The Osceola times., 1886-12-11
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
What Secretary whitney Reports rs to the
Navy Department.

Navy Department.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 4-rhe report Of
Secretary of the Navy Whitney, given out
last night opens with renewal of his
former recommendation for the consolida-
tion of bureaus so as 20 insure responsibility
In purchase aud care of supplies, aud states
that so far as las power extended he had
consolidated In one bureau the general pur.
chases OF department and the care and Gus
tody of stores creating a system of book
keeping by which the responsibility for
care and disposition could be had. Ths re-
port says: There Is at present DO real re-
sponsIbillty for the care and disposition Of
property. In one bureau property ac-
count Is kept AMI IN others none. Properly
lost, missed Or stolen can not be traced or
accounted for and 40 person can be he'd re-
spOnsble. The Fourth Auditor In his re.
port just issued calls attention to this re-
markable circumstance which was also re-
ieried TO In my last annual report. The in
yentOry shows very large and unnecessary
accumulation OF stores and supplies by the
different bureaus, aggregatlng over twenty
millions OF dollars In appraised value. The
board reports between three and four mil
lions in value 10 be obsolete and useless at
the present tilne only entailing expense for
keepers and constant care 10 preserve them
IN condition"
Regarding the new cruisers the report
says: "Ihe experience Of The department
In Its first attempt al the creation of
modern vesse of war has been such as TO
excite the greatest concern and disappOnt-
nent. When the Dolphin, Boston, Atlanta
aud Chicago were projected and contracts
i0r their construction entered into ii Was
well known what speed ought TO be at
tanned and what weight and character Of
machinery per ton OF displacement was
necessary TO obtain IL. 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
DoIDhln and Atlanta with Eng,ish and
Fiench boats only recently competed to the
disadvantage of the former The Do phin
was designed for $500 Indicated horse
power and developed less than 1900, white
the Aiacrlty and Surprise, English boats OF
5000, developed BIB and 3.079 respect
iyely. The Atlanta was designed to attain
$500 horse power, but her engines devel-
oped less than that. The report says:
These facts are stated without any inten-
tl0n OF locating the rvsp0ns ity or blame
uron any person. 1t is impossible 10 ascer.
tam where II should be placed.
In considering the matter of constructing
the additional vessels authorized by Con
gress ia March, 1885, it was decided by the
department to exhaust every effort 10 avail
Itself of the must advanced thought and
knowledge attained 10y our own and other
countries upon the subject. The report
says the department has accumulated n
large amount OF Information which Will be
utilized IN the construction of vessels In the
future. The report then gives resume OF
the bids and awards for the new cruisers.
IL also treats OF armor and guns for monl.
tors and irOnclads al great length and dep
recates that this country should be content
10 be dependent upon manufacturers OF
any other nation for the fabrication of al
NOR aud high powered guns.
The report SAYS: ut would be q great
benefit at the present time ii the appoint
ment of commission should be authorized
to Jay before the next Congress compre
hensiye scheme of construction, such com.
misson to be composed OF both civilian aud
naval experts fit TO deal with the subject.
Ii Congress should at its next session
nake provision Tor the manufacture In this
country OF armor and of high powered guns
and should take steps for securing broader
and more intelligent consideration proper
to bc undertaken, no time would IN the
end I've lost and mistakes wOu d lie avoided.
Meanwhile Vt Is my duty to call attention
to the urgent Necessity for immediate
action"
q.
says: "ln the adjustment OF the accounts
for the fiscal year ended june so, 1856, aud
after paying all liabilities for the year,
II is believed that there will be an unex.
pended balance OF from 5000. 600 10 $3.50. 600,
almost one.haf of which is pay OF The navy
and pay OF the marine corps, showing an
expenditure of Sl9, 500, 900 or upwards OF
S50OO0O less than the appropriations.
These amounts do not include the expendI
lures Tor steel cruisers aud completion of
the double turreted MONITORS 1t is cited
that this is the fist time IN many years
that the expenditures have been kept with.
in the appropriations.
The Secretary recommends that the Naval
Academy course be shortened TO four years,
as recommended by the commander of the
academy. lie aso urges that apprentices
be admitted To the academy. and says: 1T
is the desire OF the department that the
naval service should not be open to any
charge OF Xcluslveness-the sole exception
to this sound and Wholesome principle Of
our national policy. To THIS end 1t would
recommend that measures be taken by
which, under proper safeguards, admission
to the Naval Academy mght be given TO u
limited number OF apprentices, who should
then be subjected 10 the same course of
training and examination as the other
cadets, and who, under the application of
uniform test, should stand or fail solely ac.
cUrding TO the strength or weakness OF their
own meTits.n