The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-24

ships which he hopes and needs to have in
commission next year. Of the seven thou
sand five hundred men now allowed
more than a third are employed on training
ships, receiving ships, on the coast survey
and at the Naval Academy, in accordance
with law. The remainder leaves him scant
material to man the ships now in service,
and we are glad to read that he expects be-
fore next December to have ten more ships
afloat and in commission. He needs, there
fore, more men, and we trust Congress at
the regular session will allow them.
Finally, as to the navy yards Senator
Blaine said :-'.There is Of course a vast
and useless expenditure in the navy yards,
a very large and overwhelming expenditure
in that department which we do not in any
event need" TO this the Secretary replies
that if We are to have a navy we must have
yards, but that he is not unwilling to close
and dispose of some of the navy yards If
Congress desires, and we suppose he would
begin this economy under the direction Of
Congress by shutting up and selling cut
the navy yard at Portsmouth, on the New
opinion of naval experts is the one
which, in the interests of judicious econ
omy, could be best spared. And Mr..
Thompson concludes with the following
quiet rejoinder 10 the Maine Senator's
urgent plea for naval economy:A'In re-
gard to the other question, whether or no
board should be appointed to decide upon
some plan Of decreasing rhe expenses of the
naval establishment the department can
only now say that it has employed all pos
sible diligence to do this. The expendi-
lures of the last fiscal year were
S4,92S, GIT "a less than those of the pre-
ceding year, although more ships We're
thoroughly repaired and made ready for sea
than during that year. The expenditures
of the year ending June 80, 1877, were also
81, $50, 440 63 less than the year preceding
that. The average annual expenditures for
the five years previous to and including
1877 were $40, 1928, 6S4 5S; SO that those of
the year ending June 80 1873, were
Sc, 02l, TO 40 less than this average. And
thus far during the present fiscal year they
are still further reduced, as appears by the
fact that the expenditures for the first six
months were 81 1852, 4O4 81 less than for the
corresponding period Of last year. That
these expenditures could be still further
reduced by emitting the repairs of vessels
and suffering the navy yards and other
property to deteriorate in value there is no
doubt. But if the navy is to be preserved,
even in its present condition of effective
ness, and the vessels are to be repaired and
kept in condition tor service, it is not
likely that there can be any very material
diminution OF expenditures.
We do not remember ever to have seen q
more complete and crushing demolition Of
United States Senator than this by the
Secretary OF the Navy, and we congratulate
the navy upon having at its head a Cabinet
officer who knows so we'll how to defend it
against attack and to show in few but per-
tinent words what it really does tor the
country. It is amazing that Senator Blaine
should not have tried TO know a little Of
the subject before he ventured to speak
about it, especially when the object Of his
attack was the navy, which has always
hitherto found able defenders in New Eng
land. He will probably leave the navy
alone hereaiter.-at least while Secretary
Thompson remains at its head. 1t is not
safe water for him to cruise in.