New-York tribune., 1877-05-18

CHANGING.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEl
WAsHINGToN, May 1.-THE Secretary of the Navy
has already visited the Washington and Norfolk
Navy-Yards, dropping in upon the officers in charge
of them without warming and thus allowing them
to make no preparation for his reception. 1t is his
purpose to visit all the remaining navyvards in the
country also, but it is not believed that he will an
nOunce himself in advance. The commandants of
the nayy-yards at Brooklyn, League Island, New
London, Boston, Portsmouth, and elsewhere need
not be surprised, therefore, to Secretary Thomp-
son walk in upon them any fine morning.
The examination of the Washington and Norfolk
Navy-Yards has given the Secretary considerable
insight into the management of those institutions.
lie finds at Norfolk vessel on the stocks about one
third completed upon which VOL. has long been
suspended, and which is now deteriorating on ac-
count of its exposure to the weather, shed having
been built over it. At the Washington Navy-Yard
there is also on the stocks under cover a valuable
ship which could be completed and launched within
a month, but upon which no work is being
DONE Similar incomplete vessels Will probably be
found at other nayy-yards An important subject,
which the Secretary of the Navy will bring to the
attention of Congress in his annual report, will be
the adoption OF policy to govern the department IN
building ships aud the manufacture of material.
The Washington Navy-Yard has the facilities for
supplying every part of a ship and it's outfit. Other
navy-yards are undoubtedly equally well equipped.
The property which has accumulated at these sta
tions is of very great value; but so long as the
United States builds its ships by contracts with
private firms it is Of comparatively little value.
The Secretary Will undoubtedly recommend either
that the United States shall build ard repair its
vessels of war in its nayyyards that part of the
nayy-yards shall be abolished and that the work
sbo lao bt,c ln NVi rp
mend has not yet been determined upon.
Another subject to which the Secretary has given
his attention Is the treatment of deficiencies which
have arisen during the cnrrcnt fiscal year from con-
tracts which he found in operation on assuming
control Of the department, but for which there was
no authority OF law. The amount Of these de-
fcieGcics has not yet been asccrtaincd. Ii is be-
lieved that those arising from the building OF new
vessels will amount to at least P5O0,OOO The
Secretary has not yet decided whether he Will make
estimates of the amount Of money necessary to pay
for this work illegally ordered, and ask Congress to
provide for it in additional appropriation bill, or
whether he will simply inform the contractors that
the department cannot recognize thelr claims. ana
that their only mode Of securing relief Is to ask
Congress for special legislation in their behalf. 1t
he adopts the former course there IS the objection
that the Administration, to some extent at least,
ninstraton. If he decides upon the latter course,
it in reality does injustice to contractors who
did their work in good faith and were not re-
sronsihlc for the violation of law.
IN the management of the navy-yards there will
he some genuine civil service reform Secretary
T., pson doc not conceal his intention of prevent
ing those institutions from being hereafter used as
political machines Mechanics and other employees
will be hired aud paid as similar classes OF wOrkmeH
are engaged by private firms. The Secretary of the
Navy will refuse To require the appointment of GER
tam persons who are able to bring political influence
to bear here in Washington, as has been customary
hcl, ,ioforc, but will make it his aim to secure the
services Of the best foremen and to held them
responsible for the efficiency of the force they en-
ploy. The Secretary of the Navy is apparently OF
the opinion that very large reductions in the eX-
pensc Of carrying the operations of the Navy De-
parneLt may be made, and that by the lSt of July
the W1ri, Of thc different bureaus of the department
will be SO systelnatizcd that great economy and
efficiency will at the same time be secured.