The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-05
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS.

Secretary Cbandier's Reply to RaudalPs
Letter Regarding the Amoonts Necces-
sary to Maintain the Establishment.
WAsHINeToS, Jan. A. Secretary Chandler,
in answer to a letter from Mr.. Randall,
Chairman of the House Committee on Ap-
preparations, concerning the amounts Lee.
essary to maintain the naval establishment,
says:
% my part venture to express my regret that
with three bills conveniently awaiting the con-
current action OF the two Houses, IL was found
impossible 10 pass any one OF them before Janu-
aIy ]. 1882 ana that therefore serious emoarras-
ments have arisen In administering the naval es.
ta0lishment. May 1 not ssk the earnest
attention OF your com mittee to the importance
OF speedily terminating the anomalous condition
OF Affairs, which makes Ii necessary TO maintain
the naval service without the assistance OF the
usual aIpropria lens therefor. The Senate hav
Ing dropped ali The propositions for spprDpria-
lions for additional cruisers aud completing the
monitors for the present, the question in cOntro-
veIsy seems 10 be only this: On one side whether
al appropriation tlll for the balance of the fiscal
year shall be framed, after consideration I'm detail
of the estimates which the law requires to be sub
mitted 10 Congress, for special needs OF the ser
vice for the year. and whether specific
amount. to be applicable to each object
OF the appTSoPraSEp shall be ,DS distinctly
side whether, without such consideratin. there
shall be appropriated in general terms so per
cent. OF the amounts granted in last years bill
for the virious objects specifically named in that
bill. Surely this question is not vital one.
The first metnod is undoubtedly the wisest and
safest, conforming to the practice which has
never been and never should be departed from.
EXCEPT in an emergency. The second is a loose
Irregular and dangerous taking from the Treas
ury OF millions OF dollars with indications on
the face of the act of the specific TO which any
dolsI is to be applied, but that is uncertain
which which may be made certain, and it
is better TO make appropriations by statute
giving general authority TO the depart
ment to spend as much as it
epent last wear than TO Dlace IL in DOSftfou
where 1t is compelled TO struggle along without
any appropriations Appropriation by vicious
method IS better than no appropriation at all
where important governmental functions may
come 10 be suspended by reason OF no action by
Congress.
Secretary Chandler gives tabulated state
ment, showing that the estimated appropri-
atoms in the bills are insufficient, except in
the case of the amounts proposed for the re-
pairs of wooden vessels, and concludes as
follows:
The whole question OF the amounts needed for
the routine work OF construction ana repair and
steam engineering in the Navy-yaTds depends
upon the National policy concerning repairs of
old wooden chips. II IS the duty of the Depart
ment 20 appOrtion throughout the whole year
eral service and thus mare work
continuous, while preventing deficiencies and
this course Will BE pursued for the coming half
year. There we're last year. and have been this
ioret cen or 9ided, for there were In fact none
Of any noticeable amount, except last year for the
repairs OF the hDllG of vessels Such repairs eau
not always be distslbuted equally throughout a II
the months OF the year, because the work can be
most prOfta0ly done during the longer days: and
furthermore. when repairs in progress il is al
ways desirable to hasten them to a conclusion in
ORDER that the ships may be promptly used.