New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-28

rity in answering the call Of his country, and
his persistence in staying. Very few Secrc-
taries have leaned against door-post with so
much dignity and composure, and lighted up
the surroundings with such ruddiness. Very
few have done 80 much for the navy.
As, for instance, in increasing the ap-
preparations and estimates. He has made
fewer men cost more money than any of his
predecessors deemed possible. He has burst
guns had naval reviews; increased the num-
Der of the Marine Band; and as to the Marine
CORPS, his marines are a whole people, though
he has only some 1000 under pay. More than
this he has shown greater capacity for putting
repairs on vessels than any mariner since
Noah. He has made the navy-yards hveiy
always lust before elections and so has con-
tributed to the support of the Government at
the Government expense by insuring Admin
itration congressman in several doubtful dis
trcts. Done all this, and done it well, and for
several years. We do not believe he has ever
SAID to any contracting Zaccheus up tree,
"Come down y but we do see by the tables
that he has constantly said to the bald-headed
estimates. eco up.r And the figures have
obeyed.
No one can read the dispatch of our Wash
ingtOn correspondent published in yesterdays
TRIBUNE without being struck with the ability
Mr.. Robson has shown in his department.
Vulgar clamor has never moved him public
opinion has rolled off him like water
off duck. When the people were cry
ing for retrenchment he went calmly
forward and increased his estimates. If
there was any question raised with
reference to the necessity for 80 large ap-
preparations, he said, and all the department
subordinates rolled aloft their eyes and united
with desperate emphasis in saying, that it was
simply impossible to get along with cent less
that the navy would actually tumble to pieces
with dry rot if these appropriations were not
kept up to the estimates. And now we find
that "by judcious and practical application
"of uhat could be spared from the current dp-
preparations Of the last five years no less
than thirty new ships of war, single and
double-turreted monitors and wooden ships,
"have been built and equipped" Ability
Why ability is no name for it. The Secretary
who can do that sort of thing deserves a brass
statue on the top of the department building
in the uniform of the Marine Band-red
trousers and n trumpet. Other departments
were economzing and retrenching, work on
the public buildings was suspended, the brains
of Congress were devoted to ways ana means
for raising money to carry on the Government.
and there sat Robson, unconscious that he
was doing anything great or unusual, building
up a navy out of what he had left over from
his annual appropriations.
And still we fear Notwithstanding the great
ability with which Alr. Robson has admins
tered the Navy Department and increased the
expenses of the same, the present Congress
Will be very likely to scan his estimates sus-
piciously, and possibly cut them down few
triAing and insignificant millions. For this
Congress has an abiding conviction that there's
a President to be elected next year. great
many members of the majority have singular
sort of notion-it's uncharitable of course, but
still they have it-that the money for instance
for naval establishment and public works, for
which the estimates call for four millions more
than last year, might get strayed away into
the hands Of some committee who would use
it to save the country by the ballot instead OF
by the naval arm. And they don't want it
saved that way. First, because 1t would
be q misrepresentation of public funds, which
they always oppose when the Administration
is opposed to them and second, because that
way of saving the Government keeps 1t out
of the hands of Democrats. SO we greatly
fear that some of Mr.. Robeson's estimates will
be cut down. Not that there is any doubt of
his ability and capacity, but because there is,
as We say, prevailing hostility among Demo
Gratis to making appropriations for the use of
Republican committees. We say this in order
to prepare the Secretary's mind for such an
event, and in the hope that his disappoint-
ment will not be serious.