New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-05

item where they stand in the yard employing the i9re
men AMI force OF the contractor IL ~ OF ~ s1 W ts
Under the present circumstances n that me
nent eu do from b1snoss point o. view 10 70 c0lnpo
them. whatever they turn out 10 DC 1hey VIII "
strate IN practice"
ORGANIZATION or TIE DEPARTMENT..
Promotions in the service. future appropriations Ior
new ships, and feet at the New-Oreaus EXhiDlon
are topics briefly touched upon The organization OF he
Department Is then discussed ut considerable lehsti
etJad account follows OF various cases OF ABUSE III
making purchases Tor the department ana tue con =
clusion Is arrived At that they cannot De H.
merely 10y a change in personnel i; tue systen I
il vicious" the department OF material ana construc
ton. the Secretary notes the most serious ahculeS anu
most lamrntable Failure. 80. -
THE country has expended since July is3S-m,or9e
than three years subsequent to the close o the ate cV
war-Over seventy Ave millions OF money on inc col
strucon. repair equipment and otn"so o. 5
which sum, with very slight excepu0n nas Dorn ST.
staualy thrown away; the exception being Few shps
now I'm process or construction do not OVERLOOK tne
Shops constructed In 1874 aud costing three or four
millions OF dollars aud tn avoid discussion tney y De
excepted The tact still remains that Tor apout
seventy Of the seventy ,iYe millions ol u1aIs
been expended by tho Department fof inc cfep
OF "A navy We have practically nothing to snow. ~ Is
questionable whether we have single navai Sessni
shed and ahoat at the present time that cOu Do trsta
vessel that has either tho necessary aror No.
speed for escape, or weapons fol defence Iis Is ~
secret; the fact has been repeatedly commented upon
Congress by the leading members OF botl parties con:
essed by our highest naval authorities anu
by all Such Is not the kind OF navy whch this country
with its extensive coast nne, it5 enormous nras
nea. and incacuable commercial resources requires
afford to have and It cannot afford lack naval force
at least formidable that its dealings with foreign
poV rrs will Influenced st any time, nor even DO
suspected Of being Influenced, ny CONSEQUENCES VI
weakness the While still arriving to bulIu up s
merchant marine and to multiply It's relations with
foreign markets. 1t cannot be expected lh'ch iohg9r 70
tolerate such expenditures tora navy which could MOI
for moment defend even its dlminVttve commerce
against any considerable power 80 go,
We are called upon tko note Of the fact that all the
great naya powers appear to have found II 10 De 10 te
advantage to avail themselves largely or private enter
prise In the creation OF implements 81 war 40 III
engineer Of the English Admiralty has designed an en-
CINE for many years Ia their stead the private marine
engine b ilsrs the nation. who produce evidence
Of adequate responsibility, invited 20 rompete WIN
each other produce for example engine that sha
De allie 10 accomplish certain defined results such as
certain amount OF IOwer with the greatest economy or
weight and space consistent with strength aud durabl
ity Indeed, It Is to private enterprise tla the art OF
naval warfare Is indebted for most OF It's improvements
II the S7jOOO.OO0 spent since 1868 by our Govern
ment had been used to stimulate competition among our
people u the production OF modern ships OF war III ls
quite that thesactNes ana agencies at
the disposal OF the Government would Rave heen ny t
entirely adequate It's needs IL has been wasteh
ny Government a.encies upon worthless thihSs'