National Republican., 1885-02-14

will not do aB permanent INSTITUTION.
The principle that IL involves IL the true
one; that is to say, the principle of pro-
viding the secretary Of the navy with an
expert staff to relieve him Of practical re-
sponsibilities which, in the nature of
things, he could not himself master. But
the board rs now organized is not calcu-
lated to develop that principle TO the best
effect. Its faults are that it has power
without responsibility, and that it tends
to aggravato the faults Of the bureau
system instead Of rectifying them.
Tho bureau system Is thoroughly
ingrafted upon the navy depart
ment, and there are many reasons
why IL should remain. Its chief fault 30
faras new construction Is concerned is that
no provision exists for concert Of action
between tho several chiefs. Each chief of
bureau Is responsible for that portion Of a
new ship which comes within his province
and no more. Commodore Wilson is re-
sponsiblo for the lines, the structural
strength Of tho hull. &c. Commodore
Loring is responsible for the power Of the
engines and the quality Of the machinery;
Comm odoro Sicard for the effectiveness OF
tho battery, and so on. But under the
existing system these gentlemen must
work soparatively, or with no concert ex-
among themselves When IL is borne In
mind that o modern ship Of war is so
complex mechanism, involving so many
diverse scientific problems and such q
wide range of mechanical appliances that
as has been well said by Mr.. w. II.
Whito-"No single individual Is capable
of designing q modern war ship in all its
details" the absolute necessity Of system
alto concert becomes apparent. For exam
plo tho speed of the ship depends partly
on the fneness of Commodore Wilson's
lines and the fairness Of his contours in
the construction Of the hull. aud partly
on tho efficiency Of Commodore Loring's
ongines-the one Is of no consequence
without tho other. Again the effective
ness OF Commodore Sicards battery de-
pends upon tho facilities which Wilson's
structural plan may afford for mounting,
training and protecting his guns. And
80 ON almost infinitely. 1t will not do to
say that the men who arc charged with
these separate and easily clashing ele-
ments Of detail may consult with each
other informally and get along Us best
they can. They should bo constrained
by law to act in concert and each ono
should be compelled to carry out tho con-
illusions reached by tho majority Of his
associates after official deliboration in the
capacity Of an executive board or council.
A SUGGESTION FOR MR.. RANDALL.
This brings me to consider briefly the
plan put forward in the appropriations
committee yesterday by the Hon. Samuel
J. Randall. This gentleman is entitled
at oil times to the profoundost respect,
and his views are invariably worthy Of
tho most careful examination and analy-
sis. He proposes, in plain terms, to cro-
ato board Of admiralty. something after
| the English fashion, except that his
proposed lords" are all civil" In the
English board the civilian members,
known as the civil lords of admi-
ralty," are in majority; but the minor
| ity is composed of naval experts, who arc
termed naval lords" In tho distribution
of special duties tho naval lords" aro
charged particularly with tho equipment
&C., Of existing ships, whilo the civil
lords" have to deal with tho
problems of finance and appointments,
details, &C., affecting the personnel
of the navy; but in the deliberations
of the board as whole upon such ques-
tions as the determination of types, selec-
tion of models and so on, the naval lords"
have their due share. Now, IL Mr.. Ran
dali would recognize this principle by
/
civilians to act IN concert with the chiefs
of the bureaus of construction, steam en-
gineering, and ordnance, with the secre-
tsry of the navy, as president of the board,
and n civilian expert to act as recorder,
his plan would seem to be practical; with
the exception noted that civilian experts,
whose services are worth having, could
hardly be secured for $40 q day and trav-
cling expenses" Such a board, however,
properly organized, adequately paid
vested by law with the control of aud re.
sponsibility for all disbursements on &C.
count of new ships, with the power. tc
select designs, approve plans, award con.
tracts, provide systems of inspection, in
short with all power and authority neces.
sarily pertaining to new construction,
would, in my judgment leave nothing In
that direction to be desired.
/ am aware that there are other bureaus
besides those have named whose chiefs
might think they ought to be included
ss, for example, navigation and equip
ment and recruiting. But do not soc
tho necessity. Construction, steam engi.
neering, and ordnance represent the
three great or prime factors of efficiency
in war ship, to which all others are
subordinate or incidental, and hence one
does not SEQ the need of having more
than the three principal factors perma-
nently represented in such board 1
Mr.. Randall will reyolve this suggestion
over in his mind have no doubt II will
grow upon him. 1t is certainly bott
practical and practicable. Perhaps the
line of the navy would make grea
outcry against such board, on tn,
ground that it gave them no representa-.
tion, except 80 far as tho chief of ord
nance may be considered line officer
But II is time tho line Of the navy begar
to understand that IL is their business Il
sail and fight ships, not to design OIL
build them, and II they don't like tn,
ships that are provided for them, they
can easily resign. | have noticed tina
when line officer designs ship. Of wa
her cabins and wardroom are invariably
perfect, whatever may be the merits o.
demerits Of the rest of the plan. This il
good as far as it goes, but it hardly cover
the whole ground. What we want-ant
what Mr.. Randall evidently intends Il
have, If he eau find out how to get them
is ships that can float and cruise, or hgh
or run, as occasion may require; the mel
who serve on board them, whether for
ward or aft to put up with such accom-
modations as may be left over after al
the other requisites of maximum eff
cheney have been provided for. Let III
hope that Mr.. Randall will not be disap'
pointed. A. g. b.
He Fired Three shots.
Shortly after midnight this morning
messenRer went TO the fifth nrecinct att