New-York tribune., 1870-05-25
NlVY.YARDS on 4 CIVIL BASIS.

NIVl- ARDo ON Il tIb ~ bdoIc'
The Legislature of California has recently
passed joint resolution instructing the Sena-
tors and Representatives Of that State to "exert
themselves to have the Navy-Yards placed
"upon q purely civil basis" The action is
but forecast of the opinion which animates
the mind of the thinking masses throughout the
entire country, and is conclusive proof that an
earnest desire for very material reduction In
the enormous load of debt and taxation under
which the nation is now bowed down is fast
taking root in the body polite. TO accomplish
this result it should be the aim of our legiSla-
tors to curtail all unnecessary outlay, and
largely to reduce the expenses of the
machinery Of the Government, where
ever it can be done without injury
to the public service. No more fertile
field for their labOrs in this regard can
be found than in our Nayy-Gards. Of what
use are so many naval officers in Navy-Yards'
1t cannot be for their business qualifications
that they are detailed to the Yards, as they
are taught none, and can only have such by
intuition. 1t cannot be for their nautical
knowledge, as the deck of ship at sea is the
proper place for an exhibition of seamanship.
For what reason, then, do these men, who
people for practical seamen, perform civil du-
ties in Navy -Yardsf We know of no law that
empowers the Honorable Secretary of the
Navy to order these men to do civil duty.
There certainly can be no necessity, during the
present profound peace, for the great numbers
of all grades who have been ordered by the
Secretary to civil duties; nay, this diverting of
officers from their legitimate sphere of action
may readily be thought to violate the intent
and spirit of the law granting large sums of
money for their peculiar education.
In 1860 there were stationed at the several
Navy-Yards seven Captains, twelve Comman-
ders, thirteen Lieutenants, three Masters, nine
Surgeons, ten Paymasters, and four Engineers,
at gross pay of $11S,750 per year. In 1864,
during the hight of the war, there were two
Rear-Admirals, seven Captains, nine Com
manders, one Lieutenant Commander, three
Masters, twelve Surgeons, eight Paymasters,
and one Engineer, at a gross pay of S137,385
per year. AT the present time, there are sta
toned there eight Rear -Admirals, eight Com
mOdores, thirteen Captains, twenty-nine Com
manders, twenty-five Lieutenant Commanders
three Lieutcnants, four Masters, five Ensigns
twelve Surgeons, fourteen Paymasters. and
forty-eight Engineers, at gross pay of $514,-
$50 per year. This exhibit shows clearly that
the country is paying, at the present time, in
salaries for officers in and around our Navy
Yards whose proper duty is on board our
national vessels, the sum of S317,295 more than
was paid to similar officers during the year
1854, when the Yards were being worked TO
their full capacity; and S395,930 more than III
1860, when the Yards were doing nearly or
quite as much work as they are now The
number of Civil Engineers and Naval Con-
structors in the Yards has not been increased,
Notwithstanding this large increase of seagoing
officers. The persons holding the positions OF
Assistant Naval Constructors perform the same
duty that was formerly done by the Master
Ship Carpenters, or foremen, which position
has been abolished.
The administration of our Navy Yards on
basis wholly civil would give satisfaction
to the people, from the fact that the cost of
keeping this legion of sinecures, as well as that
resulting from the ohicious interference of the
unnecessary officers, in work wholly mechani-
cal and of which they know little, would
TO a large extent be abolished. The English,
with an experience of hundreds OF years III
dock yard economy always have worked and
are now working their Yards Oh u civil basis