The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-04
SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH SATURDAY. DECEMBER A. 1886.

deprecates that this country should be
content 10 be dependent upon the
manufacturers OF any other nation for
the fabrication OF armor and high
powered guns. The report says: "It
mas been the policy 81 Congress to re-
quire from the department specific
Data covering the characters les OF
ships for the construction Of which
authority Is asked from Congress. and
year Is not too iOng for this work. II
would be OF great benefit at the present
time II the appointment OF a commls-
sion could be authorized to lay before
the next Congress a comp extensive
scheme u &C Instruction, such commits
sion 10 be composed OF both civilian and
naval experts mt 10 deal with the sub
ject. II Congress should. at lis next
session, make provision Tor the manu-
facture in this country Of armor and Of
hIgh-pOwered guns, anu should take
steps for securing 3 broader and more
intelligent consideration and treatment
of ihe general subject o. conetTuctiOu
proper 10 be undertaken, no time in
the end would be lost and mistakes be
avoided. Meanwhile, it is my duty 20
call attention to the urgent necessity
for immediate action.
The report of the chief constructor OF
dition OF the vessels now IN commission,
and their probable duration. II his
estimate is correct. IN six years the
country will De possessed Ot but three
seryiceable cruising ships OF those now
upon the list, AMI uni. - a new navy
shall be created. there will be none IN
existence after that lapse of time. The
small amount of mo lem armor which
has been used By tie department OF late
wears has been purchased abroad. This
policy is certainly not in keeping with
proper dignity and pride, nor
/ at all consistent with wisdom. At the
present time, anu for many years 10
come, in the event of q conflict with
either a first or second-ciasS naval
power, il would be quite impossible for
/ the United States as at present situated,
10 produce within its Territory either
armor luired for the armored ships
or guns necessary for their armament.
nor would il be possible for the navy OF
the United states 70 protect such ar
ticles in transit across the ocean. even
IL it were possible 10 obtain them else
where in time OF war. As at present
situated, the country would be entirely
defenseless in the absence OF any ability
TO procure armor on the llrser bIgh-
powered guns" Concerning the cx-
penditures, the report says: I'm the
adjustment of accounts for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1886, after paying
al liabilities for a year. it Is believed
there viii be unexpended a balance Of
from 10000 to 1855, 600, about one
half Of which IS the pay of the navy and
OF the marine corps, showing an eXpen-
diture of about Sl3 500. 600, or upwards
OF $500 900 less than the appropriations.
These amounts do not include the ex
penditures for steel cruisers and the
completion OF dOuble-turretted mont
tors" IL is cited that this is the first
time in many years that the eXpendi-
lures have been kept within the apprO-
p-iatiOns.
The Secretary reComme IDS that the
naval academic course be shortened 70
four years, as recommended by the
cOmDandant of the academy. He a,sO
urges that apprentices be admitted TO
the academy, and says: ut is the de-
sire OF the desire OF the department that
the naval service should not be open 10
any charge Of exclusiveness. as the sole
exception 70 the sound and wholes ONE
principle OF our national policy. To this
end I would recommend that measures
De taken by which, under safeguards,
admission TO The naval academy
might be given TO limited
number of apprentices, who should
then be subjected 10 the same course
OF training and examining as other
cadets and who, under the application
OF . uniform test. should stand or fall
solely accordingly TO the strength or
weakness of their own merits. Under
such restrictions il Is believed that the
opening of the quarter deck TO ap-
prentices will not only afford additional
stimulus to effort, but by strengthing
the bond between the officer and Ell
listed man will react favorably upon
both branches of our naval personnel"
The remainder of the report is devoted
20 detailed reports from the heads OF
various bureaus.