The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-12-02
OUR DISGRACEFUL NAVY.
Important Recommendations for Its
Reconstruction by Secretary Hunt.

Secretary OF the Navy Hunt I'm his annual re-
port to the President, says the condition of the
navy imperatively demands the prompt and
earnest attention OF Congress, and that unless
some action be had I'm its behalf 1t must soon
dwindle into insignificance. From such state
It would be difficult to revive IL into efficiency
without dangerous delay and enormous OK.
pensc. Emergencies may mt any moment arise
which would render Its aid Indispensable 10 the
protection OF the lives and property of our Cit
zens abroad and Mt home, and even TO our eX.
istence as n nation.
"rhese things ought not to be. While the
navy should not be large, itshould ut all times
afford n nucleus for It's enlargement upon an
emergency. Its power OF prompt and extended
expansion should be established. 1t should
DO sufficiently powerful 'to assure the naviga
ship he is protected by the stars and stripes OF
his country" Secretary Hunt refer
to the recommendations OF the Ma
val Advisory Board In this connection
which is made part of hts, to the attention OF
Congress. He also reviews the work per
formed I'm the Arctic expedition, tho work of
the different squadrons and the operations OF
the various departments of the navy. He
thinks the estimate of ten gu 1s for tho Ord
nance Department should meet w.tn favorable
consideration. Secretary Hunt also devotes O
chapter to workmen In navy-yards and sta
lions, I'm which he says:
"The Department deems 1t proper to In
vite Congress to consider come mode of relIe
for n class of public servants who are not ade
quately provided for under existing laws
Mechanics and laborers at the navy-yards ant
stations are often exposed, iii tne discharge o
their duty, to unusual perils. In the piepa
ration OF ammunition, torpedoes, and ordnance
stores, and in many other tasks TO which the!
are assigned, 1t seems impossible to guard n
all times against accidents Thee is no pro
vision for those who incur physical disab'litie
I'm this service. Recent instances have occurred
In the naval service where injuries have beef
sustained by mefltorious perLoDs while per
forming their duty which appeal strongly 4
the sympathy and sense OF justice OF the Gov
eminent The Department is unable, undo
existing laws, to respond favorably to such ap
peals.
.'This matter Is put with simplicity and fore
in report of the present chief Of the Burea,
of Steam Engineering, under date October 30
1878:
est matters not how long or how faithful
they may have served the Government, nor HOY
hazardous their duty or calling; an arm or lei
is broken, an eye is lost n hand is crushed, OF
perhaps, instant death overtakes the laborei
and he is borne to his home by his fellow
workmen. He fails to answer at the next roll
call; his name IL first checked, and thci
stricken from 1t altogether. That
the last of him and his family so far as tn
Government is concerned"
s'Some legislation should be had with refer
ence to cases OF this nature, by which person
should be relieved by the Government iron
the cruel hardship Of such Indifference"
Tho Secretary also recommends the passas
of the act allowing tho proceeds OF the sale @
decayed hulls and uEeless materials to be dc
voted to the cons truction OF new vessels; alEC
that Capt. W. ID. Whiting, late chief OF tn
Bureau OF Navigation, be placed on the list O
retired officers with the rank of commodore.
The estimates for the next fiscal year ar
%D0OTl.TlS. 10