The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-12-10
tn T. NAVY.
Condition Of Our N rine and Recon-.
mendaliQAs for m PROV ement.

mendaiiOnS for mprOy emeMt.
The report of the secretary Of the navy
gives history Of the operations of his de-
partment and the present condition Of the
work committed to his charge. He details
in full the course pursued by him to protect
the rights of the government in respect to
certain vessels u unfinished at the time Of his
accession TO Office, and also concerning the
dispatch boat Dolphin, claimed to be com
plete and awaiting the acceptance Of the de-
partment. No one can fail TO see from the
recitals contained in this report that only the
APPLICATION or BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
has been insisted upon In the treatment of
the subjects. and that whatever controversy
has arisen was caused by the exaction Oh the
part of the department of contract obIiRa-
lions as they were legally construed. In the
case OF the Dolphin, with entire justice to the
contractor, an agreement has been entered
into providing tor the associatements by q
judicial inquiry Of the complete or partial
compliance with the contract in her con-
etruction, and further providing for the as
eessment of any damages to which the govern
ment may be entitled on account OF partial
failure to perform such contract, or the pay
ment of the sum still remaining unpaid
upon her price In case full performance is
adjudged. The contractor, by reason of his
failure in business, being unable to complete
the other three vessels, they were taken pos
session of by the government IN their unfin-
tehed state. under an act in the contract per-
hitting such course. and are now in process
OF completion in the yard Of the contractor
but under the supervision of the navy de-
partment. Congress at its last session
authorized the construction of
TWO ADDITIONAL CRUISERS
and two gun boats, AT q cost not exceeding in
the aggregate S.. 9a5, 900. The appropriation
for this purpose having become available on
the LIST day Of July last, steps were at once
taken for the procurement Of such plans for
frf9 0f fhns ssa1s lxa
likely to insure their usefulness when COM
reted. These are Of the utmost Importance.
considering the constant advance in the art
OF building vessels ct this character, and tho
time is not lost which is spent in their care
ful construction and selection. A II must adj
init the importance of an effective navy to
nation like ours, having such an extended sea
coast TO protect. and yet we have not single
vessel of war that could keep the seas against
4 rrstciass vessel OF any important power.
Such condition ought not longer to con-
unue. The nation that
CANNOT RESIST AGGRESSION
is constantly exposed 10 il. Its foreign policy
is Of necessity weak and its negotiations are
conducted with disadvantage because i; is
not in a condition To enforce the terms die
tated by its sense Of right and Justice. In
spired rs ! am by the hope, shared by MI
patriotic citizens. that the day is not far dis
tant when our navy will he such rs BELTS cur
standing among the nations of tho earth, and
rejoiced AT every step that leads in the
direction of such a eonsummation. deem it
my dut. to especially direct the attention of
congress to the close Of the report of the Sec
Rotary of the navy, in which
THE HUMtLIATIsG WEAKNESS
Of the present organization of this depart
ment Is exhibited and the startling abuses
and waste OF its present methods are ex-
posed. The conviction is forced upon US with
the certainty OF mathematical demonstration
that before We proceed further in the restora-