New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-06


immediate selection Of the best position that can b
tanned before any greater expense shall hsve beee -
cured in large and COSTLY edhoss and other soossena
Improvements.
The importance Of procuring at the beeinnins -
before making further outlay. the best attainabe ooe
ton fur the Academy worthy the serious atseasaee
Congress
There are several places tho shores Of CHESAPEAKE
Bay where ample grounds be procured at modefeee
rates-paces which c0gbne all the requires sovos-
taees ana which are relieved from the serious and n
urmountabe difficulties which attach to the pfs:eel
location The Government there possess itsen e
simple area not only for permanent structures Dos 10
such other arrangements as national naval acedexy
may REQUIRE which will be alike creditaos ana ucssU
to the country an honor TO the Government AND q
endurabe as the Union itself Instead u expeueseo
more money attempts to improve the limited grocsee
now occupied, wvcld recommend new site one ~
shall embrace II possible area OF ut least zVU 49,
which shall not he in the immediate eishbo.hooa q
any city with its temptations which snail nave -
requisites Of beaiihlnness accessibility. ample wesk
'front.' and space for managing vessels and neets OF
good anchorage, with sufficient depth OF water -
such proximity TO tho ocean as circumstances peFoR
yet inside the line OF per msnent defense. .
The views OF Congress and OF the country inecaee.
wisely 10 my opinion. preference for this htiteoAs
where Winter climate will allow outdoor exercise %
board scholarships aoft, boat-ssiling. maDeuvern0
vessels and other nautical instruction a. proper -
cation for naval academy Some necessary pTelini-
nary inquiries have already been instituted with view
Of sscertanng the most eligible locations on the Ches.
npeske the result Of which is that there sever1
sites when In all essential respects preferable -
lthat OF Annapolis, and where ample grounds can -
procured. would therefore recon mend that the ID
parmept be authorized to possible tAo
refusal at reasonable price, of one or more eg.hs
sites naval academy embracing an area OF NOS -
than COZ acres
PAY IN NAvY-YARDs.
In order to regulate the poy OF woiknen In the pgoe
service, av avs a difficult matter OF adjustment, tAe
laws of Dec u, le6l, and Of July TO- le62 were -
acted directing that the hours Of labor end the rate
OF wages Of the employ Is in the Navy Yards snall coe
form. nearly is consistent with the pubic ibtsresk
with Of private establishments in tbe immediate
vicinity Of the respective yards TO be determined by ne
of Navy Yads subject to the approves
and revision II the Secretary of tie Navy
The operation Of the thus sought to be estabushee
has been satisfactory neither to the men employed noa
to tie Government but on the contrary al unceasne
source II disturbance and discomfort. COMMITTEES
have been appointed bmonhy at each II the yards =
ascertain the rates Of ws,es paid TO similar classes q
workmen In private establishments but It las bece
found difficult obtain reliable data this subject
Some parties decline furnish the information sought
while others give imperfect statemenh Woen ance
inquiry and investigation, scale Is adopted having
view the interests aud rights OF botl the Govern'
ment aid the lsb0rels, there Is dissatsfaott0a.
especially If IN the fuctustion Of the cur ency.
or Of supply and demand, there has been redae-
tio and woken by visiting the different private
establishments are enabled to procure from sone u
them certificates that higher wages are PAID IN sone
instances than the rates adopted AT zoe yaiu. Is"
ccrtic ites do the number or proportion q
employed at these ligh iates, or whether tneee
prices paid to all of that c IS IN such establishmeaS
IT. on inquiry, 1t is ascertaned that only ore or tvs
men of unusual capatity receive these high priceA
and that those authorized by the Government are -
average rates. the explanation fails 10 give ssts1cuoA
for the evidence Is produced that higher wages thea
those on the Government scale are paid Ia prvac
es establishments in the vicinity. The imp ession -
there is some unfoirness Is eneendered, comp,nse
and strikes follow threatened. yigilhnt omcsn
v ho are faithfu the Government become obnoxoeA
aud discomfort prevails l uoold therefore, reoo3
mend that the acts referred TO be repealed.
| NAyY-yARD ABUSES, ETC.
The lessons Of Experience will have been loet 40 -
CARDS the labor employed in the construction OF ar
public ships and the teacnss OF si war IN
and essential changes in the orgdnnstion ana nahaea
ment Of our Nayy.Yards There has beeuundouDtedg
defective administration OF the yards ara ~1 H.
proper possibility pervades the wbo!e system MaSa
that is wrong las its origin without DOUBT ID ne
pArtsau character which has been fostered Tor years N
those establishments where thousands OF workmen are
emnoyed Men are often pressed for positions IN IL
navy yards not so much for their mechanical Skill
Gustry ard fidelity to the public service ~ lcs
or anticipated partisan services in behno some aovS
poltlcisn or party Having obtained positions sIloses
such Influences the appointeeo themselves IN tne eS
tioo ofworkmen are governed " slanl swced
political partisans. many OF whom. 1 appreaenu
not skillfuI mechanics to the ae,aa"en' O o.
system Of assessments appears to have been appnec.
Inv witch the worknen were taxed o. irfes ponsipie
committeeman for alleged party psiISss o. ha me
posed upon them the duty Oft caterers or eecuVh
eering objects. understand that the amounts taus
collected in NgvyYards and elsewhere from Govern.
mani oficers and workmen have been large. How The
nenev Tins collected was applied or disposed Of ,
UNCERTAIN for 1t without accounta0lity Tbs eva
has been confined to no party. l nave on Us oelne
brou In au autbeptic form to my notice Issued, unoe
vonr direction orders to prevent these party asseee-
ments and collections in the Navyfards. have 49,
introduced other regulations Intended 10 check existing
ebuses Whether legal prohil mons ought not TO b
instituted to prevent I'm evil so deordhng ohu papeEO
Is submitted for consideration
very considerable reduction or the number OF mas
ter WORK men has been made and changes have been Ia
PRODUCED in regard to Others 'ich Will am confdset
have A sanitary influe Hereafter the several cendt
dates .or the position Of master VIII be examined sn1
the appointments made without regard to locality.
Some improvements in the system OF accounts have
also been introduced and will be still further extended
NAVY AGENTS.
The system Of supplying the Navt-Y ards under wha
is called "open purchase by Navy Agents has bees
discontinued and Psymasters have been ordered hose
after TO make these purchases. The office Of Navy
Agent was superfuous and had become worse than use
less The system of purchasing on percentage hu-
tied In the amount which the Agent should receive led
IN corruption and abuse which enriched those VIE
chose TO participate in such practices demorazed those
who held the Office of Navy Agent tended to corrupl
the snbordLaos in the Navy Yards aud those who fur
nshed articles under these purchases discouraged aaA
drove away honest dealers, and finally led 10 attempts
10 over the tracks of guilt by techhcalties OF law
whckmay perhaps arrest the arm OF lutlce out cannos
suppress the righteous Judgment OF an honest pablo
10 open to the light abuses sanctioned By time. aAA
and projected by those who have prohtcd I'D
obtained wealth and influence through hidden NAL preo
tlce often a difficult well ~ an ungracious tasks
hot no officer who faithfully discharges his duty oen b
aware of misdemeGnors or crimes OF this character,
! and fail 10 expose or not strive TO correct them
Tic moot efficient remedy for tbs state OF things
within the power OF tho Department has been applied
in the transfer Of the few rcnainns agencies peys
mpsters who receive percentage but perform tAeiP
duties under the responsibility OF their commssoss.
and NAV be subjected ocurt-nart for delinquency.
or sumnnriy cd to other duty when the puDae N
terest may require 1t.