Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-02
THE NAVY YARDS AND ELECTIONS.

THE NAVY YARDS AND ELECTIONS.
In the discussion on the naval appro-
priation bill in the House, Mr.. Dreamer
of New York, on the democratic side.
charged that the navy yards were used for
election purposes, and denied that they
had ever been so employed in democratic
times. Mr.. Hale of Maine replied to Mr..
Dreamer, defending the management of
the navy and presenting facts in relation
to the navy yards which completely turned
the tables on his democratic adversary.
After declaring that the navy department
had been better managed during the past
five years than at other time in its history.
MIR. Hale came directly to the question of
the navy yards and elections as follows:
Mr. Hale-I am very glad that the gentleman
has referred to this matter Of putting force in
the navy yards before elections, because l have
heard that mentioned before, and have armed my
self with the facts showing to what extent the
force has been put on in view Of the late elections
There Is the pinch, and that is what suggested
the attack Of the gentleman. | have the record
of the entire force in several Of the large navy
yards of the government for the years 1874 1873
and 1856, for / thought it worth while to go back
to the pure days of democratic administration to
see in what numbers men were found working in
navy yards just before elections | will state be-
fore giving the figures that the number of men
the Secretary Of the Navy has put on in the pres
ent year in the months before the election is
smaller than even supposed it was. There was
in the navy yard in New York in the month of
September, 1874, 1861 men and in October 1909;
in all 2370 men. A year ago, when there was no
election, when there was nothing to cali out any
extra display Of force, the New York navy yard
had in October l740, and in September l74l, OF in
all I'LL more year ago than during the same
months this year.
Mr.. Archer--A year ago was the time when we
supposed we would have trouble with Cuba.
Mr.. Hale-N0, that had not come that was not
dreamed Of; there was not cloud in the sky, and
Of course that was not the reason. Now let us go
back to New York and take the year 1856.
Mr.. Schumacher of New York; desire to call
the attention of the gentleman to the fact that any
comparison Of the figures with reference to the
number of employees in the navy yards, in years
which were not presidential election years, i,
fair. III the gentleman will take the numbers for
1872 and 1868, the years of the presidential cleo
tons, then the comparison would be far.
Mr. Hale-Ihat is just what | am coming to.
Let us see how many men in 1856, presidential
year, were in the New York navy yard in Sep
TENDER and October. In September there were
1856, and in October 1928, making in all 1924 men
in those two months-S34 men more than were
put Oh in 1874, with all this influx from New Jer-
sey that the gentleman talks about and, by the
way, if the Secretary of the Navy sent men for
the election from New Jersey TO New York, all |
can say Is that in running the New Jersey cam
paign he was not bright. Now want TO follow
the figures right along. Take Philadelphia. How
many do the committee suppose were in the en-
ployment of the Philadelphia navy yard in Octo-
Der of this year, the month of the election There
were 66l men. How many do they suppose in
October Of last year Ten hundred and fifty men.
How many do they suppose Were there under the
democratic administ alton in 1856, the year of the
presidential election when the republicans almost
carried Pennsylvania, and, as they always be-
lieyed, were counted out of the vote Nine hun
dred and fifty six men, or 29i more than were in
the navy yard in the month Of October Of this
year. How was it at Norfolk In the last cleo
lion in 1874, in Octoser, there were 1866 men.
Last year there were l54l men, But in 1856, in
the corresponding month, when appropriations
were smaller for the navy, there were 1926. And
so it is with all of the wards
Mr. Sehumaker--will the gentleman tell u how
many there were in 1872 and 1852
Mr.. Hae--I have not got here the figures for
those years.
Mr.. schumakcr-Those statements are intended
TO deceive this house. The gentleman states what
- not true.
M. Hale am stating the truth
Mr.. Schumaker--It is a very unfair statement,
and the gentleman knows it. lie should take the
pre- sidenfial elections il be intends TO treat this
house fairly.
Mr.. Hale have taken the year 1856.
Mr.. Echumsker--You mist take 1872 and 1868
70 make . fair statement. L. IS too thin alto
Mr. Hale-I have taken this year, congress
.ionM election year. ! do not wonder that the
gentleman II nervous.
Mr.. scbumsker--Ther Is nothing nervous