The New York herald., 1869-04-19
sEC2ETARY BORIE AND TIE RAVY DE-.
PAKTMENT.

PARTMENT.
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| WASHINGTON, April 16, 1860,
What senseess outcries have been raised by the
| rebel papers In relation to various naval matters
and reforms inaugurated by Mr.. Borle Secretary OF
the Navy. 1t would naturally be expected that the
| administration Of General Grant would be misrepre
sented by the New York organ OF the Bohemians,
| and that his measures, no matter how good they
might be. would be condemned; but it Is rather
queer to find person like the newly made Appraiser
! of the port Of New York opening his broadsde ON
the Secretary Of the Navy, and using language in
gard to him and his manner OF conducting affairs
entirely unbefting professedly republican paper.
In every step that Secretary Bore has taken he
has had the best legal advisers and has been gov
erned by the laws Of Congress. The whole country
has been crying out against the maladministrauon
OF naval affairs for the last four years. Four hun
dred aud eighty millions Of dollars were spent by
the Welies administration without producing single
ship OF which the country could feel proud. 1t is
well known fact that il we were to be threatened
with blockade Of the port OF New York at this
moment by the Spanish authorities, In consequence
of any misunderstanding with them, we have not
the means to prevent them from bottlng
US up completely. 1t Is well known that
our navy was full of abuses OF all kinds;
that the department was squandering money
in every direction the civil branches OF the ser.
vice, and that there had been no attempt made to
check IL. The moment, however, that an honest
Secretary Of the Navy attempts to reform these
abuses he Is attacked, not only by copperhead
papers, but by those who claim fraternity with the
republican party. Some democratic editor remarked
that that was called good republicanism he would
| rather not have such papers as his friends
| When secretary B0rie entered upon the duties Of
his oce President Grant ordered to duty at the de-
partment naval officer well known to the country
Of large experience In matters relating to his pro-
fessIon and whose loyalty and zeal no one could
doubt The President has OF course perfect right
to order any officer OF the navy upon any duty he
may see ft IN the line OF his profession. He has
right to command the professional talents OF the
highest and lowest In the navy. There could be
certain way to discover and correct the abuses
OF the navy than to place an expert with the Secre
tary, who could point out to him the places In the
Augean stable where the bes0m was most needed.
No one commands the confidence OF the country
than Vice Admiral Porter. This onicer was among
the first who took up arms against the rebellion, and
ne cOmanasa .he ,e nrse we vesser tnat
During the whole war he was actively employed and
was connected with almost every important naval
coadjutor he never gave up his command
or rested until after the surrender Of
Lee. What better person could Presidents Grant
have selected for the Secretary OF the Navy to con-
suit with on first entering upon the duties OF an
ofilce that must be enigma TO a civilian, no mat
Ter how many years he may hold itS
It is asserted without fear OF contradiction that
Mr. welles knew as much OF the duties OF the office
when he first took charge as when he left It, Ii
may be remarked by the unnitiated that Secretary
Borie had the bureau officers to fall back on. That
against @ back o2 S on
eight years, aud the result was s4so.Ooo,oOo
added to national debt without sound tug
to show for it. President Grant did not want any
such falling back as that and he took the proper way
to prevent T. The result i VIII prove @ MS wisdom Is
Navy Department, with one exception, were
ii;eS with Johnson men-men who were
opgossSe opg sSev are Ss hostile now to ali his measures
as men can well be who hold their positions by
very slippery tenure. They are not the men ON
Herculean task OF correcting errors, and the ques
ton Is asked by than one person interested in
the welfare OF the navy "Why Is II not demanded OF
them that they rcsignY
Secretary Bore, on his entrance into ONCE, found
bid fair TO disorganze the navy--viz., the contro
versy between the line and stan on the subject OF
naval rank. IL was brought to his notice by the
laws Of the United states, who were acting under
the direct orders OF Congress, that the rank
ferred on the staff officers by Secretary welles was in
direct violation Of law, and that so long the
arrangement made by Mr.. welles existed he lBorie
was pdrticeps criminis in breaking the law. secre-
tary Bore immediately referred the whole matter to
the highest law Officer under the government having
nrst consulted the Naval Solicitor. The learned
opinion of Attorney General Hoar has been submitted
to the pubic, ana has not been dissented from by
any person except stan officers The latter nave
pers that could be bought up aud not content with
attacking the secretary OF the Navy IN language un
worthy gentlemen, they have assaileu AdmirM Por-
ter the author OF all their woes, and misrepre-
sented hfm in every possible manner.
No sooner was Secretary B0rie installed IN once
than II was brought 10 his notice by the chief OF bu
reaus that he was violating law OF Congress by
paying ten hours pay at the navy yards for esht
lt very naturally occurred to the Secretary that
three pecks 40 not MAKE Id ouss o ama S ina, evsh
so undesirable q result lie therefore con-
suits the law and finds that It reads rs follows -
The hours OF labor OF wages Of the employees
navy yards shall conform, as nearly as u consistent
with the public interest," with those OF private establishments
in The medse vicinity OF the respective yards to be deter
by the commandans OF the navy subject 10 tho
approval and revision OF the Secretary OF the Navy
Under such ruling the Secretary could not con-
sistcntiy allow ten hours pay for eight hours labor,
and 40 he ordered that the law should be respected,
and at the same time granted ten hours pay TO I'll
those who would do ten hours work. There was no
suffering brought about among the employees IN the
navy yards. They were only Obliged to spend two
wages instead Of passing portion OF that time In
lager beer saloon or nc political meeting, where
money was going out OF instead OF into their pockets
It Is all very fine for Congress to pa,s laws by
which q portion OF its constituents can give three
pecks OF corn for the price OF a buyhel: but 1t
money of the people. who are bowed Gown by heavy
taxes and who do not care to see small portion OF
the mechanical force OF the courtry receiving ten
hours pay for eight hours work, while millions are
laboring fourteen hours Tor SIX hours pay Con-
Qress has no more right TO n AXE such use OF the
public money than Il hos TO play faro with 1t.
ono thing Is quite certai. the Senate did not con-
drm their resolution, aid Secretary Bore stands
approved In the Course suggested by his
chief OF bureaus. All the various discussions