The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-16

in, perjury or subornation Of perjury. rape,
arson, piracy, murder assault with intent 10
kill, and manslaughter on the high seas on
board ship bearing the flag Of the demanding
country, and malicious destruction or attempt
10 destroy railways, trains, vessels, bridges,
dwellings, public edifces or other buildings
when the act Injuries human life.
CONDITION OF THE NAVY.
The annual report of Hon. William C. Whit
ney, Secretary of the Navy which has been
submitted 10 the President, refers briefly TO
the recommendations made in his last report
for the reorganization of the Department and
TO the bill introduced into Congress for the
purpose. The Secretary alludes TO the con-
solidation into one bureau of the general pur-
chasing powers of the Department and the
care and custody of stores, and shows the ne
ccssity for this action in the fact that under
the system which has heretofore prevailed
there was no real responsibility for the care
and disposition Of property, and an unneces-
sary accumulation of stores and supplies, ag
gregating at present over S20,OO0OO0 in APP
praised value At the eight navy-yards there
have accumulated 1866 augers and bits, of
which 1924 have been lying for several years
at closed yards where no work has been done;
295i2 gross Of screws are on hand. 1886 gross
being at closed yards; there are 1868 files in
stock, AZ, li2 at closed yards. The expenditure
entailed in the care of this property exceeds in
a series of years its value. This useless ac-
emulation of stores gradually becoming obso-
lete, illustrates the Secretary says, the folly
and evil of the old system.
The Secretary discusses at some length the
experience Of the Department in its first at
tempt at the creation of modern vessels of
war, and the great disappointment excited by
the results so far as the Dolphin and Atlanta
are concerned. He reviews the efforts of the
| Department TO avoid similar failures in the
cruisers still TO be constructed, by gathering in
formation from every quarter, states the bids
made and accepted for their construction, and
adds that orders have been given TO reduce the
size OF cruiser No. l. so as TO bring the cost OF
her construction within the limit of 81, 100000.
! In regard 10 the armor and guns for the new
monitors and armor-clads, the Secretary, after
i emphasizing the importance Of encouraging
/ the creation of plant and initiating the manu-
i facture in this country Of such armor and
T high-pOwered guns as are now indispensable TO
a modern fighting ship, suggests the appoint
ment Of a commission TO lay before the next
/ Congress a comprehensive scheme for the con-
structiOn of war vessels, aud the making pro-
vision for the manufacture in this country Of
armor and high-powered guns. The necessity
of promptness is shown by the fact that in six
years the country will be possessed of but
three seryiceable cruising ships of those now
/ upon the list The Secretary adds that for
many years 10 come, in the event of a conflict
with either first or second-class naval power,
I 1t would be quite Impossible TO produce the
/ necessary armor or guns in the United States,
and our navy could not protect such articles in
/ transit across the ocean If we were able TO pur-
chase them abroad.
The appropriations for the fiscal year ended
| June 80 IS56, Were $l6, l32, 1868 and the ex-
! penditures SI3ll3i3i. The appropriations for
1887 are ST., %, 0li and the estimates for ISIS
are S25, 2257lS. For the first time in many
/ years the ordinary expenditures OF the Depart
ment have been kept within the appropriations.
Reference is made to the report of Com
mander Sampson, of the Naval Academy, and
! the suggestion that the course be reduced from
six TO four years, the cadets at the beginning
Of the final year TO be claSsed in two divisions.
pursuing during this year separate courses of
/ professional study, adapted 10 that branch of
service which they will probably enter.
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
Gen Hazen has submitted TO the Secretary of
War a scheme for the establishment Of the Sig
nal Service as a Bureau of the War Depart
ment. This plan is necessary, Gen. Hazen
| thinks, in order that the Office shall have
| fixed and definite organization and a proper
legal status. The petition is in the shape of 4
bill, and gives the composition of the Bureau
/ in detail 1t cOntemplates the transfer of the
/ l6 Second Lieutenants now in the corps TO the
/ line of the army, and authorizes the President
! 10 detail 22 officers from the army as acting
1
structed. shall not be retired from signal duty.
except for unftness for other sufficient cause.
The enlisted men are TO be enlisted for four
years and classified as % frst-class Sergeants,
at 81 600; 80 secOnd-class Sergeants, at 81 400;
20 third-cass Sergcants, at 81 300; 80 Corporals
at 81 200; l20 priyates, at SLIGO, aud 10 pri-
Yates, al 81 900. In closing, Gen. Hazen says:
West Point graduates cannot be assigned TO
the corps, and the anomaly exists of Nation
maintaining frst-class military and scientific
school, while its pupils cannot be assigned to
this branch Of service one more nearly scien-
tiic than any other" He says that - COM
missioned officers are absolutely needed to carry
on the present work, and that the classification
Of the Sergeants is but simple justice TO that
valuable and meritorious grade of men.
1T WAS EXPENSIVE.
A letter was received at the Treasury Depart
ment last week from resident of New York,
acknowledging the receipt Of Treasury draft
for S2i.09, being the amount of his claim against
| the Alabama award and saying that 10 recover
this amount he had paid to the attorneys who
/ had prosecuted the claim the sum of $249l, or
/ So cents more than the amount of the judgment.
He was informed that the Department was
powerless TO interfere in the case as il was q
matter entirely between himself and his at
torneys.
Suicide Ends a Reckless Life.
4 \ 81, f-,.. n..sE n n