The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-09
THE AMERICAN HAVY.
What Secretary whitney Reports as TO the
Navy Department.

What Secretary whitney Reports as TO the
Navy Department
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The report OF
Secretary of the Navy Whitney, given out
] last night, opens with renewal Of his
| former recommendation for the censolida-
ton of bureaus so as to insure responsibility
in purchase and care of supplies, and states
that so far as his power extended he had
consolidated in one bureau the general pur-
chases of department and the cnre and Gus
tody of stores, creating system OF book
keeping by which the responsibility for
care and disposition could be had. The re-
port saws: "rhere is at present no real re-
sponsibility for the care and disposition Oh
property, In one bureau property ac-
count Is kept and in others none. Property
lost. missed or stolen can not be traced or
accounted for and no person can be held re-
sponsible. The Fourth Auditor In his re-
port Just issued calls attention 10 thls re-
markable circumstance which was also re-
ferred to in my last annual report. 1he III
ventory shows very large anc unnecessary
accumulation of stores and supplies by the
different bureaus, aggregating over twenty
millions of dollars in appraised valIe. The
board reports between three and four mil
lions in value to be obsolete ard useless at
the present time, only entaillng expense Tor
keepers and constant care to preserve them
in condition"
Regarding the new cruisers the report
saws: "'The experience of the department
in its first attempt at the creation OF
modern vessels of war has been such as to
excite the greatest concern and disappOint-
ment. When the Dolphin, Boston. Atlanta
and Chicago were projected and contracts
J for their construction entered into it was
we'll known what speed ought to be at
tanned and what weight and character OF
J 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
t 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
4 French boats only recently completed to the
/ disadvantage of the former The Dolphin
2 was designed for $500 indicated horse
!. power and developed less than 200, While
e the Alacrty and Surprise, English boats OF
I 5000. developed BIB and 3,079 respect
t lively. The Atlanta was designed to attain
q $500 horse power, but her engines devel-
oped less than that The report says:
. These facts are stated without any inten-
u ton of locating tie responsibility or blame
d upon any person. 1t is impossible to ascer-
tain where it should be placed.
t In considering the matter OF constructing
| the additional vessels authorized by Con-
o gress in March, 1885, it was decided by the
h department to exhaust every effort to avail
a itself OF the most advanced thought and
knowledge attained by our own and other
: countries upon the subject The report
q SAYS the department has accumulated
f large amount of information which VIII De
= utilized in the construction of vessels i'll the
future. The report then gives resume oi
> the bids and awards for the new cruisers.
. 1t also treats of armOr and guns for mOni
:, tors and irOnclads at great length and dep
= recates that this country should be content
;. TO be dependent upon manufacturers OI
any other nation for the fabrication OF ar
4 nor and high-powered guns.
y The report says: 1T would be grea
- benefit at the present time if the appoint
II Il ment of a commission should be authorized
u to ;ay before the next Congress cOmpre
Z hensive scheme of construction, such com
mission TO be composed of both civilian ant
o naval experts fit to deal with the subject
e If Congress should at its next session
make provision for the manufacture in thi
"a and should take steps for securing brOade
III and more intelligent consideration prOpe
n to be undertaken, no time would in tn
+ end be lost and mistakes would be avoided
'd Meanwhile it is my duty to call attention
III TO the urgent necessity for immediat
10 action"
Ell Concerning the expenditures the repor
lie says: "ln the adjustment of the account
N for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1856, AM
n after paying all liabilities for the yeaI
G. it is believed that there will be an uneS
pended balance of from 5000, 900 to $780, ,OOC
almost One-half of which is pay OF the nav
IL and pay of the marine corps, showing a
in expenditure of Sl3, 800, 600 or upwards @
IT. S5OO,OO0 less than the appropriations
sh These amounts do not include the eXpend
he lures for steel cruisers and completion G
is the double turreted monitors" 1t is cite
%. that this is the first time in many year
&C. that the expenditures have been kept Will
IN in the appropriations.
ee The Secretary recommends that the Nava
IS Academy course be shortened TO four year.
d. as accommodated by the commander OF tn
academy. lie also urges that apprentice
he be admitted to the academy, and says: -
of is the desire of the department that th
l3, naval service should not be open to an
j. charge OF eXclusiveneSs-the sole eXceptlO
CO to this sound and wholesome principle {
g. our national policy. TO this end it wOul
or recommend that measures be taken b
re which, under proper safeguards. admissio
wv to the Naval Academy might be given to
an limited number of apprentices, who ShOul
.st then be subjected to the same course {
training and examination as the otht
er cadets, and who, under the application of
ns uniform test, should stand or fall solely a
70, cording to the strength or weakness of the
1st own merits"
lal 80 M; p
- WORCESTER, Mass, Dec. 4.-Mr