The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-07-01
LETTER.
From Our Irregular Correspondents.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,

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retoing pension bills. In the TWEEN
messages just sent to Con-
gress he vigorously rebukes the leg
islators for extravagant, ill-consid-
ed and bungling legislation. In
some cases the President says the
proposed beneficiaries are manifest
ly unentitled to Government aid
in others they do not require much
aid; in others the evidence is in
and the passage of the
bills careless. Some of the Senators
surprised when the Presi-
dent informed them that they had
passed 600 private pension bills
since last December, a record which
has not been equalled by any Con
gress in twenty years.
Unexpectedly the House found
itself plunged in a tariff debate OF
the warmest character on Tuesday
last. The galleries filled up rapidly
as the discussion proceeded, and
many Senators left the dull routine
of their Chamber to hear the battle
of words. There was weeping and
wailing and crashing of teeth
among the Republicans over the
proposition to raise the amount of
money necessary to pay additional
pensions to Union soldiers and
sailors by imposing a graduated
tax on incomes. Thisis denounced
as a scheme to check the granting
of additional pensions.
The new administration has had
much to do in the way of setting
the government house in order.
The Republicans did not, as is the
custom of conscientious, departing
tenants, leave their place of abode
in a condition fit for the new-com-
ers to inhabit. And perhaps the
most striking evidence of the ne
cessity for the Strengthening out OF
things was furnished by the Navy
Department.
Its mismanagement has become
proverbial, and despite the millions
that had been expended on it, the
naval armament was ridiculously
ineffective. The party in retiremen'
which is responsible for this, il
now asking sarcastically, "Whert
is that Navy?" The debate on The
Naval bill furnished the friends o
the Dolphin another opportunitytt
defend the record of John Roach
Representative Calf, Of W. Va, who
you may remember, was for TIVE
months Secretary of the Navy ur
der Hayes, made an attack upol
Secretary Whitney for rejecting tn
Dolphin. He said he would rathe
spend an eternity with John Roacl
under these circumstances ami,
the wreck of a lifetime and the de
struction of a fortune, than an hou
with the young reformer in hi
gilded palace at the other end Q
the Avenue. The Republicans aI
plauded this nonsense, and Mr.. Nc
Adoo, of New Jersey, ros to sa
that Secretary Whitney needed n
defense. He had an overwhelmin
popular decision in his favor; tina
the case was closed and no passion
ate appeal to the sensibilities ofth
'people for John Roach could max
them forget that the facts had bee.
demonstrated to be against hir
and in favor of the present Secrt
tary ofthe Navy. Mr.. McAdoo the
proceeded to dwell upon the ne
cessity of building up a Navy, an
declared that if this Congress fai
ed to take steps in this direction,
would be derelict in its duty to tn
country.
There has been much criticism {
the delay that has occurred in tn
construction of the four new ship
authorized by the last Congress. !
clear understanding ofthe practices
situation is probably all the an
swer needed to that class of com
plant. When Mr.. Whitney too.
charge of the Navy Department, h
took it as he found it. There wer
defects in its organization, and lac
of practical experience in moder
ship-building, crippled the efficien
cy of some of the Bureau in deal
ing with the problems presented b
the new work in hand. A Depart
ment which has never built a moo
ern ship could not jump at on
bound into successful competitio
with the English and French At
miralty, who were the authors an
architects of the new system.
The Secretary, who is natural
inclined to the extreme of caution
found himself charged with tn
construction of four new ships
) cost over three million dollars. An
he incurred this responsibility at
particular point in a transition er;
when the problems of type, design
armament and equipment were
their most crucial stage. Realizin
that it would take at least tw
| years to build the vessels, and III
willing to commit his administr;
tionto plans which the developmer
of the period might make obsolet
before his ships yer ahoat, til
: Secretary chose the least possib
of evils. He determined to exhaus
current knowledge and contemp'
rary experience before he settle
upon plans, which, under the Law
must receive the seal of a contrac
: Juno.
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