The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-20
SECRETARY WHITNEY ON THE WAR.
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Secretary Whitneys investigations into
the Navy Yards, 1t is said, are producing
good results. The Washington correspondent
Of the New York san says that these lnVesti-
lions began at Mare Island, and very soon
revealed outrageous hardness there in COM
pleting work, and extraordinary expense in
whatever was done. A little further study
disclosed clue to the delay and the ex.
travsgant cost. 1t appeared that incompe.
tent men had been appointed to important
places in thu yard, and had coerced the votes
of the employees. 1t was natural that work
and wsges should be prolonged under such
circumstances, in order to procure votes.
The Secretary accordingly called upon Com.
modore Russell, Commandant of the Yard.
TO cooperate with him in turning
the rsscais out. The League Island Yard
next came under observation. This was
one OF those in which work was closed by
Secretaly Chandler. Nevertheless, it has now
been ascertained BY his successor that sev-
eTal officials connected with the construc-
tion and repairs of wooden ships have con-
tinued ever since to draw their salaries with
as unfailing regularity as if work was still
geing on there. Secretary Whitney has
found no difficulty in dispensing with their
services. Attention was then directed to ths
Brooklyn yard, and there, though the cir
oumstanoes we're little different from those
prevailing at League Island, there was found
plenty OF opportunity for reform. About a
dozen heads have recently fallen in the Con-
struction Department, the master workmsn
and foIemen suffering notably. Employees
were also discharged at Portsmouth. 1t is
said that for years these places have
been managed in the interest Of political
intrigues. Mr.. Whitney was interviewed in
New York on Friday night, aud the inform
stion is valuable and interesting. You
ask me-" said the Secretary, what special
significance is to be attached to the removal
of these foreman bosses. 1 will tell you. It
means that intend to introduce new sys.
tam into the Navy Department, and pro-
pose that it shall bs on business principles
ia the future. | had net been IN charge Of
the department many weeks before l discov-
cred that Is busines was being conducted in
most remarkable manner; that money was
reckhs:ly spent and that men We're
paid tor work that was never done.
In fact, that the whole system
was rotten. You may imagine how bad it
was when I tell you thst wooden ship OF
1900 lons displacement thst was lately
finished al the Mare Island Navy Yard, cost
the Government over S350,000 Ii is not
worth 81 for practical war purposes, and it
could be built to-day for S250,000. This is
only single instance of many that i could
name and some Of them are ten times worse
than this." OF course the Republican party
organs in answering the new Secretary of the
Navy will sound the old squesk-"the
money in the Treasury vaults has been
counted and only two cents are mis-
ing. Now you Democrats had better
keep quiet" The Secretary gives some
further information. ~ found that each
navy yard had number Of departments for
dong the tame work, and that there were
altogether top many Of these so.called fore
men and bosses. The payroll in the yards
was in this way unnecessarily increased. and
an extravagsnce prevailed in the Government
ship-yards that no private shipysrd would
tolerate for an instant"
The people will remember that Robson
and Chandler--two Republican Secretaries
| OF the Navy--aTe responsible for the irregu.
| lsrities IN and this sad acknowledgement of
our Navy Department.