The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-04-30
now MILLIONS WE'VE WASTED.


BY careful publication just made the
present condition Of the American navy
and the money expended on 1t, since the
organization OF tho Government, IL
turning light on Republican waste and
theft with results of most astounding
character. The Government made ita
first naval appropriations In 1894 and
down TO 1884 there was set apart for the
navy In Congress In round hunters
o., ,059, 900, 900, and Of this immense ag'
gregate onshalf or SbiS,0OO,000 was OK
pended within the past twenty years
nearly oil since the close OF the civil
war.
For this there IL almost nothing II
show, or to be more precise thirty one
wooden vessels, aye plated, and three
torpedo rams, completed since the war
None of these vessels Ia first class, OF
able TO cope for moment with The
armed vessels Of other civilized nations
Chill and Brazil have vessels more than
| match for anything In our navy.
When the civil war closed we had
navy equal to that Of any other nation
and constructed according to the latest
principles Of naval warfare OF that
period. The aggregate cost OF the navy
for that period, as taken from the books
Of the Treasury Department. foots up
| s8b, ,9ii,s20, Yet since the war, and up
| 10 the close Of RobesOn'e administration
In 1877, an amount fully equal to that
expended during this war has been
given by Congress to the Navy Depart
ment. In Mr.. WhItthoIne's careful re-
port cumming up the investigation Of
his Naval Committee In 1875 he says the
very lowest estimate 10 &60,0OO,0OO
expended by Secretary Robson
upon favored contractors without
any result TO slow for this enormous
disbursement During the war a similar
amount purchased for US, In the face Of
enormous difficulties, one OF the finest
nayles In the world. Under the corrupt
and dishonest administration Of Robe
son the money was wasted In the most
shameless manner In order to enrich
contractors. Each year the navy be-
came shabbier, 10 that twenty yeart
after tho war our naval prestige was
gone aud the smallest nations OF the
earth have to-day more powerful weasel
than the United States.
The great war vessels Of the English
navy cost In the nelghborhood Of 200,
600. Had the money given to Rtbtson
been expended honestly we might have
had sixty vessels Of class equal to the
beat In the British navy Much OF thu
money appropriated for Robeson during
hls term was undoubtedly used for politi
cal purposes, The Congressional Commit
| tee OF Investigation reported that at leOsl
one million Of dollavs year was ey
pended In putting on extra worhmen al
navy yards In States where el ctlOnt
were close for the purpose OF CONTROL
Ing the result. When Chandler sue
coeded to tho Navy Department after
Gar0eld'a death, no did ~ much a. hr
could TO restore the Robson system h
its full power He impaired the obligs
tions OF the contracts with Roach In the
interest Of the contractor, and the loose
way In which Roach In held TO his work
| IL one Of tho difficulties that faces the
| new Secretary, Mr.. whitney A letter
In tho New York World, from Mr.
T. O. Crawford, from which we gather
these facts, concludes as follows:
Secretary whitney Ia confronted with
an appalling task, For nearly twenty
years the Navy Department has been In
the hands ofethieyes. The great appro'
prlatione OF Congress have been etolen
while our navy has rapidly and surely
disappeared from tho face Of the sea,
The mallgn influence Of the misappro
priated funds OF the Government has
pormoated 10 tho lowest branches OF
the service. To correct these perverted
tendencies, 10 put ou' the friends Of the
ring contractofa, TO bling TO the front
tho young and interrupted men OF the
service, TO Establish q wholly new uys'
tenn OF the observation OF the etatutee
OF the United Staies governing the pub
llc expenditures, TO take steps toward
acquiring an honest and efficient
navy. ara q few Of the taeks
which confront Mr., whitney, Ho fully
appreciates the enormity Of the work
before him. He has gone nj hie work
with courage and modesty. llia mind
IL jnd clal aud cool Hle ] ldgment M n
bualpesa man II faultle,e. | believe
sincerely that he will make n brilliant