Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-12-03

ID.
Preparations for impr oyements In any Of the
navy yards for the current year. In conse.
quence OF this omIs sion the Is climates pres ant.
ed under lat head for The ems ing III cal year,
necessarily Increased.
The Naval Academy continues under the
superintendent of Nice-Admral Porter.
Some additional facilities are needed both in
the academic and steam department., tor W hish
estimates have been submitted. A further
purchase of land and th ere ton Of additional
buildings are also desirable. The department
OF natural and experimental philosophy, es-
pecially, needs enlarged and better accommo-
daliOns. and the discipline OF the academy
would be much benefited If all the officers
tion instead of being compelled to occupy
very Indifferent quarters outside. Two con-
venient dwellings hs We been completed during
the year at a moderate cost, and the erection
of ten more II recommended.
The 81 aduating class the present year num-
beIed eiehy-seveD.
The naval apprentice system continues to
receive the special care and attention of the
department. and the results thus far have
been more sa It's factory than could have been
reasonably anticipated at the time the enlist
ment OF apprentice boys was revived, about
three years since. The education of the bows
as seamen does not cease with their transfer
from the apprentice ships to sea-goiug vessels
Those in service on board our men of war are
being educated and prepared for the higher du l.
ties OF seamanship, and such as identify them
selves with the navy by twenty years service,
become Denenclarles under the act OF March
,, 1867, and are provided for in age
The authorized annual number of appren :
tees for admission to the Naval Academy,
though this year Increased to ten, was elected
without difficulty by competitive examina ton
from those who were eligible under the law,
and several Diners. who were nominated rom
the school ship by members OF Congress
passed the req uired examination.
Attention rs again invited to the i'm portance
OF le gslatlon to improve the condition II our
seamep, beth in the naval and mercantile ser
vice. The longer a seaman continues in the
navy the more valuable he becomes, and IL is
worthy of cons liberation whether in lieu of the
bounty now paid for the re.enlistment of those
who have been honorabiy discharged, or in
addition thereto, an increased rate OF monthly
wages may not be advantageously given for
every honorable discharge, so that tor those
who credliably serve their enlistments the in
ducement 10 continue in the navy Will increase
with their years Of service. until iually, when
they are entitled TO retire upon half pay for
life, after an enlistment OF twenty or more
years as now provided by law, their compen.
cation will be such that their half pay will
give them comfortable support II they choose
to accept IL IN lieu of q home at the Naval
Asylum.
Additional Iesislatioprs also needed to retain
the services OF those who volubta rily enlist
Punishment cannot now reach q seserter ex
cept by the tedious and expensive process OF a
court martial, IL Is suggested that a more
summary way to deal with deserters be
authorized, and that they he by law required
to serve the full term OF enlistment exciusiy