The New York herald., 1872-12-06


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and it weuld require vessels OF that size to carry
ten guns OF large calibre. Such vessels could not
Commercial vessel Of COO Coo toms Of superior DUALITY
and OF high speed, costs in England from 100000 TO
$4,000, and would cost in the United States at
least $500, coo. Such vessel for war purposes
would cost here from $4,000 to 81, 600 O00. His
information agreed entirely with the statement OF
Mr.. Randall that the actual cost OF the vessels
would approach for each one OF them million dol
lars. He contended therefore, that the House had
q right 10 much better information than 1t had re-
ccved on this subject and TO have a matured plan
submitted TO II for the creation or navy before il
was called upon to vote for this bin.
men from Maine tMr. Hale) and from Pennsylvania
(Mr. sconeld) had confessed that the plan each OF
private contracts Jobs, other the navy yards
as prodcal and wasteful. Both plans bad which
shall We choese2 Both gentlemen have not laid
stress enough on the mischiefs that require reform
THE NAVY YARDS NEED REFORM,
especially as 70 employees and politics. Who shan
now reform the acknowledged jobbery OF private
contracts9 Did the elections reform the very un-
civil service OF turning In hundreds OF labOrere be-
@ oe t Sh oa 20 @
II not starvatiOnS He favored the experiment or
building three by each, made with every proviso
and restriction 10 guard against prodgality and
corruption. He SAID that but little work Was done
in the navy yards, yet Congress appropriated
framed on u general plan az IL was an immediate
makeshiit, and as something ought to be done, he
favored reducing the number ol sloops TO SIX, and
TO experiment with less sum un III more ipiOrma-
tiOn and better plan ts given.
Mr. BECK, ,dem.) Of ky., stated his reasons for
opposing the bill Congress had appropriated an
nually for the last three years over twenty NIL
lions and yet the navy had no ships-no new ones.
They were all worthless, although twice as much
money was spent than was spent at a time when
the country had navy that was efficient. Where
was oil the money gomez Besides, there HAD been
All ships sold IN the last five years-sOd IN ways
that Congress knew nothing OF. He did not know
but that these ten vessels would be declared unfit
Tor service and sold again before they were built
year. He had information that ships had been sold
to the lowest, not the highest bidder, and 1t had
Vermont that one vessel had been sold ior $4,000
which, alter getting one coat OF paint, was sold
again for $4,000 in the course of a week.
Mr.. KERR, tdeIn.) OF In,., advocated the post
ponement OF the bill on the ground that the House
was not IN possession OF such information as
would enable it to act inteligently on the subject.
THE REPORT or THE SECRETARY or TIE NAVY
was extremely ana dlsreputably devoid Oisuch
information as Congress had a right TO ex--
pect There was in ii a total lack OF detailed
and intelligent information on the subject He
opposed the bill because this country did not
consistent with its policy and essential principles
to aspire to become either great military or great
on q peace footing, and, IN his Judgment, they
could be still more leduccd with advantage. The
security OF the United states against all dangers
rom without was to be found not in great stand
ing army or navy, but was TO be looked for and
did today most effectuaily exis: IN what might be
called the concrete power OF a mighty nation. No
Power on earth desired to interfere with American
commerce on any seas, and
WE NEEDED NO FLOURISH OF A GRAND NAVY
to adu any security to American commerce, email
and trivial as it was. What was OF infinitely more
Importance to the people OF the United states was
that Congress should 30 remodel and reform the
existing most imperfect and scandaous laws AZ
fecting their relations With all other nations OF the
world, so that there could be built up In this coun
try great and powerful commercial navy. In
that there would be reflected the power OF great
nation, and il would add ten Thousand fold more
TO the great concrete power 70 which he had re-
ferred than all our naves could ever do. Give the
people the silent power OF great commerce, rest
ing on intelligent laws ut home, resting on the
freedom OF exchange; freedom in the construction
and purchase OF vessels: freedom from all ridcn-
lous erete and scandalous theories OF the Middle
Ages; freedom from all the errors that had charac-
reforms that were needed these were the things
to which the house should address Itself instead
OF wasting time Op an immature bill not sustained
by any intelligent report from any committee
Ian, gep.) OF Cal, against me amendment TO have
half the vessels built ia private snip yards and Ny
Mr.. RANDALL. of PENN Ia support 0! it.
The previous question was then seconded. after
which Mr.. Scoheid, who reported the bill, was en-
titled an hour to close the debate. lie YIELDED a
portion OF the time TO several members.
Mr.. ARCHER, tlem.) OF Nd, a member OF tho
Naval Committee, advocated the bill as matter OF
necessity, the navy of the United States being now
in q rotten ami ruinOus condition. He admitted
that there was nothing to be feared from the great
Powers; but the people whom IL was desired to I'M
press with the greatness OF this country were the
semi-civllized nations Of the world. IL was for
that object more than any other that these vessels
were required.
The discussion was further continued BY Messrs.
l.. Myers Lynch and Hale, the latter defending the
Navy Department from the aspersi0ns cast upon il.
Mr.. SC0FIELD, rep) or Pa, Chairman OF the
Naval Committee, closed the discussion. He al
vOcated the bill and opposed the amendment re-
quiring half the vessels to be built in private ship
yards. He stated that eight Of those vessels could
be put tomorrow in course or construction in the
navy yards-four OF wood and four OF iron. All OF
them could be constructed in the navy yards sooner
than they could be in private yards. The navy
yards had now all the machinery. ali the
portion OF the laborers, who were being paid all The
time so that in point Of fact the building OF these
vessels at the navy yards would take less money
out OF the Treasury than If they were built at Dri
vate yards He ridicnlcd the demagOgisn OF mem.
bers who voted for the Eight Hour law IN the gov
ernment workshops and VINO now alleged as a rea-
son for giving these vessels out on contract that
the workmen in the navy yards only labored eight
hours day while IN private yards ,ney worked ,,a
Philadelphia members who, after all their opera
tions in favor Of establishing great navy yard on
League Island now that they had it there wanted
to have ships built not there, but IN private SHIP
Yards.
Mr.. KELLEY, rep) OF Pa, remarked that II one
Of these vessels was to be built at the League
Island Navy Yard the youngest member OF the
House would never see II completed, because no
appropriations had ever been made to supply the
'''' 4 SHARP cur AT KELLEY
MIR. SCOFIELD-And with such advocates as my
colleague not only he but his children VIII be
buried before League Island Navy Yard will he
completed, If he comes in one year and says that
navy yard is absolutely necessary and comes Ia
the next year and says, 1T s very good thing to
have, but you must 20 70 private yard If you
want to have a ship built" d.aughter).
Mr.. GARFIELD, Iep) OF Ohio, offered an amend
ment, providing that no contract or order for the
construction OF these vessels shall be made until
full detailed estimates are submitted TO Congress
and appropriations made therefor.
Mr.. SARGENT, rep.) Ol CAL, opposed MI. Gar
fields amendment as pOstpOnng the matter for
another year, and advocated the passage OF the
bill as reported.
Mr.. SHELLABARGER, repJ OF Ohio, favored the
construction Of vessels carrying less than six guns,
and stated on the authority OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury that there had not been during this ad-
minstratiOn a single case where naval vessel
had been Mt all effective in enforcing the neutrality
laws but that in every such instance resort had to
be had TO vessels In the revenue cutter service,
and he feared the house was about TO commit the
mistake OF authorizing the construction VI too
large vessels
Mr.. LEONARD MYERS, rep.) or Pa, advocated
the bill OF the Committee, urging the immediate