The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-14

lures changing the character of the vessels
but the department seems at present to be
governed by no such restraints. You make
no allusion TO my several recommendations
to Congress, but state that you have proceeded
''to restore our small force to an effective
condition" in 'the shortest possible time;'
and in an appendix you enumerate eighty-six
vessels repaired and refitted for sea. A large
number Of the vessels thus enumerated,
which you take credit for having reftted, are
new and have never made cruise.
Your justification and great claim for these
expenditures, made Independently of Con-
gress, consist in the vast saving of "fuel.
Vessels, you say, have been ''given full sail
power and rerigged," so that they are indie
pendent of steam. "Orders have been issued
to the commandants of squadrons, directing
them not to permit the consumption of coal
for any purpose which could be as well per-
formed by sail" This is a mere repetition of
an old regulation issued in 1865, after the
close of the war, and rigidly enforced, to
which, however, you make no allusion, leav-
ing it to be inferred that it is a new regula-
tion, now for the first time issued.
On the ninth page you make the extraordi-
nary statement
1t can be shown by figures that this system of
giving and requiring the general use of full sail
power, beside its effect to make sailors of both
officers and men, will, on the vessels intended
cruise but two-thirds of the time), make, In the
item of coal alone, as consumed under the
old system, saving of more than 81, ,0O0, 600 per
annum.
Mach has been said within the last six or
eight months of the marvellous saving
effected in the consumption and cost of fuel
under the new management of the Navy De-
partment, and now in your official report you
give assurance that there is to be Gin the
| item of coal alone, as consumed under the
| old system, a saving of more than So, 090, 900
| per annum." If any such remarkable saving
has been made or is to be made, great credit
| is certainly due TO those who have effected
it, and great culpability should attach to the
administration of the department under the
"old SYSTEM" if guilty of the imputed waste
l hold myself responsible for my acts, and
| you are responsible for the verify of your
| statements.
The whole statement needs explanation.
The refunding fiction makes confusion, and
is doubtless one of the reasons why the de-
| partment evades a statement of the condition
of affairs at the close of the fiscal year, in
accordance with usage
The estimate submitted by me for naval
expenses in December, 1868, amounted to
$40, 993,61 Congress reduced them $5,-
| 122, SS2, and appropriated $15, $40, 531.
Your estimates for the ensuing year are for
$2S, 205,6 ,671, or 1922, 256 more than was
asked by me, and $12, 1886, 1876 more than
Congress would authorize one year ago.
This does not indicate retrenchment, re-
duction of expenses, or greater economy,
although you represent that the expenditures
made since March are by ''the books of the
Treasury" less than the corresponding months
one year ago, when old war contracts were
being closed up and expenditures were not
called ''refunding," and although you declare
you can show ''by figures" saving of more
than So, 100000 per annum in the item Of
coal alone.
This letter has already extended beyond
the limits intended, and without commenting
on or criticizing other numerous errors, fal.
lacies, and exceptional matters, shall close
with the expression of a wish that in youi
future reports, or communications to news
paper correspondents relating to me or my
action, you will personally Investigate and
possess yourself of facts and avoid misstate-
ments and misrepresentation.
My letter to Mr.. Offley was so distorted and
falsifed and its contents so soon made public
after it passed into your possession, that
shall, to prevent further false interpretations,
and for my own protection, make this letter
to you public. Very respectfully,
GIDEON WELLEs.