New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-09
THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE NAVY.
LETTER FROM SECRETARY RoBEsON-A SPECIAL AP-
PBoPRIATIoN REQUESTED OF CONGRESS.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl

LETTER FROM SECRETARY RoBEsON-A SPECIAL AI-
PRoPRIATIoN REQUESTED OF CONGRESS.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
WASHINGTON, Dec S.-The Secretary of the Navy
to-day sent the following letter TO the Speaker OF
the House of Representatives. which has been re-
ferred TO the Committee on Appropriations
Under the circumstances Of the present emergency
am compelled to ask that special appropriation be
made TO cover the expenses Of putting the ironclads
and navy of the United States in condition for
immediate and active service / have taken measures
to put every available iron and wooden ship OF our navy
in condition for immediate duty. have ordered all
the ships Of the various squadrOns within reach TO rem
devious AT Key West. l am enlistnG men to supply
and fiji up the of all vessels have accu-
muated materials provisions, and supplies for their
maintenance and support, and ordnance, aul-
munitiOn, and all the weapons of naval war
fare for their use The circumstances which have con
strained the department to this unusual activity ana
consequent expenditure known TO you and TO the
country The fact that they occurred during the
OF Congress made it necessary that should myself AS
sumo the responsibility of prompt action, relying upon
the wisdom and justice Of the people and their repre-
sentaves for support have not yet exceeded the
appropriations for tho cntrent year. but these measures
with the cost OF preparing, transporting and concenrat
everything necessary carry them out have already
almost exhausted the money Of the working bureaus OF
the departments, and this must be supplied at once If
in service work already undertaken and in some In
stances far advanced. will also require large appro-
priaOn The amount required 10 reimburse the bureaus
carry them through this year aud also to put all
our available monitors in order will not be less than
100000 II force is TO be increased or If the pow
erfu double-turreted monitors Mlsntonomah. Monad-
mock aud Puritan to be put in condition for useful
ness at cast 81, 900 coo more Will be required.
The Secretary had long conference with the
Committee Oh Appropriations to-day and will have
another tomorrow.
TIE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS LIKELY TO
PROPOSE COMPLIANCE WITH NE REQUEST OF
TIE SECRETARY.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WAsHINGTON Dec. S.-The Committee of Appro-
priations will hold q special meeting tomorrow TO
consider the application Of the Secretary of the
Navy for an immediate appropriation OF S5OOO,OO
10 meet the pressing necessities of the Department
At the request of the Committee, Secretary Robson
will submit detailed account of the operations Of
the Department since the Spanish difficulty began,
and of the extraordinary expenditures authorized
in the different bureaus and of the further outiays
necessary 10 carry out the plans adopted. The
Committee has also requested the Secretary Of State
to come before them and explain the diplomatic sit
uatlon SO that they may fully understand the pres
ent attitude of the Spanish question and he able
to act intellgently upon the application for means
TO press forward the extraordinary naval prepare
tons. Members of the Committee express the opin-
ion that the result Of to-morrows conference will be
the immediate conclusion TO report bill appropriate
ing the money asked.