The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-05
rnE NAvAI AUTHORIZATIONS.
Secretary Chambers Letter to Sir. Randall
ON the Delayed Bills.

WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. 4.-secretary
Chandler in answer to letter from Mr..
Randall, Chairman Of the House Commit
tee on Appropriations, concerning the
amounts necessary to properly maintain
the naval establishment says in part. ~
venture to express my regret that with
three bills conveniently awaiting the con-
current action Of the two houses 1t was
found impossible to pass any ofthem be-
fore January 1st, 1885, and that therefore
serious embarrassments have arisen in
administering the establishment. May ]
not ask the earnest attention oil
your committee TO the import
ance Of speedily terminating theanoma-
lous condition OF affairs which makes
it necessary to maintain the naval service
without the assistance OF some OF the ma
val appropriations therefor. The Senate
having dropped all propositions for appro-
priations for additional cruisers and COM
pleting monitors, the present question in
controversy seems to be only this: On one
side whether the appropriation bill for the
balance OF the fiscal year shall be framed
after consideration in detail OF the esti.
Inmates which the law requires to be sub
mitted to Congress for the special needs OF
the service for the year and whether the
specific amount to be applicable 10 each
object Of appropriation shall be distinct |
ly named In the bill; or, on the other side,
whetheH withoutsuch consi9sratioyst sthere
shall be appropriated in n'Seneraf terms
fifty percent OF the amounts granted in
last years bill for various objects speciti-
cally named in that bill. Surely this
question is not vital one. The first
method is undoubtedly the wisest and
safest, conforming 10 practice which has
never been and never should be departed
FROM, except in an emergency. The Sec
ond is loose, irregular and dangerous,
taking from the Treasury millions of dol
lars with no indications on the face oil the
act OF specific use to which any
dollar is to be. applied. But that
is certain which may be made certain.
and it is better to make the appropriation
by statue giving general authority to the
department to spend as much us L spent
last year than to place it in position
whore it is compelled to struggle along
without any appropriations. Appropfia-
tlOu u NlGlOuo lIGbtlOu
appropriationat all where important gov
ernmental functions may come to be sus.
pended by reason Of non-action by Con-
gress."
Secretary Chandler gives tabulated
statement showing the estimated appro-
priations in the bills insufficient except in
case the amounts proposed for repairs Of
wooden vessels and concludes as follows:
'pThe whole question of the amounts
needed for the routine work OF construc-
ton and repairs and steam engineering in
the navy yards depends upon the national
policy concerning tho repairs of old ,
wooden ships. It's the duty Of the De.
partment to apportion throughout the
whole year whatever appropriations
may be made for the general SER
vice and thus make the work con-
tinuous while preventing deficiencies,
and this course will be pursued
for the coming half year. Therewere last
year, and have been this year, no deicien-
cies which could well have been foreseen
or avoided, and there were in fact noneif
any noticeable amountexcept Inst year for
repairs OF hulls of vessels. Such repairs
cannot always be distributed equally
through all the months Of the year, be-
cause work can be most proitably done
during the longer days, and Furthermore
when repairs are in progress it is always
desirable TO hasten them to conclusion
in order that the ships may be promptly
nsad Ia