The New York herald., 1870-01-13

Il
but one course to pursue, which was TO limit the re-
pairs within the means provided.
last. and You think results viii "iully justify the
wisdom Of Its policy" acted on no such principle
The wisdom and correctness OF tne recoMmenus-
tlOns In my annual report AMI IN the communica-
tions TO the naval committees and Congress have
never doubted. Your action has been In conformity
to my recommendations, so far as needful repairs
nave been made, but would not willingly expend
the puoc money as mas been done Ior the last eight
months without authority OF law. certainly NOT IN
large Expenditures changing the character q the YES
ses but the department. sSdhs at present TO be gov
erned by no such restraints. You make no allusion to
my several Recommendations TO Congress, but state
That YOU have proceeded s'to restore our small
force to elective condition" In the shortest pos
sibie time" and IN an appendix you en- enumerats
large number OF the vessels thus enumerated which
you take credit for having renrted, are new and
Your Justification and great claim for these ex-
pendltures, made independently OF Congress, con-
sayt 5 5 sail po@s ana say
that they are Independent OF steam. "Orders have
been issued to the commandants OF squadrons, al.
rectng them not 70 permit the consumption OF coal
for any purpose which could be as well performed
by SAIL" Tns is mere repetition OF an Old regula.
and rigdly enforced to which, however you make
no allus0n leaving 1t 10 be inferred that 1t new
regulation now Tor the nrss time issued.
On the ninth page you make tho extraordinary
shown By asars. .Aa. III. system Of s,,ns and
to make sailors OF both officers and will the vessels
crs ou. Of the mo make IN The lem o. soa
alone consumed under the old system, saving OF
Much has been SAID within the last six or eight
mouths q Ihs marvellous saving effected IN the con-
ment OF the Navy Department, and now In your 0nl-
ca report you give assurance that there Is 10 be I'm
the Item or coal alone, as consumed under the old
system saving OF more than 81 900 900 per anp9n."
III any such remarkable saving has been made, OF Is
to be made great credit Is certainly due TO those
VINO nave efiected it, aud great cupability should
n
hold myself responsible 5r my acts and you are 70.
In order to ascertain how this immense and
promised saving IN fuel Is to be effected, IL VIII be
annum and at what cost. have no account Of me
amount Of coal actually consumed In any one year,
na or 1r %hes ns
appropriations have been asked since tue return OF
peace.
In my report, December. 1867 the estimates for
the then ensuing year were for 81 900 TONS The fol-
lowing year. December 1858, the estimates were for
the next ensuing year 900 tons. consumption
per steamer-the estimate OF the equipment
pure ias wans q ne service under the
In May, 1S6S-the last OF which have memoranda
for 10000 tons at Philadelphia at SO per ton But
this was probably at less rate tnan tue average
purchases, which are about four dollars but evenht
five dollars, which Is sometimes paid, the cost for
$4,000 tons-a years. umption--w0uid be
$l5ooO0 This 70 the sum total required for coal for
steamers annually In time Of peace; and from this
amount, IN consequence OF having ''given full sail
power and having reriggedr the steamers al great
shown by figures" that you will make "a saving Of
more than 81, 900 per annumu IN the "singe
SYSTEM"
SIR, let me tell You that the interest OF the money
which has been expended by the Navy Department
In excess or the appropriations since the 4th OF
March, much OF 1t in changing the character of our
naval vessels, without the knowledge consent OF
Congress- aud apprehend without consulting the
naval constructorsthe interest OF the money the
excess OF tho expenditures over the appropriations
since the 4th OF March would vastly more than pay for
the coal annually consumed by all the steamers In all
our squadrons. The whole estimate for COAL trans
portation, storage, labor. &C., by the equipment
Ihave not yet had the pleasure OF seeing the esti-
mates or tie Navy Department In detail Tor the
When they are published l shall be able 10 ascer-
tain what reduction you have made or propose
to make in the quantity OF coal consumed, after
the large expenditure In changing the character
OF the vessels giving them 'full sal power'' and
"shp rig.n just so much as your estimate Is less
than 10000 tons Will be the saving e1ected. II you
have estimated for that quantity or a larger guam
tity Will be conclusive that you have no confidence
In your own statement or In your questionable I'M.
provements. l am satisfied in this case as well as
Ia That OF the advancement or officers and other par
tlcuars you have failed to make personal investga.
tlon as is expected OF one In 30 responsible POSI-
tion and that you have, IN fact no reliable data for
many OF your statements. do not charge you with
designedly practising an imposition on CONGRESS and
the country but you have permitted yourself to be
imposed upon by prompter who Is careless 0I facts
There Is an obscurJy IN your financial exhibit to
which, while writing, call your attention, although
there may have been design IN making 1t obscure.
The statement OF expenses and estimates is not an
exhibit OF the iscal year, as IS usual but Is blend
ing OF fractions OF two years and OF two admlnistra
tions, and furnishes no definite or satisfactory IN
formation OF the transactions Of the department..
You omit to state what were the expenditures for
the fiscal year which terminated on the 3otn OF June
] Y0u omit To state the unexpended balances In the
Treasury on the Ist OF Juy or what were the avail
able resources for the current year at that date.
$17. .35o, 500 18, but the expenditure exceeded
that amount several millions Of dollars. How
mucn that excess IS you DO not state, and It can
not be known without the usual exhibit which is
studlousy suppressed. An attempt ls made
to divert attention by statement that $27ssO,6js
was expended up to the 1st OF December,
but the Treasury year neither commences nor closes
in December The appropriations by Congress ex.
tend from the LIST OF July to the Both OF June OF the
following year, when the Treasury balances are
struck. Why have we not the usual exhibit for the
fiscal Year, The country is entitled to IT, The
failure TO present and the substitute in It's stead OF
parts OF two fiscal years and Of two administrations
IS not satisfactory exhibit.
to the TreasuryD does not make the exhibit less
obscure. Has such an amount been Oveidrawnr
Ii SO, for what purposes And from what fund or
appropriation. was thus Sum-equal to about one
hall OF the entire naval appropriations for the cur
rent year-refandedf II ists made up OF transfers
or payments from one bureau TO another, as pre-
sented in what Ii called an 'exhibiE OF expendi-
tures," on the thirty-seventh page, it amounts 70
nothing; for what you call "reiunding'' Is an anso
me whole statement needs explanation. The re-
funding fiction makes confusion, and Ia doubtless
one Of the reasons why the department evadcs
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, ,oos, Ola. Con-
gress reduced them s5,l22,sS2, and appropriated
$15, ,S70, ,531.
Your estimates for the ensuing year are for
$685. 205 071, or ST. ,25G moro than was asked Dy
me, and $l2 33S, 1876 more Than Congress would.
authorize one year ago.
This does not indicate retrenchment, a reduction
OF expenses, or greater economy, although you
represent that the expenditures made since March
are by the books Of the Treasury less than the
responding months one year ago, when old war con-
tracts were being closed up and expenditures were
not called 'refundng''-and although you declare
you can show "by figures" D saving OF more than
81, ,O00, 900 per annum in the item Of coal alone.
This letter has already extended beyond the limits
intended and without commenting on or critcisng
other numerous errors, ralacles and exceptional
matters, shall close with tho expression OF wish
that In your future reports, or communications to
newspaper correspondents relating to me or my
action you VIII personally investigate and possess
yourself Of facts and avoid mfsstatements and MIS-
representations.
Ny letter 10 Mr. OIiey was 40 distorted and falsi-