St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-06
QUA NAVY.
Annual Report of Secretary Chandler,
and His Views as to what We
Hayn't GOT.


readily furnish excellent material in large
quantities. its high quality being assured BY
tests adopted The department is confirmed
in the opinion that the criticism advanced
last year against the new ships we're of little
moment, based upon theories at variance
with the progress OF modern ship building.
Comparisons of speed between the new
cruisers and the great transatlantic steamers
are unfair, because the latter attain their
speed only By the sacrifices essential TO a
ship OF war. The new cruisers could over
take ninrty-six per cent of the merchant
steamers Of the world. The rates OF speed
assigned the new ships are based on very
conservative calculations. Their probable
performance win undoubtedly exceed the
estimates, but the first uuarmed cruisers Of
the new American fleet are not intended for
comparison in speed with unprotected racing
ships of enormous size, Or in defensive
power with modern ironelsis. The depart
ment in adopting the recommendation and
adviees Of the board for additional new
vessels, call special attention to
the necessity for torpedo boats
In general, the secretary recommends
the construction Of modern cruisers anuu-
ally for period Of ten years. Sucn plan,
he says, while conforming to the conserva-
tive demands of our national policy, and az
fordiug ample time for adopting every new
device in construction, would give the
country at a moderate cost, navy adequate
to train its officers and maintain its safety
and honor. In regard to the existing navy,
Secretary Chandler says:
1T appears from the condition Of the feet
that at the end of fifteen years the only
cruising vessels of the present list remaining
viii be three small iron vessels, the Monocacy.
Alert and Ranger. The real explanation Of
disproportion between the expenditures and
the results complished in the naval admin
istratiOn is to be found in the policy Of at
tempting at great cost to rehabiitate worn
out cruisers uuder the name of repairs Re-
pairs aud construction, In the absence of a
fixed limit, are terms easily interchsng eable,
aud published statements Of expenditures
under the first name during many years
SHOW it is only too apt 10 mean the second.
Bureaus are unrestricted in their e1pendi-
lures for repairs, except by the gross amount
OF their annual appropriations. The practice
Of recOnstructing vessels under the name OF
repairs is the only pretext upon which our
over-grown navy yard establishment could
be justified, aud it appears that instead OF
maintaining our yards for advantage and the
benefit Of our ships, ships have dragged out
protraeted expense for the benefit Of the
yards
Concerning the navy yards, the secretary
holds only two naval work
shops should be maintained on
the Atlantic coast and one on the Pacific.
The new LOpuon yard should be re-
stored TO Connecticut, and the League island
yard TO Philadelphia. The Boston
yard should be sold or re-
duced in size. The Pensacola and
Portsmouth yards may be kept for naval sta
tons. The workshops would then be at New
York, Norfolk and Mare island. These
needed certain improvements In .heir organ
ization. First, all politics should be excluded
from their management; secondly, respOnsi-
bility for WORK must be more definitely fixed
The gun foundry board was recouvened in
April 20 decide on full plans and estimates
To carry out its recommendation. II has OBJ
tanned Information that there are responsible
steel manufacturers In this country who. al
essary plant, are willing to construct the
same and make bids for contracts with the
government for the supply OF material for
the heaviest guns, IL contracted for In suffi-
eient magnitude with positive appropriation
covering series of years, the same shall be
made by congress.
Secretary Chandler next details the facts
in connection with the frauds on the bureau
OF medicine and surgery. The amount of
suspected vouchers is Sl24,S35, extending
over the period from 1875 10 1884. The
surgeon general neglected to require the
customary evidence that the goods had been
received. Frauds we're made easier by a
frequent use of the exigency elause, under
which purchases are made without advertis-
ing. The expenditures of the department
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1884, were
Sl7, 292, sol. The estimates for ordinary
purposes and public work for the next fiscal
year are Sis, 60,65s, aud the estimates for
increase Of the navy $l5,071, 572. or this
latter sum about one half would be needed
the coming fiscal year. The secretary com
ments severely on the existing practice of Sc
curing solicitations from persons possessing
political or social influence in behalf of OIL
GERS, whether for the purpose Of obtaining
agreeable duty or effectiug the restoration by
for drunkenness, or other misconduct, or
ineapacity. Such RESERVATIONS demoralize
the service. Public opinion should sternly
condemn all who have been-gnilty of mis-
conduct, as well as those who lend them
selves to the efforts for restoration OF officers
removed. In discussing this subject he
refers TO the presidents veto message on the
Fitz John Porter bill as pointing out the un-
coustitutionality of such legislation, and
showing the constitution has provided an
effectual bar to any restoration by legislation
of particular officers.
In conclusion he dwells upon the close
connection between improvement Of the
navy and development of the merchant
marine, and shows that TO make the latter
commensurate with our trade, our
coast line aud the number and wealth
of our commercial cities, we must have
great lines of ocean steamships of
high speed and large capacity, carrying our
flag 10 the most distant lands, and saving to
our people the vast profits of the carrying
trade. The only way to accomplish this re-
suit, he says, is through direct encourage
ment given by the government, either in the
form of bounties upon construction OF paw
ment for carrying mails, SO that American
capitalists will be induced to embark in bus
mess. Tue recent enactment repeating the
laws requiring all merchant vessels arbitrar-
lily TO carry foreign mails, he says should be
supplemented by provision that contracts
for carrying such mails in American line
steamers over all principal ocean highways
should be let for term of years TO the lowest
bidder, adequate compensation therefor to
be paid by the government, upon the same
principle as that adopted In establishing our
great national post routes on land.
The Rev. LOucks Wants Damages.
LoeASsPoRr, Ind, Dec. Son the Sun
day before election Rev. W. L. Loueks, pas
tor of tha EtrzS prashrtar;.r ob-,-oh ,.-oo.L.l