Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1870-12-22
NAVAL PRODIGALITY.

A MILLION OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY
WASTED AT THE PORTSMOUTH NAVY
YARD-$l00,000 TO PoLIrIoAL FAVOR
ITEs-$l00,0 900 TO MANUFACTURES VoTEs
$500, 900 Thrown AWAY.
The Navy'Yard here is probably the
best managed Of any portion of the
property belonging to the naval service.
Previous to 1860, everything was car
ried on with degree OF ceremony. The
regular officers were few, and the civil
ians who held appointments under the
Government were only about half a
dozen, and were obliged to work and
earn their salaries. The business per-
formed then as promptly as now. Ships
were built and fitted out, aud as many
men were employed as during the last
four years. We have nothing to say
of the hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
which were thrown away during the
war; bat these are supposed to be times
of peace, and however much we may
admire the wisdom of preparing for war
in such times, it is certain that the Navy
Department is not doing so now.
From 1857 to 1860 the work per-
formed by officials and clerks, including
all persons who performed no manual
labor, cost about 100000. Now the
men employed to do the same thing cost
over $4,000 per annum. We have
before us a list of all those employed
then, and one of all employed now, with
their salaries, and know that these es,i-
mates are not too high. We admit that
competent men cannot be found to per-
form such services at the rate Of pay
given ten years ago. But the labor
performed ten years ago for $4,000
could now be procured for $4,000,
This would leave 100000, and we can
show that this 100000 is given to pc
litical favorites who perform little or no
service.
Over $4,000 is paid each year to
officers whose duty could all be perform
ed by one general superintendent and an
assistant, if the yard was a private en-,
tcrprisc. Then between sixty and sew
enty thousand dollars is paid to other
clerks, writers, servants, and hangers-on
of all kinds, who perform no manual
labor. Over $4,000 is paid to clerks
alone. We have the names and figures
all before us, and know that we do moi
cxaggerate. This is only one item
Far more than 100000 is wasted each
year in manufacturing voters. Hun
dreds of men are employed who do moi
earn the Government one dollar in 6
month, and are simply hired to vote. Il
can be shown that it cost the Navy De
partmcnt over $4,000 to buy votes t.
elect John Lynch member of Congress
from the first District Of Maine. With
in ten days from the 1st of December
about 800 men were discharged from
the yard They are nearly all Maine
men who were taken on to vote fo
Lynch, and 800 more will immediately
be taken on to vote in this State mex
March, and to help to elect ''loyal'
Congressman from this district. Thu
will cost over $4,000 more.
These are exceedingly moderate est
mates. The history of actual transac
tons which we have in detail warran
larger figures. Then when we investi
gate further, we find that another $500,
600 does not begin TO cover the amount
which are thrown away by contract
for supplies, by sales of property t.
friends of officials, by money wasted il
repairing ships, by the keeping of thre
steamers here for the pleasure and &C
commodation Of navy yard officials an
clerks, and by extravagauces of a.
kinds. If all the facts could be obtained
we could prove to the satisfaction Q
every man that nearly, if not quite, 81,
100000 is annually thrown away at thi
navy yard.