The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-17
TEE HAvAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Another Congressional disqualification Few
Facts About Mr.. Buffers Resolution FREQ
ing the Navy Yards from Pc
litical Influences"

| This year. as usual, the Naval Appropriation bill
has Afforded the tinKers in Washington, who make
1t their constant task to humlate the naval and
military service OF the country, to again offer an
amusing exhibition OF their ignorance Of the de-
tails OF the public business.
The Senate Investigating Committee. among
other testimony, received u charge from an ex-
engineer in the Brooklyn Navy Yard displaced, so
1t was alleged at the request Of Mr.. Murphy that
the pay rolls of that government yard had been used
for the purpose OF paying for political service Men,
was stated had been hired few days before the
election and received their pay, not for the work
they did, but for their votes AS proof OF this. the
fact that they were discharged Immediately subse-
quent to the election was trlumphantly pointed to.
On the strength Of this evidence Mr. Hubbard, q
democratic Congressman from New Hampshire,
offered q resolution to be embodied In The Naval APP
preparation BILL providing against the employment OF
laborers in the yards Tor political motives and
against their being subjected TO political influences.
MI. Socum, supporting the resolution, said
that II the House would give him a
committee OF investigation he would prove that the
Brooklyn Navy Yard had been by political In
fuence, ana that the Secretary OF the Navy had
himself gone there TO work against his (Mr. Slo-
cum's) reelection, gangs OF la00rers being put on
The pay rolls VINO mad not done q days work.
Some discussion ensued, ana finally Mr.. BUTLER
q provision that mecnanics and laOOrlng men at the
navy yards shall be selected by the heads OF the
various mechanical departments In the yards, with
out the interference OF any naval Oilcer This sub
Stltute was adopted.
Now the eliect OF this resolution, which, unless
killed IN the Senate, VIII become a law, Is very
curious. The heads OF the various mechanical de-
partments III the yard though IN many cases they
| nized by the law as naval officers and have GER
tain rank assigned them. MIR. Deano, for instance,
reported be IN first rank OF his profession is
naval Oficer under the law. Clearly, therefore, the
ments but that the iOremen oil departments who do
not enjoy the apparently suspicious and invldlous
distinction or commissions In the OF the United
States shall in future exercise unrestrained power
! over the appointment and removal OF wOrkmen The
Commandant and the heads OF departments thus lose
| the one junction that gives them authOrity-One
| might almost say also. any utillty-in the yard.
| purifying the navy yard from political Influences
degrades 1t to the lOwests purposes OF party ma
cnnce. The Olilcers OF The United states do not
hold their commissions by political favor and belong
indlscrimlna ely TO all shades OF party; but the lore
men, subordinate to the heads OF departments. are
appointed and may be removed by the mere will
OF the secretary Of che Navy. And is a
Secretary OF the Navy likely to appoint any but his
| ly to employ any but the partlsans or their poll
tica stripeY Clearly therefore, the navy yard, in
bic only to their country and not to their party for
their action, Will be controlled, II this resolution
becomes Law 6y awoWed politicians one cannot
| OF reform sure method has been devised TO make
the navy yard available to the influences OF local
One very Important ract, too. has been over
l0oked-tnat there Is already law providing that
mo ofcer or emplOye snail request require any
emplOye LII any Navy Yard to pay any money for
political purposes; nor shall any workman DE re-
moved from political influences, and any officer
who snail offend against the provisions OF this
ton shall be dismissed the service OF the United
States" This passed at the first session OF the
Thirty ninth Congress, and was designed 10 prevent
Andy Johnson from manipulating the navy yards
to strengthen himself POLITICALLY. Surely. 1t cannot
be supposed for one moment tnat any officer would
be fool enough 10 eOpardze his commission for the
sake OF currylng favor with the party in power,
especially as they themselves exempt from the
penalty OF dismissal, except Tor conduct unbecOm-
ing an officer and gentleman.
The present authorities deny explicitly that the
Navy Yard has been used in the way charged, and
their explanations lend very strong color Of proba-
biliLy to their statements. The appropriation for
the year Ii marked out into monthly alOtmens, and
as the expenses OF each month nave to balance the
allotment for each month 1t would be very difficult
though not, OF course, absolutely impossible, 10
employ more men about election time than during
| the rest OF the year. Such thing could only be
| managed by cooking the accounts and although
this might not stain very much the conscience OF n
party hack 1t can scarcely be imagined as an offence
| likely to be committed 6y a naval omcer uninter-
ested in politics and independent Of political sup
port. IL Is 10 be hoped therefore, that the Senate
will condemn TINS resolution OF MIR. Buffers to pre-
mature grave.