Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-12-17
TaE NAVY


The report OF the secretary OF the navy gives
a history of the operations OF his department and
the present work committed To his charge. re
details in full the course pursued By him 10 pro
tect the rights Of the government. In respect OF
certain vessels unfinished at the time OF his aces
sion 70 Officer and also concerning the dispatch
boas Dolphin, claimed to be completed ana
awaiting the acceptance OF tho department.
No one can fail 70 see from the recitals contained
in this report that only the application OF bust
ness principles has been insisted upon in the treat
ment of these subjects, and that whatever contro-
yersy has arisen was caused by the exactinn on
the part OF the department OF contract oUlSa-
lions rs they were legally construed. In the case
OF the Dolphin, with ent!re Justice 10 the con
tractor an agreement has been entered Into pro
vidiug for the asceetainment by judicial inquiry
OF the complete or partial comFn-
auce with the contract in her construction.
aud further providing for the assessment OF any
damages to which the government may be enti-
tied on account Of q partial failure TO perform
such contract or the payment OF the sum s s,ln
remaining unpaid upon her price 10 case or nun
performance as adjudged. The contractor 10y
reason OF his failure in busiHesS, being unaole To
complete the other vessels, they were taken Pos,
session OF by the government in their unfinished
state under clause 10 the coRtract permitting
such course, and are now in process or comps
ton in the yard Of the contractor, but under the
sup@Yvsion OF the navy department
Congress at its last session authorized the CON
strtction Of two additional new cruisers ana Two
gun boats at cost not exceeding IN Jls ere
gcto 81 $4,000 The appropriation Tor ms puI-
nose having become available on the tirst dey OF
IIulv last stems we're at once taken for the pro
curement of such plans for the construction or
these vessels as would be likely to insure their use
fitness when complete. These are OF tne 9elnost
importance in considering the constant hufausss
ia he art OF building vessels OF this character ana
the time IS not lost which is spent ia tnelF care
consideration and detection.
All must admit the importance OF an ailecuYe
navy 10 o nation like ours. We have such an eA
tended seacoast 10 protect, and yet we nave hot
a single vessel OF war that could keep the seas
against a flrst-class vessel OF any lnpoltan
power Such condition ought NOT longer 70
continue. The nation that cannos resist aggres-
sion Is constantly exposed TO IT, It's hotelsh
policy Is Of necessity weak, and Us Negotiations
IRE conducted with disadvantages, because IL ~
not IN condition to enforce the terms "lVIa'eu ~
its sense OF rights and Justice -, -, -,
Insured as / am by the hope shared ~ al
patriotic citizens that the day IS NOT Tar instant
when our navy will be such s belts our standing
among che nations OF the earth sna FeJolceI 80 az
every 5tep that laads In the direction or such a
contamination, | deem it my duty 70 especially
direct the attention OF congress 70 the clause eI
the report OF the secretary OF the navy, IN which
humiiating weakness OF the present OF
II this department is exhibited, and the startlns
abtlses ana y,estes az it, present methods are eX
posed Tie conviction is forced upon Is WIN the
certainty Of mathematical demQnstfauon, tnat
before we proceed further IN ue
restoration OF q navy, we nse1
thoroughly Ieorganized navy "a o5s AN
The fact that within II wears more than VlVvVg
have been spent in ths construction, repair anu
equipments and. armament OF vessels ahu w
farther fact that instead Of an effective ana SIsl
table feet we have only the dtseonteht an alt
prehRnsiOu Of a nation undefeh9eo y 1900 ~ a.~
added to the disclosures now MADE 40 e. ~
nit "a 70 doubt that every attempts 70 ~
vve cur navy has thus far, for tst most ~ -
been misdirected and all our Efforts IN. shAs
direction have been little befter An''n