The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-25
SEC0R R0BBERS0N'S NAVY.
WHAT TPROMTNENT oFFICERS sAYoF
ITS MdNdGLMENT.
The Yards Run ns Political Machipes-The
Eight new sioops-oi-Wnr Decinr red 10 be
of Little or no Value for War Purposes.

The Yards Run n- Political Machines-The
Eight new sioops-of-Wnr Declared 10 be
Of Little or no value for War Purposes.
WASHINGTON, May "a. The testimony
tsken by the Committee on Naval Affairs In re-
iatlon to the administration Of Norfolk Navy
Yaro has been printed, and 1t contains some in
tefesting reading. The most i'm portant evidence
Ia that furnished by number Of prominent pa.
val oflicers In reperd to the manaRemen OF our
navy, the relative utility Of iron and wooden
shipe, and the qualities of tho eight new sloops-
of-war which have been built recently. Rear
Admiral Muilanv thinks the management oi the
navy could be improved on, and advises n COM
mission To examine Into the present condition
Of the service and recomm end a policy to be
adot ted hereafter. In regard to the new sloops
Of war, bo says their value to tho service can
only be determined after a thorough test OF
their sea-RoinR qualities under both steam and
canvas. Their speed will tie from nine to eleven
knots per hour under steam, but those built OF
iron will be practically wort bless for war service
Admiral Leroy thinks none Of the new sloops-
OF war should have been built Of iron, and that
they are constructed after models now obsolete.
In regard to the general management OF the
navy, he says he Is satisfied that political inter-
ference has teen materially detrimental to tho
useful and economical government OF the Yards.
Old and valuable servants of the country, who,
In many instances, have served In action, as
well as others who would really he OF service,
have been unable 10 yet employment, wnile
worthless persons VINO have been hut few
mouths In the country have been admitted Tor
Csvt. James Il. Jarrett testified that In his
opinion tue eignt new sloup--of-war are not
ad Apted to naval purposes. lie saws naval Of
Dcers Ren,r~ly are disappointed In them, espe-
cl lily those built OF iron. They make from
eight TO nine knots an hour, hut they probably
engineers con,rrehenu the new compound
engines In them He considered IL ste
Of money u build such vessels vi iron for w..
purposes: Ia ieR.rd To the policy OF rebuilding
Old vessels, be says: " Congress- apIrOpriates o
much money for repairs. not enough for con
s,ructiOh. Th's Is tue means used TO keep up
the number ana name Of vessels worn out ana
useless. mere "a No wisdom In such things. and
there should be no law allowing l.; but naval
men 1re entirely ignored rs to the building OF
ships or auy otner matters OF naval imp ortancc."
In reR"rd to the contract ~ item unJer the pr
ent regime, lie suys that the clothing, snoes &C..
suppiied are 81 av. ~ poor quality, furnished at
to some extent. In the management OF the
Norfolk yurJ, he thinks the gruesest sbuses have
prevailed. lncom petent men have teen EN-
ployed. having no otner qualification than poI-
zeal inh"ence. In regard 10 our war vessels as
compared With those vf other nations, he says
sucS ysss,is a, our 1nyy |. eonVo.ed o. | nd ,hsr,
should be no such vessels IA our nvy. No comparison
Sn lYr,sn .sses ,,, have hshy ,eientine bosres
onic,rs OF nigh ,tal ding prof s.ional qu4n
ca iOus are associate ~itn thci. Every dcist /.
weighed. tvcrJ tie vessel u be put consuerd.
var ycsses IN ,Ney sense aud particular are 9ut.
success Wat DO ,ut nava, cons ructors kuOs out
vessel Of warp Nothins lt,ni, notning since u
OF vessel To- sea I'D purposes We Nant nxcd
sa sa SSSs mp. % d 5sess VAR MeS S wa
are 90 Son.In1 , Ihd nsn' ships must have somchH.
the n,oaei -''''-' ''''''-''
Commodore John Guest said Of the new
slUoLs 81 war. In my opinion, their value
men-oi-wsr is verv trining." la Ieg.rd TO their
machinery, he says; " Ihe boilers Of tue Alerl
nave gwen u great deal Of rrUunle. an all, or
near all of the new shius are provided WIN
tue s,me. ln NY opinion, confidence Ia them l.
Lreatly shaken."
q Ut. S. X. l.. Luce testines in regard to tho
elsht new slOVp- Of war as follows: lone OF the
egnt slnops. the lrsnton, just launched, Will
proc ably prove valuable Huuition u the navy.
Inc olhcr seven arc OF iittle or no value ngni-
ing or cruising snips oi war. taking the Alrr,
- iair sanI le, th.ir maximum estimated
speed 1, ten knots"
Capt. :. A. Gamer SAYS on the sane subject:
In n,y nliuiun, tnty are q. nitie or 80 Naiue
for defensive iGrpOses. In my opinion. the
vessels 0uiit Of iiun are unit Tor men Of war"
In regard to rebuilding OF Old vessels he SAYS;
AS understand u, vessels can on De 50 re-
tult by 'n evasion Of the law / think the po,-
ICY uuwise'
Tue purchase OF supplies such as timber and
macuinery for the Norfola Navy faru, Is proven
oy scores IL witnesses To nave been altpgtther
IN the InteIes. at jObherv. The practice wa,
almost inySnAbly To make purchases without
aGvertlsenen. AID they were alwds 0irec ed
nom Washington. y timber contractor named
Wallace VINO had a large lot OF lumber at Nor
folk. wanted to sell It TO the navy ward th.r..
aud through the Influence nf ". j. S.urtaeh.
pros rector uf the National Republican, got a.
~ der irom |. u .nsnop, .hi-f VI Inc !iu. eau ~
Construchon 10 deliver such am nounls u lumber
called for. 1t appears that there
was not sufficient demand tor Inc l.m-
| ber at Norfolk, md So wall,ce was allow
80, on ordtr from Washington, to deliver
fifteen thousand feet of yellow pine ut League
Islaud where IL was not needed Tor any pur-
pose. For tno service Muriarh had rendered
him WITH I've Score ary. wall zee, paid MIN
tout 1000. 1t was tesilned also by many Of
the Uest wofkihen employed N the yard tnat
tue quality of timer supplied Tor The frames of
shius was very bad. and that much loss was sus-
Lantd Dy It's teiug loosely inspected. Ii was
also cl rly proven tuat tnere were relul arlS
political assessments made OD the rmpl yeus OF
tue yard, anu that on one occasion at least Il tux
90 & BELONGING TO tns ward was used To carry L.
ilatt CROW Il 10 d political meeting. II Is made
perfectly pliIn that the navy yard was used a
political machine III the interest of Jas. IA. Pitt
the hepuoncan member oI Congress from tue
kurfIIk