The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-11
THE NATIONS NAY.
Export OF Secretary Chsndlsr-Fiis Ideas
of What flnr Narr ShnnIh he


report Of the Secretary of the Navy was
made public yesterday: Secretary Chandler
says three new ships have been successfully
launched, and it has been shown that our
steel makers can readily furnish excellent
material in large quantities, its high quality
being assured by tests adopted. The De
partment is confirmed in the opinion that
criticisms advanced last year against new
ships were CT little moment or based upon
theories at variance with the progress of
modern snip building. Comparisons of
speed between new cruisers and great
transatlantic racing steamers are unfair,
because the latter attain their speed only by
4 sacrifice of qualities essential to a ship of
war. They are unprotected, unwieldy and
enormous in draft and dimensions. The num-
Der of them possessing very high speed is
small and the new cruisers could Overdraw SO
per cent. of the merchant steamers of the
world. The rate of speed assigned the
new ships is based on very conservative
calculations of their probable performance
and they will undoubtedly exceed the eSti-
Inmates, but first, unarmOred cruisers, new
American feet, are not intended for COM
parison in speed with unprotected racing
ships of enormous size, or in defensive
power with modern irOncladS. The de-
partment, i'll adopting recommendations of
the advisory board for additional new YES
sells, calls special attention to the necessity
for torpedo boats. In general, the Secre-
tary recommends the construction of seven
modern cruisers annually for period of
ten years. Such plan, he says, while con-
forming to the conservative demands of our
national policy, and affOrding ample time
for adopting every new device in cOnStruc-
tion, would give the country, at a moderate
cost, navy adequate, train its officers and
maintain its safety and honor. In regard
to the existing navy, Secretary Chandler
says: at appears from the condition of the
fleet that at the end of fifteen years the only
cruising vessels of the present list remain
ing will be three small iron vessels, the
Monacacy, Alert and Ranger. The real eX-
PLANTATION of the dsprOportion between ex-
penditureS and result accomplished in the
naval administration is to be found in the
policy of attempting at great cost to re-
habi:ate worn out structures under the
name of repairs. Repair and con-
struction in the absence of fixed
limit are terms easily interchangeable
and published statements of eX-
penditure under the first name during many
years show it is only too apt to mean the
second. Bureaus are unrestricted in their
expenditures for repairs, except by the
gross amount of their annual appropria-
Iions. The practice of recOnstructing yes
sells under The name of repairs, is only the
preteXt upon which our overgrOwn navy
Iard establishments could be justified, and
It appears that instead of maintaining our
yards for the advantage and benefit of our
ships, ships have dragged out Il protracted
existence for the benefit of the yards
NAVY YARDS.
Concerning navy yards the Secretary
holds that only two naval workshops should
be maintained, on the Atlantic Coast and
on the Pacific Coast. The New London
yard should be restored to Connecticut and
League Island yard to PHILADELPHIA.
The Boston yard should be sold OF
reduced in size. Pensacola and Ports
mouth yards nay be kept for naval stations.
Work shops would then be at New York
Norfolk and Mare Island. These need GER
tan Improvements in their organization.
First-All politics should he excluded frcm
their management; and secOnd!y-The re-
spOnsi6lity for the work must be more def
nitely fixed. The Secretary reports the re-
mOval from Siberia of the bodies of Lieutcn-
ant Commander De Long of the Jeannette
aud his companions, and gives a history Of
the Greedy relief expedition, the eXpendi-
lures for which were $1G2. $50. In the prep
aratjon of the expedition there was no omiS-
sion Or mishap, and its success reflected
high honor and credit upon the American
Navy. The Gun Foundry Board was
recOnvened in April TO decide on fnll
plans and estimates to carry out its
recommendations. it has obtained
information that there are responsible steel
manufactures i'll this country who, although
not provided at present with necessary
plant, are willing tO-cOnStIucC the same and
make bids for contracts with the Govern
ment for tie supply of material for the
heaviest guns, if guaranteed an order of
sufficient magnitude with positive apprO-
priatiOn covering series of years shall be
made by Congress. Secretary Chandler
ext details the facts of the connection with
frauds in the Bureau of Medicine and Sur
gerry. The amount of the suspected vouch-
erS is 124,S33, extending over a pc
riOd from 1876 to 1884. The Sur
geOE- General neglected TO require the
customary evidence that goods have
been received. The frauds were
made easier by the frequent use of eXi-
gency clause under which purchases are
made without advertising. Expenditures of
the department of the fiscal year ended
June so, 1854, were 1922. COL. Estimates
for the ordinary purposes and public works
for the next fiscal year are S11,S60, ,65S, ard
the estimates for the increase of the Navy
are $15,0I1,512 OF this latter sum about
half would be needed the coming fiscal year.
The Secretary comments severely upon the
existing practice of securing the solicitation
of persons possessed of political or social
influence in behalf of officers, whether for
tie purpose of obtaining agreeable
duty or affecting a restoration by legis-
lation of those who have been dis
missed for drunkenness or other miScOn-
duct or for incardcity. lie says such re-
storations dem0raiize the public service.
Public opinion should s;ernly condemn all
who have been guilty Of misconduct. as
well Us those who lend themselves to efforts
for the restoration of officers removed. In
discussing this subject he refers to the
Pre5ident's veto message on the FitZ-JOhn
Porter bill as pointing out the Unconstitu-
tionali:y of such legislation, and showing
that the constitution has proved an ettec-
Iual barrier to any restoration by the legis-
latuTe of particular officers" In cOnclu-
sion Secretary Chandler dwellS U1dn the
close eGnnectiOn between the Improvement
of the Navy and the development of
merchant marine, and shows that to make
the latter commensurate with our trade, our
coast line, and the number and wealth of
our commercial cities, we must have great
lines of ocean steamships of high speed and
large capacity carrying Onr flag to the most
distant lands and saving to our people the
yast profits Of the car 1g trade.
Some of the scientific papers are
an item to the effect that we
are indebted to Pompeii for the canned
fruit industry. 1t appears that soon