The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1872-02-15
THE NAvY-NO MONEY AND NO
SHIPS,

UCNC1OpCu ou AZ 90 -
affairs. If the condition of the
finances of the Naval department is
a type of the management in the
other branches of the Government, it
ought to convince the American
people that it is high time that there
was a change made in the admins
tration, and a general cleaning out
of the stable.
In reporting a bill appropriatins
within a fraction of twenty millions
for naval expenses, Mr.. Hale under
took to draw a comparison between
this appropriation and preceding
ones in the time of Democratic adj
min~istrations, but when cornered by
another member with some awkward
questions, was compelled to make a
confession that was perfectly fright
full.
Mr.. Conner charged that there is
only % vessels in commission, mount
ing only 3S9 guns. In reply:
Hale admitted that there had been
appropriated $500. 900. goo for the navy
during the four years Of the war. and
the people had a right 10 know what
had become OF the money and of the
ships which should have been built.
He was sorry to say that Investigation
showed badly for use of the money
as affecting the future. The glst OF his
argument was that the blame should
fall where it belonged, but there was
no use in grumbling at the expense
that had been inevitable. The navy
now possessed of the 630 vessels that
belonged to il during the war only 1,9
OF all classes. OF the rest, some have
or sunk, or been sold. OF
the scores and fiftles of others he did
know their fate. He had not been
able to follow them. They were not
in the hands of the defendant. and the
was not responsible forthein.
They had vanished and faded away,
and were not to be found or traced.
If a member of the committee on
naval appropriations can't find out
what has become of either money or
vessels, who can? Ofthe 119 vessels
he claimed now in the navy he ad'
that most of them were worth
less, and a large proportion unfit for
repair, good for nothingexcept to be
sold for old material.
Mr.. Morgan. another member of
the Committee, threw additional
light on the style of doing business.
The dispatches say:
Referring to the reports of the Reg
of the Treasury To show discrep-
he declared that there was
chaos in the Treasury. chaos in the
navy, and chaos in every department
of the Government. He reviewed in
a long speech the course of the Ad-
ministratiOn in reference to the public
debt and to the expenditures of the
Government, claiming that there were
alarming discrepancies in various
branches and denied that any official
of the Government from the President
to a page i'll that House had any
correct idea of what the public debt
was.
In the course of further debate the
fact came out that the Navy, War and
other departments were in the habit of
selling material and making Use of
the proceeds. in addition to the appro-
priations made by Congress, and that
there was 10 law requiring any re-
ports of such sales to be made to Con
gress.
Beck argued that all the sales
should be added to the appropriations,
and asserted that if they were, they
would swell the expenditures TO one
hundred millions.
Talk about Tammany after this
No law to regulate sales of the Ameri-
lean Navy ! Every man left to sell
out vessels in possession, put the
money in his own pocket, or throw
it into the sea, as he may choose,
no account to anybody.
What a sea of intrigue and corrup-
ton opens to view through that inlet.
This is what the American people
are supporting a monstrous tariff.
and paying enormous taxes for. 1t
is to continue this Infamous robbery,
and divisional plumber among cor
officers, that they are asked to
ra- alaet Gan Grant
American commerce has been near