The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-12-10
THE AMERICAN NAVY.

THE AMERICAN NAVY.
What Secretary Whitaey Reports ~ to the
Navy Department.
WARRINGTON, Dec. A-The report Of
Secretary of the Navy Whitney. given Out
last night opens with q renewal Of his
former recommendation for the consolida.
ton OF bureaus 90 as to insure responsibility
in purchase and care of supplies. and states
that 90 far - his power extended he had
consolidated in one bureau the general pur
chases Of department and the caro- and Gus
t0dy Of stores, creating . system Of book
keeping by which the responsibility fol
care and disposition could be had. The re
port says: There Is at present no real 70
spOnsibility for the care and disposition OF
property. In one bureau property &C
count Is kept and in others none. Property
lost, missed or stolen can not be traced OF
accounted for and no person can be held re
spOnsible. The Fourth Auditor In his 70
port just issued calls attention to this re
markable circumstance which was also re
ferred to in my last annual report The in
ventOry shows very large and unnecessary
accumulation Of stores and supplies by the
different bureaus, aggregating over twenty
millions of dollars In appraised value. The
board reports between three and four mil
lions in value to be obsolete ard useless at
the present time, only entailing expense fol
keepers and constant care to preserve them
in condition"
sl.,,,s k1,<>, thn -
says: "rhe experience of the department
in It's first attempt at the creation of
modern vessels of war has been such as 10
excite the greatest concern and disappOint-
ment. When the Dolphin, Boston. Atlanta
and Chicago were projected and contracts
for their construction entered into it was
we'll known what speed ought to be at
tanned and what weight and character of
machinery per ton Of displacement was
necessary to obtain it. Commercial vessels
had at that time attained speeds ranging
between sixteen and nineteen knots and
cruisers were being built in other countries,
Or had already been built attaining the
same speed"
The Secretary compares trial trips of the
Dolphin and Atlanta with English and
French boats only recently completed to the
disadvantage Of the former. The Dolphin
was designed for 1880 indicated horse
power and developed less than 1900, while
the Alacrity and Surprise, English boats of
5000, developed 3.173 and 3.O79 respect
lively. The Atlanta was designed to attain
$500 horse power, but her engines deveI-
Oped less than that The report says:
These facts are stated without any inten-
ton of locating the responsibility or blame
upon any person. 1t Is impossible to ascer-
tain where it should be placed.
In considering the matter of constructing
the additional vessels authorized by Con.
gress in March, 1885, it was decided by the
department to exhaust every effort to avail
itself OF the most advanced thought and
knowledge attained by our own and other
countries upon the subject The report
says the department has accumulated
large amount of information which will be
utilized in the construction Of vessels i'm the
future. The report then gives q resume of
the bids and awards for the new cruisers.
1t also treats OF armOr and guns for mont
tors and irOnclads at great length and dep
recates that this country should be content
to be dependent upon manufacturers of
any other nation for the fabrication Of Ar
Nor and high-powered guns.
The report says: 1T would be a great
benefit at the present time if the appoint
ment of commission should be authorized
to lay before the next Congress a cOmpre-
hensive scheme of construction, such COM
mission to be composed of both civilian and
naval experts fit to deal with the subject
Ii Congress should at its next session
make provision for the manufacture in this
of armOr and of high powered guns
and should take steps for securing broader
and more intelligent consideration proper
to be undertaken, no time would in the
end be lost and mistakes would tie avoided.
it is my duty to call attention
10 the urgent necessity for immediate
action"
Concerning the expenditures the report
says: ''ln the adjustment of the accounts
Tor the fiscal year ended June 30, 1856, and
after paying all liabilities for the year,
it is believed that there will be an unex.
pended balance of from 5000. 900 to $3.50, 900,
almost One-lialf of which is pay of the navy
md pay of tile marine corps, showing an
expenditure of Sl3,5OO,OO or upwards of
100000 less than the appropriations.
These amounts do not include the expendi-
ures for steel cruisers and completion of
he double turreted monitors" 1t is cited
hat this is the first time in many years
hat tile expenditures have been kept with
n the appropriations.
The Secretary recommends that the Naval
Academy course be shortened to four years,
IS recommended by the commander of the
He also urges that apprentices
,e admitted to the academy. and says: 1T
s the desire Of the department that the
laval service should not be open to any
.harge of exclusiveness-th sole exception
o this sound and wholesome principle of
'ur national policy. To this end 1t would
that measures be taken by
which, under proper safeguards. admission |
o the Naval Academy might be given to a |
United number Of apprentices, who should |
hen be subjected to the same course of |
raining and examination as the other
adets, and who, under the application of |
inform test, should stand or fall solely &C. |
Ording to the strength or weakness of theiI |
wn merits.'
At the End of His Rope.