The daily gazette., 1882-04-27
THE NAVY SCANDAL.


AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY
GONE AND NO SHIPS TO SHOW
FOR IT.
A letter from Washington says:
The Democrats of both branches Of
Congress are IN favor of 3 proper and
economical rehabilitation Of the navy,
but they have excellent reasons for not
placing unlimited funds In the hands OF
the gentlemen who will have control OF
the naval expenditures. A glance at
some of these reasons will be exceeding
ly suggestive. The Chairman OF the
Committee ON Naval Affairs is Bepja-
min W. Harris, of Massachusetts; sec
ond on the committee is Geo. NJ. Rob
eson, of New Jersey; third on the COM
mittee is Alfred Z. HArmer, Of Pennsyl-
vaHia. There is a separate House Com
mittee on Expenditures in the Navy
Department designed to be cheek
upon the possible extravaganza on Gaze
lessness Of the Committee on Naval
Affairs. 1t is kind of committee on
economy. The Chairman Of this com
mittee is George NJ. Robson, of New
Jersey; second on the committee is Ben
iamin W. Harris, of Massachusetts
third ON the committee is Alfred y.
Harmer, of Pennsylvania. That Is,
COMMITTEES consisting of Robeson, Harris
and Harmsr is appointed to watch the
committee led by Harris, Robson and
Harmer.
An examination OF the expenditures
tor and on account of the navy in the
last eighteen years, and of the results OF
these expenditures, will afford very ex-
cellent reasons for Democratic heSltan-
cy in encourag aging extravagNnt appropri
ations for the Navy Department. The
naval expenditures for thirteen years,
down to the close of the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1877, were $4l6 900, 900.
1t appears that during the eight years
ending with the administration Of Mt.
Robson, $ls2, 100000 were expended,
and that, in addition to this, Govern
ment property was sold whose original
cost amounted to 100000, 900, though
sold for $5o,OOO,O0e. 1t should be re-
membered that in 1855 there were borne
on the naval register the names Of $50
vessels.
There was also in the possession oi
the Government in the Navy Depart
ment large amount of miscellaneous
property which had cost the Govern
ment more than $500, 900 900. ln 1869
lust PRIOR to the administration of Mr
J Robson, there we're 203 vessels in tb'
navy, together with large quantity o
9 materials and stores in the diffsren
nsVy-yards of the country. Within th
u eight year5 thereafter the names o
s about seventy vessels disappeared from
= the naval regist9r, while only eigh
= names were added. Since 1870 Their
e has therefore been expended, or rathe
u lost in the Navy Department, more thai
1t $30U, 900 900, and the Chairman Of th
House COMMITTEES on Naval Affairs sal
the other day on the floor Of Congress
IL that this Government had "practicabl,
g. no navy whatever" and that "with th
,r exception OF the fourteen Iron-clads, W
:; have not a ship to-day that would dar'
10 90 into battle" This series of fact
does not encourage the friends OF publ
economy to give the public money un
:, stintedly, to be expended by William /
10 Chandler under the guidance of CON
IS. mittes consisting of Harris, Robeso
m and Harmer, tnat is to be watched by
D. committee consisting of Robson, Earr
rv and Harmer.
y The governments of Europe, who's
> naval establishments are created an
ne maintained for the purpose Of carryin
es on war at short notice and not for th
!. purpose of carrying elections, sxpsnd n
no such sums, relatively, as does this Coz
n ernmsnt for naval purposes. Engiant
IS, with the finest navy in the world, en-
ploying G0,O00 ssamen, expends Onl
. 50,000,000 annually in the Navy D.
parlment; France, with . navy cOnsistln
he of 500 vessels, expends but $40,OO0,00
itu Russia, an extravagant, WArlike Cover
- ment t,expsnds but $4,000, ,000-the SUI
ro- asked by our own Navy Department I,
pc the ordinary expenses for the next fsc
all year. Germany expsnds annually {
=. her navy but $l0,000,0 0,000,a land Italy, vii
10 a navy spleudidly equipped, ,sxpends bl
$4,000, 900 annually for its maiuteuanc
or considerably less than one-halt IL
- sum desired by our Navy Dspartmer
'H' which is absolutely without navy, th
cir sum being exclusive OF the rec uesJs