The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-06-02
EXtrayagance.

been bowling about tie franking privi-
lege, but they have had little to say
about the extravaganza of the Army
and Navy. When the question Of the
repeal of the franking law was before
the Editorial Convention at Marietta,
on the 9th of May, the editor of.this pa
per is reported as follows:
"Mr. Mackley had not definitely con-
cluded that tie present law ought to
be repealed. He did not read many of
of these documents himself, but many
of the people did. He believed in the
government encouraging the distribu-
ting acknowledge. Why not make the
Army and Navy self-sustaining, as well
the Post Office Department The large
mass of the people were benefited by
one, but only few useless officers and
employees by the other. Could not say
that he was in favor of repeating the
present law"
To show that our remarks were just
and true, we give the following, from
the proceedings in Congress nearly two
weeks later, or on the 17th Of May:
The Committee of the Whole re-
sumed the consideration of the Naval
Appropriation bill.
Mr. ARCHER, of Md. (D.), defend
ed the Navy Department from charges
of extravaganza.
Mr. DAWES attacked the depart
ment for its antagonism to the law ma
king power, and said for the last ten
years, excluding those of the war, the
average appropriation for the navy was
less by $2,OOO,O0O than appropriated in
this bill, and yet the department want
ed $40, 900, 900 more. The complaint the
law making power had the right to
make against the Navy Department.,
was that, with the money furnished, the
navy was in the bad condition described,
Mr. WILEY, of w. Va. R)-Was
it that the United States Navy cost three
or four times per man as much as the
navy of Great Britainl
Mr.. HALE, of N. II. (R.), asked
whether everything did not cost three
or four times as much in the United
States as in Great Britain.
Mr. DAWES went on to say that the
United States navy. which consisted of
only 8, 500 men, cost $28, POS, ,671, while
the estimate for the British navy last
year, which consisted of $4,000 men,
was only S40,0OO,000. Every vessel in
the United States navy costs an aver
age annually of $l8S,944, and in the
British navy $50, 900 Every ton in
the tonnage Of the United States navy
cost 81 $40 l0-l00 per annum and the
British navy $72 66.1O0. To keep the
American navy afoat, te keep it in re.
pair, costs $500 man, while the Brit
ish navy costs but 500 a man to keep il
up to the standard. The United States
Navy Department had estimated fol
$6,975,000 for repairs, while the csti.
mates of the British navy for the year
ending March 3lst, 1870, for new ma
chinery and repairs, was but So, 900, 900.
AT the same rate of cost as in England,
the whole American navy should be
kept in repair for $480,0OO year.
What was the reason for this vast dil.
ference The British estimate for the
last ten years varied by very little, man
for man, vessel for vessel, ton for ton.
The whole expenditure for repairs Of
the British navy was just about one.
tenth the cost for repairs of the Ameri.
can navy; and yet the American navy
has been allowed to run down to the
condition in which its friends described
to be. The fault did not lie with Con.
gress. 1t lay in lack OF efficiency, en-,
ergy and spirit in the navy of the pres.
ent day.
Mr., LOGAN, of Ill. (R.), said there
were in the U, S, Navy l,409 officers
and but Q 500 men, and a fraction over
The pay Ofthe navy was a little ovel
81, 900, 900, and of that over $4,000, ,OO(
was paid to officers. There were OF
the active list of the navy 755 of
fcers at sea, and on shore $50. Ther,
were 10 Rear Admirals, 5 at sea- %
COmmodorcs, 3 at sea; 81 Captains
only 10 at sea; 80 Commanders, only
20 at sea. There were "a naval officers
stationed at the Washington Navy
Yard alone, In short, there are officer,
enough in the navy to man navy suffi
cient to make war upon the stronges
naval power in the world, and but few
men, Why should this swarm of off
GERS be kept without any necessity fol
them.
Mr. BECK, of Ky. D.), spoke oft
extravaganza Of all departments, anC
stated that there were in the Treasur,
Department 1000 employees more thar
were authorized by law, and 600 more
than were employed last year."
"HoRRIBLY DsGusrNG,-It is almost
too disgusting to mention, but in order
to show what some human stomachs arc
| ooNakIo &c ,,o I'LL ,toto N, 4. c. 49, .