The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-07
THE NAVY IN ooNGREss-NoBoDY TO
BLAME.

eress it is clear that members, before voting
new naval appropriations, wish to feel quite
sure that the present bureau has renounced
its predecessor and all its works. Such was
the prodigious loss in construction during
the eight years from 1861 to 1869, measured.
indeed, by many Millions that this precau-
ton is perfectly justifable. The late ingeni-
ous letter of ex-Secretary Weles ought to
show that there is not much sympathy be-
tween the two; and yet we feel that the new
bureau owes it TO itself to show more fully
aohy the new appropriations asked for are SO
large There never yet has been careful
official review of the wasteful, and worse
than wasteful, naval experiments of the two
preceding administrations Mr. Robesons
excellent report did, indeed, throw some
light on the subject; but, probably out of
official courtesy, the matter was there treated
Qinperly. and no actual exhibit of facts and
figures was given, with the stern, direct oom-
ment added, "Thou art the mani"
The Committee on Appropriations lately
reported bill for supplying deficiencies in
the navy by the sum of So, 900, 900, all of
which was devoted to the two bureaus of
''Steam Engineering" and "Construotion and
Repair" These were each cut down by one
half in the House-namely, to 81, 500, 900 in
all-and the bill, 80 reduced, was passed.
Why were these items cut down? If we may
believe the report of the discussion, it was
because members did not consider that the
larger sum would be properly expended
Perhaps they recall the enormous sums
wasted on naval nondescripts during the last
ten years, and ask what there is to show
for them. They turn to Secretary Welles
annual reports for eight years, and find that
everything is right, and that our navy, espe-
cially the new wooden screw feet, is the best
in the world. They turn to Secretary Robe
sons report, and find that the navy in March,
1869, was almost a wreck, certainly not
worthy of q second-class power, and our
foreign squadrons such as, if attacked on
their cruising stations by the superior war
ships of other commercial powers, would be
driven to seek the shelter of the monitors
that guard our shores. But, for all that SO
far as can be seen from any official report yet
made public, with all these millions spent,
with navy neglected, and finally, left in
great part ruined and wrecked, there is
'nobody to blame"
Congressman want the mystery probed, and
the hole into which old appropriations sank
examined and explored. We have paid
enough for two good navies-why are we
without even one? Erroneous principles
must be explained and formally renounced
At the end of the last Congress- a great outcry
was made on account of alleged malconstruc-
ton in the navy, and Board of Survey of
civilian experts was proposed to guide future
construction, and more especially, the plan
ming of steam machinery. What has become
of the project for that board? We believe
clear and frank statement of just how many
vessels had been spoiled, from 1860 to 1870,
for the want of engineering SKILL and what
precautions had been taken to have no more
engineering failures in the future, wsuld en-
Tighten Congress.
That body, again, has made sundry objec-
tions to the appropriations for repair, and cut
| them down. Some of these objections were
| not a little shrewd and sound at core, if ex-
travagant in expression-as, for example, that
of Mr.. Washburn, who expressed his belief
that most of the vessels proposed to be re-
paired were utterly worthless as war vessels, "
and that of Mr. Logan, who thereupon
added, ''that is exactly what they are-old
tubs" The fundamental objection seems to
be this, that the members do not comprehend
exactly what the proposed repair work is,
and whether it will be Of any use, even if it
be furnished. They evidently regard it as
something like repairing forts, planned on
the idea of twenty years ago, and now super
seded. They do not see why it is that ships
on which so much has been expended, should
be forever tinkered. AS matter of fact, we
believe that considerable part of the money
recently expended has been in order to give
to ships made to cruise only under steam,
suitable sailing powers. Regarding some of
these, it seems probable that reconstruction
of their motive power will pay by reason of
the coal saved; regarding others, we fear that
their bulky machinery is mainly fit for the
| scrap heap.
The "Bureau of Construction and Repair,
which asked for appropriations, is really
composed of two branches, by it's title, and
perhaps the union is confusing to some Con-
gressmen. For it has long been evident that
naval construction is not the proper duty of
the Government, since it can be done much
more cheaply, promptly, and skilfully in pri
vate yards and shops. These latter are in
constant competition with each other, and
secure the best talent and skilled labor. Their
planning is rarely or never the abortive stuff
to which the Government planning has long
accustomed us. Mindful of this fact, it is
possible that sometimes Congressman take
an unjust prejudice against the bureau in
question from its very name. We say
"un Just, BECAUSE on the contrary, repairing
is the proper duty of Government, and it car
be done more deliberately economically anC
effectively by the appliances at their com
mand than by private means. All that il
needed is the assurance that the repairing
facilities shall not be misused for carrying ou
any special engineering vagaries, but shall bC
guided by the ordinary approved principles il
the line of work. That quite enough repair
ing is needed to use up the sum appropriated
is evident. That Secretary Robeson is vigor
ously getting the navy into better condition
is obvious But we believe Congress woult
have been more liberal had it known pre-
cisely how ruinous had been our former fail
ures in construction, and had it seen tn
clear evidence that similar failures had beel
made impossible in the future.
CONGRESS - IMPORTANT MEASURE
, PENDING BEFORE THE TWO HOIISES