The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-03
WORTHLEsS sHTPs or WAR.


WASHINGTON, May 2.-The report accom-
panying the bill reported from the Committee
on Naval Affairs by Representative Harris pro-
vdinR for tho establishment Of a Board Of As
sistants for the navy takes the ground that Con-
gress must provide money and secure its
proper. wise. and economical expenditure in
securing an efficient navy which is the purpose
Of the bill. The committee say:
We find that many OF the ships in the navy
are Of the old and antquated type. and cannot.
with any amount of expenditure. be made equal
to the more modern vessels. and we therefore
think it wasteful. extravagant. and useless to
spend large sums OF money in maintaining
them. and that the true policy is TO suffer them
to do duty. with the smallest amount OF expcndi-
ture for repairs so long MS they can be OF sub
stnntial use and when they have passed the
period promptly and with no waste of money
on their care and preservation to sell
them. and make use OF their proceeds in build
Ing new and improved ones. or IN keeping in
repair such old ones rs may still be useful. We
would not advise tho expenditure Of single
dollar more on n vessel now unfinished. no mat
which would be-. when aioat Of doubtful value.
Such vessels should be got rid OF at the best
price possible. no matter how great the loss;
also many vessels which are, utterly worthless
for any purpose. and which have no value ex-
chinery which they, contain. less the cost
OF removing IT, But every one OF these
vessels mas 70 be guarded ana watched
year In and year out and at considerable ex-
penditure. and we think that sound financial
policy demands that they be sold or broken up
ble Of the two. for the experience Of the depart
ment. we think. proves that the Government
realizes very little net results from breaking
up vessels OF war. The labor expended costs
more than the old material saved is worth 10 the
Government. There is also avastquantity OF old
and useless material now on hand in the sew
cral bureaus OF the Navy Department which is
costly to keep. house, and take caro- Of, and
repair, of vessels, and we think the same
moment Ordinarily we should approve OF the
present system of turning into the general
treasury the proceeds Of all sales Of old ships
and materials, and making specific appropria-
tions for tho use of the navy. But to keep tho
old navy anoat and build up now one will re-
quire moro than can be- spared from the money
ilcult perhaps to induce Congress to give 10 the
navy all which its necessities demand. We be-
may arise from permitting the Secretary 10 use
the money thus coming from the oil navy for
repairs or in building NJ a new one
The committee believe that great waste and
loss have come from the practice Of substantially
rebuilding. under the name Of repairs old yes
sels. M very large and disproportionate eX-
money op new vessels. which when done, will
be up TO the times and that no vessel should be
repaired ut all II the expense is forty per CEN
tum pf the cost OF a new one.
Since the foregoing was written, II hns como
70 the knowledge Of the committee that the
Beneeia. being repaired at Mare Island. Cal. at
an estimated cost in the construction de part
ment. alone OF s56575. after an expenditure of
t42;9o5 upon her. has boon found to be rotten
and worthless. 1t now appears that To finish
that vessel and make her Of any future value
Will require an expenditure of from 1900 900 70
f5O0.OOO; and II has been. rs we think. wisely
determined that she should be sold. We fear
the bureau system Is not calculated 10 prevent
the repetition of such careless and wasteful cx-
penditure as is here shown TO have been made"