The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-23
GREAT AMERICAN NAVY.
Congressman Calkins Has Some Re
marks to Make on the Navy Bill
Why the Navy Is Not Better than 1t Is
Top-Heavy with Officers of Important
Rank. Who Can't GO to Sea.
From Speech on Saturday.

of Equipment and Recruiting, the Bureau of
Yards and Docks, the Bureau of Provisions
and Clothing, the Bureau of Construction
and Repair, the Bureau of Steam Engineer
ing, and the Bureau of Surgery and Medi-
cine. These bureaus expend, and there is an
nually appropriated for each of them, hun
dreds of thousands of dollars. . =
l have said that these bureaus operate dis
jointedly and disconnecteGly. l mean by
this that bureaus charged with certain duties
act without knowledge on the part of other
bureaus, as to the particular subjects with
which they are charged.
For example, during the excitement Incl
dent to the capture by the Spanish authori-
ties of a crew of Americans, not many years
ago, on the Island of Cuba, orders were
issued for the immediate dispatch OF certain
vessels into the Cuban waters. One of our
vessels, called the Despatch, was ordered by
the Navy Department to be made ready inn
mediately, to sail 10 the scene of trouble.
The Ordnance Bureau gave orders to have
her Immediately laden with shot and shell.
So the crew worked all night to load the yes
OF Construction and Repair heard of the mat
ter the authorities said the vessel could not
stand the load which she had been ordered to
carry, so they sent an order to have the ord
nance stores, which had been put on the
night before, taken of Immediately. OF
course the crew worked all night again to I'M
load the vessel. These orders were sent
without consultation between the bureaus.
Another instances: The Swatara, another
one OF our vessels, was ordered, not long ago.
to be temporarily repaired by the Bureau of
Construction and Repair for a cruise for the
winter. Right on top of that order the Blu
reau of Steam Engineering sent an order that
she should be repaired for a three years
cruise, Thus the parties in charge of the
vessel were in possession of two orders from
two bureaus, operating without concert or
action, and whose orders were directly in
conflict.
Another instance: For the Pinta, one of
our tugboats, the Bureau of St ~am..Engineer-
ing was ordered to get boilers ready. With
out any knowledge of how she was built,
that bureau went to work and prepared
boilers for her. But when the boilers were
finished, it was found that they did not fit.
So the Plnta had to be torn to pieces. and
the boilers turned around in order to get
them in the ship at all. The Bureau of
Construction and Repair had gone on
building the vessel without reference to or
consultation with the Bureau of Steam En-
gineering. and the Bureau of Steam Fngi-
neering had gone on and built the boilers
without reference to the Bureau of Construc-
ton and Repair. Each bureau makes its own
part OF the ship, without reference to or CO.
operation with any bureau. The conse-
quence is, that when the different parts of the
ship are brought together nOne of them fit.
This has been the history of our navy for the
last twenty years.
Take another case: The Mohican, one of
our vessels, was fitted out, and guns pre-
pared for her, When they were sent down to
be put in, it was found that there was not suf-
ficient space left for the guns to work in, so
the guns were taken out and sawed off
twelve or fourteen inches, and the vessel pue
to sea with clipped guns
Another instances: Just after the war, and
before my friend from New Jersey CMr. Robe
SOM became Secretary of the Navy, some i'm
mense engines were ordered to be built at the
navy-yard here. They were built; they cost
an immense sum OF money. Without say
ing exactly how much, | will say 5000 900.
That is in the neighborhood of what they
cost. They were built for a vessel whose keel
was never laid; a vessel that was never named.
After the engines were built, it was found
necessary to tear out one end of the building
in which they were constructed. in order to
get them out. These engines were sold at
last for old iron, and realized about $50, 900.
This is the way our navy has been going on
for many years. 1t ought to be reorganized.
1t ought to be reorganiZed upon 4 basis
which would bring all these bureaus to-
gether under a common and general head,
so as to make an harmonious whole. r. y =
we nave dbOuJ iOIll SHIPS WHICH are sea-
worthy, as | am corrected by my friend from
New Jersey. What does the Naval Medical
Corps consist OF? Fourteen medical direct
ors with the rank of colonel in the army.
They cannot go to sea. They never do go to
sea. They can't go to sea under the provis-
ions of the law. They have too much rank.
They would rank the commanding officer of
a ship, and consequently they are put on
shore duty. That particular shore duty
seems to be to live at their ease, without per
forming duty Of any kind-at least very light
duty, if any.
1 ought to add in this connection, before
passing from the subject. that | notice in the
French navy, where there are 40, 900 men. all
told, and about 1000 officers, they have only
one medical director for the entire French
navy.
We have fifteen medical inspectors with the
rank of Northumberland. They have too
much rank to go to sea, except with a fleet,
but we have only six fleets. and consequently
but six of the fifteen can go to sc at all. The
other nine belong to the statfof the navy, and
are on duty elsewhere, probably on light duty
about Washington; but | come to the next.
We have fifty surgeons for our forty YES
sells and naval stations in addition,
with a rank corresponding to that of major
in the army. We have eighty passed as
sistant surgeons, with the rank of captain in
the army, and twelve assistant surgeons, with
the rank OF lieutenant in the army, making
in all 1s1 medical officers. Now, if l were
asked what l would do with this top-heavy
corps, l would answer, Muster them ali
out, down to the actual needs of the service"
They have a good profession. They are rot
like officers in the line, who have studied for
years to make themselves naval officers, and
who would be left entirely without any
other profession. These medical gentlemen
have a good profession, and l would muster
all out down to the needs of the service, and
let them go into the general practice of med
icine That's where 1 would put the prun-
ing knife first.
now come to the paymasters' CORPS, and,
as Dickens makes Squeers say, Here is rich
ness" We have thirteen pay directors, with
a rank corresponding to that of colonel in
the army. They cannot go to sea; they have
too much rank. They never do go to sea.