The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-18

x1VuSo " ~ uOt lmprODaDle tIat tuc PIoPoocu
committee will be appointed. The action OF
the special committee in continuing its close
Hessiops was commented on. The response
was characteristic. They prefer telling the
story altogether at the close of the investi-
cation to letting the public learn its progress
from day to day. 1t may be pertinent to ask
whether tho members, who long unanimously
for newspaper fame, would like to have this
tStar Chamber rule applied to their orations
during whole session?
tho Kind Of Vessels Required for
-, Our Navy.
The action Of the Senate and House of Rep
$eaentatives in reference to the navy and naval
ships building deserves more than passing
notice. a large majority of our representa-
lives are Of the opinion that our naval officers
are equal if not superior to those of any other
nation. yet where is the instance where any
number Of naval officers have been consulted
As to the class or kind Of vessel most suited
10 the wants ef the servicea
: QQ@as iron have been planned 4sl and built
~ people who never were Of sea- ana naVai
officers have been ordered to sinK OF SWIM in
}thert, end they have done both; but W. re-
bsAt that there is no record to show that any
humber Of naval officers we're ever consulted
Abopt those to be constructed for naval pur-
Poses. and when we refer to naval officers we
ypsak Of that class whose duty 1t is to sail and
light t6e Vessels Of the navy. There is spring
ing DIP among mercantile men desire to in
grease ous carrying trade, and IN order to do
~ one section OF our country advocates wood,
another iron, for mercantile purposes.
We do not propose to argue the point as to
which is best for that purpose; but we do
most emphatically state it as fact that, for
cruising ships of war for oil purposes for the
protection of commerce, for an ordinary fight,
Pr In case of grounding, iron would be the
Hoat useless material in the world to be used.
II is only necessary to refer to the Hatteras,
&hioh went to the bottom in ten minutes after
Receiving ono broadside Of the rebel steamer
Alabama. The thin fhres.quarter ron Is
hardly proof against riAed musketry.
S4bere is quite store of live oak, well
reasoned and Of suitable size, in our navy
Hards-enough to build dozen or more ships
pf the Hartford or Canandaigua class. These
Maases Of vessels have done more service than
Ill the contract ships that ever were built, and
Will yet last many years. The cost Of build
Ing wooden ships will be greater if built at the
government yards; but, it is urged, they would
be better and Of sounder material Congress
passed the "Eight-Hour law" but has no
power Of enforcing it except as regards labor
under government control. In private ship
yards nine, ten and even eleven hours, as may
Pe decreed by the owners, constitutes days
work, and all government employees are paid
FOR eight hours the same pay that outside
skill receives for nine, ten or eleven hours.
This, 1t is plain to be seen, causes the differ
ence Of cost between a contract and govern
mentbuilt ship. This also puts at the dis
posal of the government the best mechanical
labor in the country; for the same pay good
tnen would work faithfully eight hours per
day against the hours Of outside labor.
Since the election is thing Of the past men
need no longer cucumber the rolls on account
Of tho number Of votes they control; but those
whose duty it is to employ men should be free
10 select only first class workmen, irrespective
bf party or faction and untrammelled by politi-
cal motives or political hucksters If such
measures were adopted then government-built
ships would cost but very little more than
contract ones, and the work would be vastly SUI
perior.
It is well known that no ships in the world,
except perhaps East India teak-built ships,
have lasted like the American ive-oak ships
bf our navy. They have in all cases been fit
for service years after any contract ship built
At the same time has dropped to pieces and
hef name forgotten. 1t is for this reason that
ne urge upon the Secretary of the Navy and
the legislators the necessity of little advice
from those who have made ships life's study
before inAicting upon the navy lot of iron |
cruising ships that will be disgrace to
the flag they wear. Build as many iron
plated armored ships as you choose Mr.. Sec
retary, profting by the mistakes of other
hations. Produce iron-clads that will resist |
torpedoes if you can, but pray do not set |
Rfoat feet Of three-quarter or one inch iron
ships that will lumber up and obstruct the
channel of Cuban ports at the first fire Of |
some mountain howitzer battery, taking down
with them brave and good American seamen
TO be food for tropical sharks
In speaking of material for building ships
II is well to observe that the material is
on hand in our navy yards and already paid
for. If under these circumstances private en-
terprise could build q feet of vessels cheaper
than the government can, why then open the
doors for the contractor, who will have to
pay an advanced price for all the material he
uses in the building of ships.
Fairs OF the Season.
In the general rejoicing and happy reunions