The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-10

AS Congress has for two years declined TO make
appropriations Tor improvements ID navy yards,
directed the several bureaus Of the department. In
preparing their annual estimates, TO accept the
policy SO emphaticaly Indicated Of the wishes Of
Congress- and to limit their estimates to the amount
necessary for the wants OF the service based upon
the authorized number OF men, and what Is abso.
lutely required to keep In repair anu TO preserve the
public property. Should II be thought advisable to
place the navy yards In more efficient condition, be-
hitting the requirements OF the country and the
vice, former reports can b referred TO for state
ments OF improvements Considered essential, or
spects as regards any branch OF the service, bs
desired, they will be promptly furnished. $3.50 I
since the close OF tue war tne esumates OF this
have, until the present year been based on MAXI
mum OF $1,000 enlisted men. Although the appro.
prations authorized tine enlistment aud payment Of
this number the department In organizing the
squadrons has employed no more than the ncces-
sites OF the service ON o moderate naval peace
establishment required. Less than 1000 men
were enlisted, leaving reserve OF over
1900 to be called into service In Of emergency.
IL has been the policy OF the department, while un-
der my administration, 10 present in each annuaI
report the actual condition OF the service In all ~
branches with ample estimates for every require
ment aud proposed Improvement. congress and the
country have tus been fully apprised VI the neces
sites and purposes OF the department. ana dsn.
cheney bills NJ subsequent sessions nave been
When Congress convened one year ago and the de-
partment learned informally tnat II was Inc lnien.
ton 10 reduce the service onehalf 70 defer tue
pletion OF vessels which had been commenced ana
Tor whicn engines mad been contracted before the
war terminated, ana to discontinue improvements
In the navy Yards the estimates were nj revised
and made TO conform 10 Tie new condition oil things.
Tho department had not been consulted IN regard 70
this reduction informed that any change from
the then existing number was designed; nor was
any time allowed to recall FROM distant stations tie
vessels which were TO be dispensed with IN order
that the squadrons might be graduated to tue now
standard. Measures were, however, promptly
adopted upon the passage OF the act to reduce the
number 60 the legal Limitation, which was accom-
pishcd by the LIST OF September.
The estimates now submitted are Tor 500 men, IN,
GLIDING apprentices the number established W tue
act approved on tho l7th OF last June. should con-
gress at It's present session enlarge or dininis S
number now authorized the appropriations pnouii.u
be made necessarily TO correspond aad tue ess'
mates whicn follow must conform 10 existnis VS.
latioD. s
THE BUREAUS. -. :, ~.
The accompanying reports OF the chie,s NJ "a nn
several bureaus aud OF the com inanuhns y, ~ 80 =,
rine corps give summary OF the 0perauon1 - 40 "a
several departments during the year. o." N ~,
ferred 10 for full Information upon Po'hs' "" ""
here be only briefly alluded To. -, NJ, ,.,on.
The chief OF the bureau " arcs anu DVees uStnls
with mnutcness the improvements Innus y, NV
several navy yards, and yves ssaeoniehs "a 'no
work now in progress and what w consuelcu aoso-
Iutely necessary with the closest ECONOMY, iot tno
repalr OF the buildings and mo care Oh Tue puplc
property The channel OF the WaianOut pay At TUG
New YORK Navy ard has no iar illod up as 10 cause
murb e,nharrassmcnt In tho docking and moving OF
heayv ships and an appropriation VIII be rcqnirei
for tns purpose " pfsdslnK, Sn9thol euQEs W w.