The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-12-11
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
What Secretary whitney Reports as to the
Navy Department.

navy department.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The report of
Secretary of the Navy Whitney, given out
last night, opens with a renewal of his
former recommendation for the consOlda-
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 care and Gus
tody of stores, creating a system of book
keeping by which the responsibility for
/ care and disposition could be had. The re-
| port says: "TheTe is at present no real re-
spOnsbility for the care and disposition of
/ 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-
spOnsble. The Fourth Auditor in his re-
port Just issued calls attention to this re-
markabe circumstance which was also re-
ferred to in my last annual report. The in
ventOTy 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 and useless at
the present time, only entailng expense for
keepers and constant care to preserve them
in condition"
Regarding the new cruisers the report
says: "Ihe 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
for their construction entered into it 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 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 Aiacrity and Surprise English boats of
5000, developed 3,173 and 3,079 respect
lively. The Atlanta was designed to attain
$500 horse power, but her engines deyel-
oped less than that The report says:
These facts are stated without any nten-
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 a
large amount Of information which will be
utilized in the construction Of vessels i'm the
future The report then gives a resume of
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 of
any other nation for the fabrication of ar
nor and highpOwered guns.
} The report says: 1T would be a great
benefit at the present time if the appoint
, ment of a 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.
{ If Congress should at its next session
| make provision for the manufacture in this
country of armOr and of hjgh-puwered 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 be avoided.
) Meanwhile it is my duty to call attention
2 to the urgent necessity for immediate
= action"
1 Concerning the expenditures the report
says: "ln the adjustment of the accounts
? for the fiscal year ended June So 1856, and
after paying all Liabilities for the year,
it is believed that there will be an unex.
! pended balance of from $780, 600 to $3.50, 0OO
+ almost one-half of which is pay of the navy
! and pay of the marine corps, showing al
8 expenditure of Sl3,5O0,000 or upwards OF
100000 less than the appropriations
q These amounts do not include the eXpendi
lures for steel cruisers and completion OIL
q the double turreted monitors" 1t is cteC
), that this is the first time in many years
n that the expenditures have been kept with
in the appropriations.
=, The Secretary recommends that the Nava
Academy course be shortened TO four years
: as recommended by the commander of the
= academy. lie also urges that apprentices
be admitted to the academy, and says 81
Z is the desire Of the department that the
y naval service should not be open to any
y charge OF eXcusiveness-the sole exception
/ to this sound and wholesome principle o.
c our national policy. To this end it wOulC
recommend that measures be taken by
a which, under proper safeguards, admission
a to the Naval Academy might be given to
r limited number of apprentices, who SHOULD
Q then be subjected to the same course o
= training and examination as the olhe
7, cadets, and who, under the application of
uniform test, should stand or fall solely &C
n COrding to the strength or weakness of thei
10, own merits"
2,