The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-18
The NnVY YnrGs.

ho NhNl
A Board Of Naval Constructors recently
made an inspection of the navy yards
from Kittcry in Maine to Brooklyn, aud
they report that they require rcorgau-
ization to make them effective for an
emergency, and that each yard is gov
erncd according to the capiicc Of the OFF,
Ger in command, aud not hy n general
system of regulations applicable to alL
They recommend the restoration of the
principal. yards 10 the original plans. and
the dlscontinuance of the smaller ones.
These yards have suffered, like other
branches of the navy, from the democrat
izaton which has extended through the
whole service, during the last five years
especially They have been converted
into mere partisan machines FOR carrying
elections aud are used mainly as deposit
tories for timber, machinery, material,
and stores, supplied at enormous prices
by the Ring which rum the department.
The scaudalous abuses, corruption. and
extravaganza in the navy snce SEcoR
ROurSON became Secretary are notorious
TO the whole country. They have been
published in every variety of form, with
out making The least impression on the
President or the majOritics In CONGRESS,
who continued to vote away the people s
money in spite of the most damnng
proofs of fraud and prodigality in the
expenditures.
Every investigation ordered has turned
out q sham. and instead Of weakening the
head of the department, has only served
to encourage his venll practices, 10
streng then his hands, and TO augment
the eXtravagance through which the inn
monse pront- OF the Rug are mainly =
rived. Every dollar of excessive outlay
contributes to their gain, so that pretcSts
have been constantly invented TO swell
the expenses in order that the dividends
of corruption might be proporuouately
increased.
Under the loose and arbitrary system
which grew up during the war, and has been
continued ever since, the leading commit
tees virtually controlled and shaped the
legislation affecting all the great interests
OF tariff, banking, internal revenue, army,
navy, Indians, and the civil list. That fact
explains why these positions were sought
with so much eagerness, and why CAKES
AMrs and Others representing great cor
porations and monopolies distributed
shares Of Credit Mobilier and placed their
money where it would do most good.
Care was taken TO pack these committees
30 as TO provide against accidents, and to
insure an absolute majority of two-thirds
for the Republican side i'll both branches
of Congress. The charmen in the House
were selected by the Speaker both for per-
sonaI and political considerations. In adj
dition to the power they possessed under tho
rules, recent usage has conferred upon
them privileges and attrbutions which
have served TO concentrate exceptional au-
thoritv in few hands.
In brief, the common Law Of recent legis-
lation has been for the committees to fol-
low the chairmcn, and for the House to
follow tue committees upon the assump-
ton that they had investigated the sub
jerts with which they were specially
charged, and were best informed as to the
measures required for the branches of the
public service which they represented. On
the floor Of the House the Speaker recog-
nized these ch9irmen only, and, with the
previous question to cut of debare al their
will the minority was rendered practical
ly voiceless and powerless for opposition.
Ii is easy TO understand from this expla-
nation how the Speaker, the chairmen of
these committees, and few favorltos be-
came the masters of legislation, and thus
created a controlling power around which
the majority revolved ike mere machine
cry. Consequently, when The Secretary OF
the Navy, or Of War or Of the Treasury,
or OF any other department, wanted in
creased appropriations, 1t was only neces-
Sary to win over the Chairman aud ma
Jorty of the committee and 10 conquer the
prejudices of any threatened disaffection.
A tacit agreement existed among the
leaders, that whatever appropriations ono
might report would be supported by the
others 50 that there was a constant OK.
change Of influence in favor of the most
reckless expenditure without serious ques
tion. The fees received by Mr.. GARFIELD
and Others expose the corruptinG methods
of the various Rings In procuring legisla-
ton, though these exposures only scratch
the surface Of widespread venality il
public life. The sale of these trusts was
regular business, and the sudden wealth O
numerous Senators and Representative
tells with what success 1t was practised.
The tune has come when this proillgatC
system must be cut up root and branch
The fountains of legislation have beer
corrupted. To purify them amid tn
temptations that will be offered at Wash
tngton, the seductions Of society, ant
brides for the tra1hckers, is no easy tasl
even for well-disposed majority. Moth
aug short Of a stern, quick, and sharl
policy to retrench at all hazards first
and to remedy possible mistakes after
ward, can succeed aud make reform a
popular as it deserves TO be. Strike OF
atty millions from the appropriation bills
diSIniss fifteen thousand Of an Idle an
useless army; recall the yachting navy
starve out the Rings; vote down ever
salary TO the private standard of compel
ssnoni send supernumeraries TO work fC