan. 9, 1854
The proceedings of the Senate to-day partock
somewhat of a sensational character. and are to
night the topic of conversation. Mr.. Hale's ex
pose of the operations of navy agenss and the
exorbtant prices phil for articles unnecessarily,
occ ,sioned great surprise, though not more than
has been caused by the efforts of Senators to
prevent AN investigation. The purchases of the
Navy Department have from time to time ex
cited comment here by their extraordinary char
acter, aud the feeling is generally entertained
that an investigation has not onIy become neces
sary but that IL cannot he averte'l
Especial 10 the NY World Con-ervative.l
The searching resolutions offered by Winter
Davis in the House Yesterday, and Mr.. Hale in
the Senate to day, looking to the investigation of
frauds in the Navy Department, are creating
quite an excitement. The Senate debate
pecially spicy. so far AS those concerned who
did not favor an investigation. and denounced
those who did as proiessed friends of the Admin
istration who caused more harm than its oppo
neuts. Senator ConDess made his first effort
in this debate but cid not create very fa-
yOrable impression.
THE DEMAND FOR INVESTIGATION AND DEBATE IN
THE SENATE.
From the n. Y. Tines (Rep) Congressional Report
SENATE.
Mr. Hale, Of New Hampshire, (Admnistra
tion) submitted the following:
Resolred, That Select Committee be ap
pointed with instructions 20 inquire into the con
dition of the navy. the efficiency of the steam
engines lately constructed for the use of the
navy, the mode and manner of procuring sup
plies for the navy, and the conduct of the de
partment generally. and that they have power to
send for persons aud papers. f
Mr. Hale said there llad been report of an
argument furnished To him, made by Dir. Dick
erson, of New York. in which he gave facts,
dates and figures. TO show a total want OF neg.i
gence in the Navy Department. in regard to the
construction of It's engines for marine purposes,
that the vessels constructed by the present mode
arc failures; and that hundred and seventy mil
lions of dollars were almost uselessly spent.
This would go 10 show corruption, want OF
capacity in some quarters. He would have been
glad had the Secretary Of the Navy called for
an investigation This was question which
stirred the nation We were called upon to ap
propriate Sl70 100000, and he thought some
thing should be done with this paper. II II con
tanned ANYTHING at alt. He felt il proper to call
the attention or the Senate to it. He had no dis
position to take the thing in hand, nor would be
shrink from IT, The attention of the country it
had and would have. While we would not en-
dorse any OF the statements. he believed, from
his intercourse with conversant with the
subject, that something was wrong. feeling
of despair, he said comes over the people on
account of naval movements. ] hope the Senate
will dispose of the matter as have suggested, or
in any way to accomplish the end desired in my
resolution.
Mr. DooIittie, of Wisconsin, Administration
hoped The resolution would lie over until Mon
day, as he had desire to look into the matter
carefully before discussing IL here
Mr.. Grimes, of Iosa, (Administration) said
the Navy Department sh ank from no investiga
ton into its conduct 1t courted il. And when
il was made. Il would turn out that We had as fast,
IL not faster vessels any navy of the world.
| assert, said he, that this is now the case. Un-
der these circumstances, as a friend Of the Navy
Department and the navy. hope that the reso.
luton viii be adopted in some form Whether
the matter is given TO Select Committee, or 9th
erwise, is for the Senate to determine. That
there may have been faults. do not deny; but
/ do assert from the commencement Of the pres
ent war to this time. the Navy Department has
been mansged better than any other Department
Of this Government. The Morgan steamer sub