The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-12-11
NIX. CHANDELIERS REPORT
As SECRETARY or THE NAVY.
Nsshins vrrv Watering, but saeb Good
Advieo-Tbs Now Cruiser. and Ola
IIuihs-A H-rchnnt Marine
Plea corruption, Etc
WAsmINor0N. pee. t.-The annual n

mort OF tnt ttcftihN w tnu navy Nh'
made public to-day. Secretary Chan.
dler says three new ships have been
successfully launched, aud Il has been
shown that our eelmakers eau readily
furnish exeellont material In large
quantities, Its high quality being AS
sured by tests adopted. The depart
ment liz confirmed In tho opinion that
the criticisms advanced last year
against the new ships were of little mo-
ment, based upon theories ~ variance
with tho progress OF modern ship-build-
ing. Comparisons OF speed between the
new cruisers aud tho great Transit
lantic racing steamers arc unfair, be-
cause the latter attain their speed only
hy sacrifice of tho quail
ties essential to ship-of war:
They are unprotected, unwielding and
enormous draft and Dimensions. Ths
number of them possessing very high
speed IL small, aud the new cruisers
could overtake 90 per cent. Of the mer-
chant steamers of the world. Tho rates
of speed assigned to the new ships are
based ON very conservative calculations
m to their probable performance, and
they will undoubtedly exceed tho esti-
mates, but on the first unarmorod
cruisers of the now American leet with
unprotected racing-ships of enormous
our modern iron-clais. Tho depart
ment in adopting the recommendation
of the advisory board for additional war
vessels call special atle"tion TO the
necessity for torpedo boats In general.
The secretary recommends the con-
struction of seven modern cruisers an
nunlly for a period Of ten years. Such "a
plan, he says, while confirming To the
conservative demands of our national
policy and afiording ample time for
adopting every new device In con-
struction, would give the country, at "a
moderate cost, navy adequate TO train
its Off ers and maintain its safety and
honor. In regard To tho existing navy
the secretary says: ut appears from
the condition Of the fleet that at the end
of fifteen years the only cruising ves-
sells of the present list remaining will be
three small iron vessels-the MonoCracy,
the Alert and the Ranger. The real ex-
PLANTATION of the disproportion between
the expendi ures and the results accom-
plished in the naval administration Is 10
be found in the policy of attempting, ut
great cost, to rehabIlitate worn out struc-
lures. Repair and construction, in the
absence OF fixed limit, are terms
easily interchangeable and published
statements of expenditure under the
first named during many years shows 1t
is only too apt To mean second. Bu-
reaus are unrestricted IN their expendi-
ture for repairs, except by the gross
amount of their annual apprc priations.
The practice of reconstructing vessels
under the name of repair is ouly pre-
text upon which our overgrown navy
yard establishment could he justified,
and il appears, instead of maintaining
our yards for the advantage and benefit
of our ships, the ships have dragged out
a protracted existence for the benefit Of
the yards"
Concerning navy-yards, the secretary
holds that only two naval workshops
coast and one on the Pacific. The New
London yard should be restored to Con-
necticut and the League Island yard to
Philadelphia. The Boston yard should
be sold or reduced in size. The Pensa-
COLA and Portsmouth yards may be kept
for naval stations. Workshops would
then be at New York, Norfolk and
Mare island. These need certain im-
provements in organizations:
First-All politics should be excluded
from their management.
Second-Responsibility for work must
be more definitely fixed.
The secretary reports the removal
from Siberia of the bodies ofLieutenant-
Commander DeLong and his compan-
ions, and gives the history of The Greedy
relief expedition, the expenditures for
which were $782,996 In the preparation
for the expedition there was no omis.
sion or mishap, and its success reflected
high honor and credit upon the Ameri-
can navy.
The gun-foundry board was recon-
vened in April to decide on full
plans and estimates to carry |
out its recommendations. II |
has obtained information that
here are steel manufacturers in this |
who, although not provided at
present with the necessary plant, are
willing to construct the same and make
bids for contracts with the government
or supply OF ma erial for the heaviest
guns, if guaranteed an order of sufficient
magnitude with nositive appropriation
covering series of years shall be made
)y congress.
Secretary Chandler next details the
acts in connection with the frauds in
he bureau ofmedicine and surgery The
amount Of suspected vouchers is SEA ,S35,
over period from 1876 to 1854.
rne surgeo I-gcnerai neglected to re-
luire the customary evidence that the
GOODS had been received. Frauds were
made easier by the frequent use of the
,Iigency clause, under which pur-
hases are made without advertising.
The expenditures of the department
or the fiscal year which ended June 80,
1884, were $l7,292, COL. This estimates for
purposes and public works for
he next fiscal year are $l7,S60,65S, and
he estimates for the increase of the
lavy are Sl5,07l, 572. Ofthis latter sum
bout one-balf would be needed the
coming fiscal year.
The secretary comments severely
,pon the existing practice Of securing
he solicitation Of persDns possessed OF
political or social influence in behalf of
ulcers, whether for the pu pose of OBJ
aiming agreeable duty or affecting
by legislation to those who
lave been dismissed for drunkenness
n other misconduct, or for incapacity.
lie says such reservations demorslize
he service. Public opinion should I
terply condemn all who have been
,uilty of misconduct as we'll as those
Who lend themselves to the {
estoration of the officers removed. I
n discussing this subject he refers to
he presidents veto message on the
ritz John Porter bill as pointing out the
nconstitutionality Of such legislation
nd showing the constitution has pro- 4!
ided an tffectual barrier to any re-
toration by legislation Of sparticular
In conclusion, Secretary Chandler
wells upon the close connection be.
ween the improvement of the navy and
evelopment of the merchant marine,
nd shows that to make the matter Z
with our trade, our
cast line and the number
%, we must have great lines OF ocean
Of high speed and cargo ca
acity, carrying our flag to most distant
,nds and saving to our people the vast I
rofits OF the carrying trade. The only
ray to accomplish this result, he says,