The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-24


Now, whether We look at the sum witch nas
been expended since the close OF the war, or at
the amount expended under the present Ad-
otner sums are to be added In order to ascertain
tue present actual condition OF the navy, to wiz
the expenditures made for the fiscal year end
Ing June 30, 1875 In round numbers, say t3O,0O.-
90. But even this does not snow the true
amount Of the expenditures made by this sd-
ministration OF the Navy Department, because
the large sums OF money tnat have been OBJ
talned since the advent OF the present Secretary
from the novel business OF excnAngs and barter
iu:roduced by him, II 10 believed for the nrst
time In the administration OF puoiic Affairs
not Included Your committee are somewhat
st loss In estimating tue amount realized In
this business. The original cost OF the articles
disposed OF by the Secretary OF the Navy or his
subordinates would amount 10 several millions
OF dollars, while the a.nounts apparently real
lied for those articles are comparatively small
Taking the sums SHOWN to have been ex ponded
03T 80. 40. and adding $500 900 expended for the
fiscal year endine June ~, 1870 and adding also
The loss ina erttl improperly exchanged or
bartered away, t,000o,0CO (assumed). We have the
sum oil t2OOOu,OcO expended by this Admins
trstsn for anu on account OF the navy. Dis-
sscting these expenditures, we nnd tha. for
construc Ion and repair. steam engineering, aod
ordnance, ABOUT tJOOOO,OJO have been actually
| expended, ana tnst these branches OF the SER
vice are liable TO be charged with the greater
part Of the sums realized In the exchange aud
barter business. Taking from other heads OF
| expenditures what Is properly charseable To the
construction OF ships OF war In all their parts,
your COMMITTEES do not lhink they are far wrong
wnen they estimate the sun propeily charge
apie TO expenditures Of that Kind at 500 10000; ;
and la tue proeress of this report they Will en-
deavor to maze t clear to the House that " tnis
large amount OF money had been properly ex-
penoed II would have given tue country n very
efficient navy. In tbis connection, IL Is to DC
remarked tnst, while 1t Is SHOWN hy the evidence
OF the heads Of bureaus, Of paym asters, ana OF
SSS int .0i ,n only of June &
extended balances. several OF them. To
wit, the Bureau of CONSTRUCTION anu Repair,
the Bureau of Steam ElsinserinR. and
tne Bureau OF Provisions and Clothing, were
largely In debt. having exceeded the aDpropria-
tions made by Congress and contracted habili-
lies, la utter disregard and violation Of law. Tue
other bureaus with tue exception Oftne Bureau
Of Yiros and Docks, have contr acted but small
inde Jteu ness. From the best info nation which
your committee have been able to obtain, tney
are sitisned that the present liabilities OF the
Navy Department IN excess OF approximations
are between two aud half and three millions
OF dollAs wnie the contingent liabilities OF the
department. upon contracts entered into aud
not vet completed amount, In our opinion, to
about two and a half millions more. ibis judg-
nent Is based upon EXHIBITS OF the condition ot
the department lde BY Its own officers, md
upon the fact that 10 almost every Instance
wnere your committee have asked contractor
whether the department was Indebted to
tim or not, the answer has been In
the Affirmative. Bills approved amounting
TO over s70Oooo he IN tne ofhce OF
bids amounting To over $75OOO lie In tue OH 20
OF the Paymaster at P0iladslpnia. We have .He
testimony OF various contractQSs, proving that
for months their DIils have not been met, ana In
one notable instance - that Of Mr.. William
Mathews Of New fork-a claim OF over &L2,OOO
for interest on unpaid bills IS presented and
filed In the Bureau Of Provisions and Clothing /;
while ~ anot ,er instance y Is manifest from
the testimony OF Seyf-rt, McAanus j. Co.. OF
Philadelphia, that they nave been ANXIOUS to
procure old iron" from the Department In
payment of their bills. Judging from this state
of facts, your committee must berevo that
whenever the true condition Of tho Navy De-
Dartlnent Is ascertained Its llbl lties will be
found TO be between seven and ten million
dollars; resulting from the disregard Of law,
aud the loose, II not criminal, adminstra-
We oome now 10 look at the condition OF tho
navy in its n,dter1el. Tue following Is ex-
tract from the report oI the Secretary Of the
Navy;
1t /. gratifying to be able to report that the navy is
anu more efficient condition IN "a u
ment Of your Administration. Ills very strong in
number nor IN tns classrs Of It's salps but wnat
cable to keep such materials OF war under various
az Tying constantly Exposed lar argsr pr
porl usual " our wooden ships are ready iOr
honses sro fairl stoc2ed vita ordnance. equipments,
sa Saspe fs % ans ays Hn nsa anS e lar S & Oh the
The service has Dcea paced III tnis state OF efficiency
ns except 10 tne case OF the eIsnl Quiz ulor spr-
oia appropriations what coud be sp red from tho ear
during ne C1oan emergency ana sPpIy ny tIese m aus
siSnS Of Inc navy as existed Ia a, permanent good
cOnuion the state OF the ships and the msans at
thnE u rAtod bY the strength OF our position to day
This statement OF the Secretary Is attemD Dted
10 be sust lined by the sworn testimony or tho
head OF the bureau OF Cons ructi0n ana Re pair,
Mr.. Ii iiah HansUom, and other bureau Officers
nut when we Remember that II Is Mr Hanscom =
own work that Is called In question, and hOnce
| tho deep interest he must feel IN any judgment
that may be pnsSed upon H. ana when IL II ST. own
by the recorded evidence In this Investigation
that no Ia not altogether reliable witness, aud
further, when rodr committee have contrary In
formation (Which - herewith presentedl IRON
| the active head OF the navy, Admiral Porter,
Who In his facts ana opinions, Is sustained tv
| aniost the entire body OF hs fellow ofiicers IN
lns navy. they may and do deny the accuracy Of
the rose -oOlored statement made Dy the Ssore-
| tsry and, as showing the true and actual oondi-
| lion Of our aayy at ths present time. your COM