Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-30
NAVAL EQUIPMENT.
Annual Report of Commodore Schley to
the Secretary Of the Navy.

Annual Report of Commodore Schiey to
the Secretary Of the Navy.
AMOUNT EXPENDED DURING THE LAST FISCAL
YEAR-INspEcTIoN OF THE TRAINING SHIPS
THE NEW STEEL cRUIsERs-IMPoRTANT RECON-
MENpATIoNs.
Commodore W. 8. schley, chief of the bu-
reau OF equipment and recruiting of the Navy
department,in his annual report, says that dur
ing the year ending June 80, 1888, there was
expended at the several yards, to partially or
wholly reft vessels and to supply them with
the necessary stores, S45, 54 for labor, and
s165,579.24 for material. The appropriation
for transportation was insufficient. For the sup
ply of vessels So ITO tons of coal were purchased
costing, including handling, S265, ,OO5.05. The
price paid for coal was slightly in advance of
the preceding year. During the year the bu-
reau has supplied the lighthouse establishment
with large amount of cordage of superior
guilty, made at the Boston navy yard, at about
market prices. The bureau is substituting
new galley, made at the Boston navy yard, for
the old Young's galley formerly used on board
our vessels.
On June 80, 1888, there were 1854 men and
apprentices In the service, and the average
during the year.
INSPECTIONS WERE MADE
during the year Of the receiving ships, except
the Independence at Mare Island. All were in
good and cleanly condition. The men are we'll
behaved, and. as a rule, orderly. During the
year the vessels engaged in recruiting service
were stationed and commanded as follows: U.
3. H. 8. Wabash, Captain c. c. Carpenter, Bos-
ton, Mass. U. s. R. s. Vermont, Captain w. A.
Kirkland Rrnnklvn NJ " n
Captain William Whitehead, Philadelphia, Pa. |;
Q. s. r. 8. Dale, Commander Yates Sterling,
Washington, ID. c.; U. s. r. s. Franklin, Capt.
A. +; Cooke, Norfolk, Va; o. 8. r. s. Inde-
pendence, Commander ]. W. Phillip, Mare
Island, Cal. All these vessels were at one time
in active service as cruising ships. Most
Of them are covered in and otherwise
fitted, and permanently moored alongside the
docks at the navy-yards where stationed. The
number OF men enlisting under continuous SER
vice is larger yearly, but there yet remains
much to be desired in the increase Of this class,
and recommendation is made for board of Of
ticers to classify the minor offenses committed
by men belonging to the navy, and to prescribe
what punishment should be meted out to each
offense, so that uniformity will result in
every ship. Punishment inflicted when
the officer is excited is apt to be unfair, but it
Is much more unfair to the man when the pun
ishment of offenses committed by him is left to
the absolute discretion of commanding officers.
ClOtQlQg,
more healthful sleeping accommodations, with
better light and better ventilation are the
means which must bring efficiency, content
ment, and greater happiness.
ADDITIONAL COURSE OF INSTRUCTION FOR sEAMEN.
The report says: 'The great benefit accruing
to the service from the training Of men at
Washington and at Newport is more and more
apparent. The advantage to the navy of hav-
ing some men in the crew of each vessel ac-
quainted with the modern means of offense and
the methods of preparing and handling the
new machines cannot be overstated The graf
Tying fact to the bureau is that more applica-
tions are made for this instruction than can be
granted. which indicates the appreciation held
by the men of the advantage given them by
this course of training. Reports from both
Washington and the torpedo station show that
themen under instruction are highly interested,
efficient, and skillful. As the new ships now
building come into service, the advantage Of
this training will be more apparent"
TRAINING APPRENTICES.
The system of training apprentices for the
navy is defended, and it is stated that on June
80 last there were 1,064 of such apprentices in
the service. There were 2.072 applications for
enlistment during the year; there were rejected
of this number ,284 for physical disqualified
tions, and los for other causes, leaving 6S3 ac-
cepted; of these, 218 failed to report after ex-
animation, SO that the number actually received
into service and placed under training was 465
THE NEW STEEL CRUISERS.
During the fiscal year the bureau has had an
officer employed in making new allowance
tables for these new vessels, as the space avail
able in them is SO much less than in the old
steam and sailing vessels they are to replace
The types of these new ships differing SO much
from each other has made it necessary to make
special and separate allowances for each ship
Weight being an important factor in the new
ships, it has been found absolutely necessary
to reduce to the lowest possible limit all sup
plies required, in order to keep within the
figures estimated at the time these ships were
designed. The equipment officers are required
to keep strictly within the allowance of weight
given for each vessel, 80 that the bureau is in
formed almost to the pound weight of all
things manufactured and placed on vessels.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
The report recommends that some commits
stoned officer of ship should take charge of
the mems messes; that some increase be made
in the pay of enlisted men and petty officers:
that the sailor be included in the retirement
benefit; that those honorably discharged from
the navy should be given the right Of citizen
ship. and that the oath of allegiance should be
administered to all recruits.
Death of Mrs. John C. Hardness.
One of the oldest members of McKenaree NJ.