Delaware tribune, and the Delaware state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1877-18??, 1877-10-18
THE NAVY DEPARTM f,
The Amount Of the ExlMti,..s DeA.
cheney in the Department. ~ Rt-

The Amount Of the Existi.s Den.
ciency I'm the Department ~ Rt-
ported by the Secretary.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16.-The Secretary
Of the Navy has prepared a report setting |
forth the amount Of the existing deficiency |
In the Navy Department, which will be
tr.nsmitted TODAY with the Message.
He saws his brief connection with the |
NAVY DEPARTMENT has enabled him To
realize some of the difficulties that at
tend the administration of its financial
affairs. They have in some measure
GROWN out of the diversion of appropria.
lions from special objects to which they
have been applied by law. This probably
has crown out of the fact that tile appro-
priations frequently are less than the
needs of the service, but he does not be-
lieve 1t to Justify them IL, doing this for
special purposes, for the reason, he says,
that il would enable the Secretary of the
NAVY to substitute his own official discre-
ton for the requirements of law and az
there would be no legal limit to this dis
erection, the deficiencies would exist or
not. according to his pleasure. II am
unwilling 10 assume this responsibility,
but prefer to administer the department.
40 long as it shall remain under my charge,
| in striet obedience to the will of Congress
"Deeming it best ut the commencement
of INV service to adopt thi course, I have
not allowed any portion of the appropris
tons for the present fisc nj year to be
expended before the wear CO ,mmenced.
s.My primary object in this was to
secure a system Of adn Illustration by
means of which the annual expenditures OF
The department can be more easily and
accurately ascertained. and causes Of
deficiency. when it f,halI occur, can be
more certainly and satisfactorily known
II was believed that better economy coult
he assured by this metf cd, inasinuch a
ali bureaus and branches OF the department
would DO held 20 stricter accountability
when il ia uud, .rstood that money appro
priated for one Object shall not b.
exnended FIR another and that when !
proves ms efficient the object shall b
!. abandone d until further appropriations b.
Congress There will be no difficulty il
5 fixing upon the department the measure Q
a resp Visibility contemplated by law.
IN ia The RIGHT and duty of Congress I
direct such results 10 be accomplished
in ;ts on;n;on nub,;e necessities and intel
y ests nav require. |. is not the right nc
n ia Il the dutv of the department to seek
q ancompl;sh results not contemplated {
: directed by Congress.
4 Wrhe depsrtn,ent is a creature of Il
q law md exists only at the will and pie
A sure Tof the law.n,aking power. 1t
resnons;h,a for not doing what the Ia
,1;racts n be done, hut It is not responsib
u Gov fs;,; i; ~ To accomplish what law do
~ nnt a;ract
10 1Wbsre thsresorc inst relations b
.u,sen ron,ress md the DEPARTMENT ext
there viii he no dificulty in fixing Il
~ noasu~o If resnnnsibiIity upon the form
To-. nno,,;no Nv nn,itt;ng 10 make approp,
q at;ons and mon The latter for expendi,
y nv nm;uirg 10 eypend as the In
n Commands.
- uT,ving adopted this rule, he found
.u necessary h onit The nav of the navy f