New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-13
ARISES IN TIE NAVY.

ABUSES IN TIE NAVY.
ExTRAvAGANT EXPENDITURES AND SMALL RE-
sULTs-vARIOUs MINOR ABUsES-NECEssrT
FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.
WASHINGTON, May SIN the budget sub
mtted by the British Ministry to the House OF Commons
the estimates for the navy are s9,23co, or about S
O with which IL expected TO maintain for the ensuing
year O force OF $1,000 men, TO keepin commission 10
ships 40 Of which large armored vessels TO pay all
dock yard expenses and TO complete ten frselass shs
now building. Our Secretary for the Navy asks an az
preparation OF Congress OF ga eco to maintain naval
force Of about and 40 vessels not one OF which
IA arnored or ought 10 be rated frstcass He does
not propose to build any vessels with this money,
and his figures represent the mere running expenses OF
our navy for a single year. With half as much money
the British navy costs ships included be proposes
TO maintain only oRe-ffth as many vessels and men,
have not now hand any data TO show the cost the
nayies of other maritime but am safe In assert
ing that the United States has the most expensive navy
in the world in proportion to its effectiveness and
might further be added that we have the most inefficient
navy IN the world.
In previous letters have stated that two OF the chief
causes OF the extravagaDt cost of the navy are: First
keeping than 800 idle supernunerary officers under
pay with no duties except such as are to
enable them to draw dutypay; and second, maintaining
half dozen useless navyyards and stations with largo
force of civilian officials clerks. superintendent, for
men and workmen In each, while there Is not WORK
enough TO keep yard busy Inow desire to eau at
tention to what is the root OF most OF the evils abuses,
and extravaganza connected with the navy namely the
want OF an efficient administration Of the affairs OF the
Navy Department by civilians 1t is well known that
the Department has for years beer managed
by naval officers. They have been the real
power and have controlled its action In suchavay a.
has best their interest profit and conve
ncnce In all questions where the interest OF the Gov
cot hot ~ he ne
the Government has invariably been the loser These
ocers have loaded themselves with high rank, bearing
no proporon TO their services or duties; they have In
creased their own pay In direct Violation OF law ana
have provided for themselves q minimum OF sea duty
and max mum Of easy berths ashore Whereyerit hAs
possible, they have distorted the law TO make
answer their purposes and where it has troubled them
too much they have dsregarded it altogether. Oh
tho law" said high officer not long since, "my orders
are law for the navy" Another official once remarked,
while dverting an appropriation from the purpose f@
which intended that he never saw an act OF Con-
gress that he could not drive four horse team through
With the exception Of the Secretary and Chief Clerk
oil the officials connected with the Navy Department are
naval officers There used to be Assistant Secretary.
but the office which cost 5000 year is abolished, and
have the Vice-Admiral performing the same
duties with Commander to assist him, at an expense TO
the Government Of $4,000 per annum Naval oncers are
no better and than other men, end 1t Is but
will obtain for themselves much pay, as high rank
and as many privileges possible and will do no more
hard work than is necessary Many abuses have grown
I'D as the inevitable result OF their Management which
would have been known had the Department been
in reality, it lis nominally, under the control
Of capable civilians WHO would have studied
the interests OF the Government and the, Treasury.
Chief among these abuses Is the 33i per
cent extra pay, begun during the secretaryship Of
Gideon wees and continued since, which has taken
millions from the Treasury not only1without warrant OF
law but in open defiance the statute fixing the pay Of
naval officers which expressly provided that the sas
ries II fixes shall be in lieu OF all combinations and
allowances OF every and nature, This extra pay
was first allowed in lieu Of quarters officers not pro-
yided with the same but IL was followed by decision
that officers at sea had quarters and therefore
entitled to It. and finally ali the officers in for tho
increase. The substance Of this outrageous piece OF
business that the naval officers themselves control
ling the Secretary increased by onehird their
in defiance of law and at cost to the people OF *~
| or sG,OoOOO.
Another abuse practiced by placing duty largo
number Of retired officers in order to give them full pay
their juniors soft places found for them
boards inspection duty by which they get as much
pie OF the 20 retired Rear ,dmrals all but four are on
some duty or less nominal swelling the list OF Rear
dores on the retired is large number OF whom
duty II these Admras and Ccmmodores are ut for duty
why they retired, and new Admirals and Commo
dores appointed to do the work they proessedy
incapable of performngi and If they are not IT Tor duty
then the practice OF trumping mp some duty for them
OF giving them pay for services they don't rendef
| ought TO be stopped. -,
A great many minor abuses have grown up under tne
reign OF shoulder strap influence in the Navy Depart
ment officers ordered to sea duty months beiote
the they assigned to ready for sea- DUTY
on tugs and receiving ships, which never leave se
navyyards, is construed to be duty and TO entie
officers the CHEST OF pay Officers who are In
favor with the Department furnished with orders ~
which they draw mileage for pleasuretourst 70 Sa
fornia New-Orleans, or TO Portsmouth Navy Yard ~
way OF the White Mountains. Expenses OF ohcers Iu
nerals are paid although they may have ded s9 zen
the cost OF cemetery lots and the attorney ices tS Ss
making out deeds for the same, come OUT o. sne
Treasury. great many nice things, slch as Daskes
champagne and cases Of brandy are ald 70 De cnagH
The ease with which naval officers have heretofore led
Congress by the and Whatever legislation they
wanted is very discoursging for those who attempt 70
accomplish any reforms in the navy or check lts ehr
solicitation OF persons Interested u authorize the pro
motion Of retired officers, by virtue OF WHEN ie Vi o
mon on the retired list nave pee. in,de fanants and
never did days valuable service since one
retired as mdshipman ana his aeaIi ii, IN re-
20 wears insane asylum confirmed ldiOt mas 10
Gently been commissioned Commodore under the Piv
visions of this absurd law But is not necessary 10 20
back three years for specimens OF similar LEGISLATION IN
spred by naval officers. week ago the Senate psssei
bin to regulate the effect Of vote OF thanks 20
officers OF navy the real effect OF which probably nos
three senators knew when they let il slip through The
object Of this bill is 10 make six more Rear Admras,ta
addition to the twenty in service and 1t received
the stupid OF the very men in the Senate VINO WIZ
vote this week, when the Army bill comes up 10 REDUCES
the number OF from six three. Accord
ing 10 these Senators, want but three MOr Generals
for 26cO the army, but must have 80 Rear-Ad
mirals for 10000 men and 10 ships in the may.
III any reforms to be effected In the navy, two
things done. First Congress must open It's eyes
and, by some sharp legsaton convince naval oinco'
secondly there must be an energetic administration Oh
the Navy Department by civilians who VIII not DO per
sOnaly inter in the decisions they make ana INC
orders they Issue
ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.
The adjourned Fortieth Annual Conference