New-York tribune., 1886-07-31
DEFECTS or TIE NAVY BILL.

The new bill for the increase of the Navy
should not pass the Senate without important
notifications. For reasons which we explained
Yesterday, its summary rejection would be JUST
fled but as 1t has been reported favorably by
the Naval Committee, this result is perhaps no
longer probable. But the Senate, il it acts upon
this measure at all. should be certain to amend
it in certain particulars and TO remove It's most
Objectionable features. Some OF the more gar
ing of its defects are noticed below:
|. The bill authorizes the construction OF two
broadside aI1nored ships of 5000 tons, the armo
for which may be bought abroad under certain
contingencies. We do not believe that the
Navy Department is prepared TO glapplc Win
amoled vessels of this class, but II they are 10
be built at all the amor for them should be OF
domestic manufacture. 1t would be an outrage
on American industry to purchase abroad thc
amor for our first broadsidcS. The lourth sec
ton of the bin Is evidently designed To furnish
the Secretary of the Navy with CONVENIENT eA A'
Cuse for importing the amor hom England.
Something may be said in favor OF procuring
abroad the amor of thc unfinished monitors (thc
side As well IT, the tuIrct almo.), since the YES
sels ale otherwise ready and there may bc pro-
tracted delay in completing tn, III here OWING Il"
! ,!:.- .acl of plant and machinery. Hut II would
be gross folly 10 ~. 49,. gimol for the hr"adNd'N
abroad. The country requires NO. --Ait = IL one
Navy. but the plant and facilities toI buld':'r
a,1nored vessels. If WAT ovcfts'kc> IL, 1t must
find us fully prepared to increase the fleet "a
iIonclad- without recourse 10 foreign snanufact-
u,cls and shphudes. For this reason we are
not sure but that the amor for the monitors, IL
well rs the bioad>idcS, should be exclusively "l
domestic manufacture.
=. The bill sanctions the purchase OF Shaitns
and certain materials and machinery abroad, M
der CONTINGENCIES which the present Secretary
would undoubtedly convert into probabilities
An Administration that has broken up the most
in,po,tant shiphuildng establi> >hmcnt III the
country and is now purchasing dc'isns IN Lns
land and COPYING foreign modcls Ought not to
be allowed any discretion in gratifying lis free.
trade propcnsit,s. 1t was anXiOu, 10 purchiN'
| engines abroad. 1t should not be permitted Ia
import siLaiung and material. of any KIND
3. The Department is authorized under certain
CONTINGENCIES to do all the construction III the
Navy Yards. This will lead to the revival "i
all the old evil, and abuses. The construction
OF naval engines in the Navy laFds should b.
strenuously opposed.
i. The seventh section changes the loihrl
law by emitting the requirement of iull and com
pcte detail drawings and specifications before
the work j. contracted for or begun In We"
of the Governments cOur>c in bAnhiupting NJ.
Reach, CongIcss ought possibly 10 INSIST upon
having guarantees from the contractors for lui-
nishing specified horsepower and sed-sp'cd.
| The bill diopcnscs with the guarantees, IL the
Administration viii be very clad 10 do when 1t
| builds ships Oh its own account
| 3. The pneumatic dynamite gun clause should
be stricken out. This invention is one from wnlch
great results are expected, but 1t Is too recent and
too clude an experiment to receive even the pro
| visional warrants contained III TIN, bill.
| In conclusion, we repeat the suggestion Offered
| Yesterday that the Senate is not under the
| slightest obligation TO aid the Administration III
| its beated and desperate attempts 10 retrieve 1t,
! blunders i'll making war upon the shipbuildlng
| industry. This Naval bill is inadequate and de
| fectiVe and contains many vicious principles
1t should be rejected outright OF hung up for the
| remainder of the session or If forced To vote,
| it should be loaded down with amendments.