Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-12-05
REPORT OF TIRE sECRErARY ~
THE NAVY.

The annual rpport Of the Secretary Of the
Navy has been tra1smitteSi 10 the President
II shows that thera are I'm the service iss
steam vessels. carrying 81 guns: p sailing
vessels, carrying - guns, aud p iron-clad
veSst II, carrying = guns. OF the whole num-
Der of vessels - are az pres mt tn actual uSo
4 are preparing and almost ready for sea )
are under repairs and y are laid up at the
The Secretary endorses the proposition OF
the chief OF the hurrau of equipment and re-
cruiting urging the establishment of bank
ing syst,m for the navy similar To that now
I'm force I'm the army. The army law author
lies the payment of interest at per cent.
upon all sums Of $50 and upward deposited
by any enlisted man with the paymaSters,
subject 10 certain conditions and restrictions.
IL this system should be- adopted for the navy,
careful estimate of the sum that would be
required for the payment Of the interest
places u at but S24.0oo per annum.
In referring % the National Observatory.
the Secretary SAYS: Provided by wise lib
erality with the best instruments ohtainable.
the Naval Observatory has risen Ia "A high
rank, both at home and abroad, Tor efficteney
and for the character of the work accom-
plished, and has amply fulfilled the expecta-
tions OF its founders"
Speaking OF the naval force, the SECRETARY
says: 81 think we may well dispense. for the
present at least. with the heavy armored and
unwieldy iron-clads OF European nations,
and also with the monster cannon necessary
10 penetrate them. ANY vessel which can
safely cross the seas Ia enter our harbOrs or
10 lie upon our shores will be found vulner-
able 10 cannon of moderate weight and cal
lber, while the heaviest armor will not pro-
tect a ship from the attacks Of torpedoes man
aged.by brave and well-instructed officers"
The Secretary asks an appropriation OF
$3.50 200 for the Bureau OF Construction and
Repair, 10 be made available at once, 10
complete the repairs OF i've ble-turreted
iron-clads.
speaking OF the reduced pay OF the naval
officers, the Secretary says: You are fully
aware how disagreeable this duty was 10 the
department, but YOU understood, al %. how
~ had no alternative but % discharge 10.
Burdensome as its effect has been 10 the
naval service, / am gratified Ia be able 10 say
that IL has been received by the officers gen
orally with dignity and courage. There has
been some fault-nnding and some foolish
criticisms; but the faultfinding. a. far a. am
informed, has been confined Ia those who
have been least affected, and who, In the
present. as Ina the past, have the least cause
10 complain OF the favor Of the Government
or the action OF the Department. Those who
are charged with the burdens of official duty
must expect always % meet the criticism of
that class. who without consideration or re-
spOnsibillty themselves, are ever ready 20
question the motives and actions OF others.
After careful consideration OF this sub
ject, being convinced that Congress when
they fully understand IL, will have no real
desire TO withhold from any branch of the
service the pay which would accrue TO il
under The ordinary operations OF the laws
and customs governing the action OF the de-
partment, and will not wish TO deprive we'll
deserving Officers, whose lives are conse-
Grated To their cOuntry's service. and 10
whom no personal fault is imputed OF the
means for the proper support aud education
OF their families, / have, besides theoniinarv
estimates. an additional estimate 10 submit
for the sum of 81 go. 600 10 supply the ineyit-
able deficiency I'm the pay" appropriation.
and 20 enable the department To rescind IT'S
orderplacing all unemployed officers on eur
lough pay" and To make up 20 those who
have been or may be so reduced, without
FAULT on their part, the amount OF paw which
they would otherwise have received. Com
provision, and If they do so the department
viii have great qualification I'm carving An
out; otherwise the service and the deparT-
ment VIII have no alternative but TO submit
10 the deficiency and the reduction whIco m
entails"