New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-18
CONGRESSIONAL TOPICS.

ENLARGING THE POWERS OF THE NAVY.
NATURE OF THE REPORTS ACCOMPANYING sEcRE-
TARY oHAXDLER's RECoMMENDAuoNs-rEAgs
OF TREASURY OFFICIALS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
'WAsnINGroN, Dec. 17.-Some of the newspapers
seem disposed to get Secretary Foser and Secretary
Chandler into quarrel without the knowledge or
consent of either of those amiable men. Secretary
Chambers report recommended the transfer of
number OF Treasury bureaus to the Navy Depart-
ment, where he contended they properly belonged
on the principle that all Government work on the
ocean should be performed by the Navy. The argyll
ment with regard to each of them was accompanied
with the statement that Information and sugges-
tons" regarding thavpartlcular branch of the ser
vice. or sketch of it prepared by
certain naval officers, accompanied the report.
The document on the Lighthouse Sc vice was writ
ten by Lieutenant Schroeder Commander Sigsbee
wrote on the coast survey I; Master George ii. Le-
ters on the revenue marine; Lieutenant Albert +.
Berry on the Lie Saving ryice Lieutenant G.
u. Calklns on the advisabllty Of creating bureau
OF commercial marine IN the Navy Department.
These were all separate documents which have not
got into print yet
The impression arose in the Treasury Depart
ment-proDably in some of tho in
terested bureaus--that Secretary Chandler
had Deen conducting secret Investigations
through his own officers into Treasury bureaus with
ont the knowledge OF tho head of the Department.
This would have been. of course, breach of official
courtesy, and there is reason to suspect that Secre
tary Folger was a little disturbed in mind at the
suppostion that this had been done. He made n
req lest OF the Secretary of the Navy for copies OF
these documents which will be furnished as soon
as the Government Printer will permit.
They are IN fact simply essays, argumentatve and
historical, these various services, written in some
cases by officers who have had personal experience
in them, but all ised upon public infOrmaton con-
tanned in their annual reports and other documents
which zen to every citizen. They were intended
to sustain the Secrctary's recommendations for
transfer. ST. far from showing any discourtesy to
Sc cretary FolRer in this matter, Mr.. Chandler
was careful TO furnish him in advance of the
submission of his report 10 the President with a
specifc memorandum of the recommendations he
should make regarding the Treasury bureaus.
Fears have been expressed III the Treasury that
the proposed changes might be carried through in
asmuch as Mr.. Chandler was known TO be III earnest
and Judge Folger was thought By some to be- indlt-
ferpnt. There Is 10 dount, however that he is
strongly opposed to most of thcm If not to all and
it is understood that the heads of the
various BUREAUS are now drawing mp replies
10 secretary Chambers arguments which will be
called for il they needed. The changes could
only made at th session through an appropIia-
zion bill. il. indeed, it would be possible aC any
against putting bureaus having civil functions re-
lating 10 commerce under the Navy Department; ;
and there is little eXpec alton that anything VIII
be accomplished in this direction.