The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-01
GRoWrz OF THE NAVY.
Some OF the Suggestions Which the
Secretary Makes to Congress


WASHINGTON. Nov. 3O.-Ths report of
the Secretary OF tire Navy is an interesting
one, showing what new vessels have been
built, the progress that has been made in
srmor for ships and in the construction Of
guns. During the twenty months covered
\ by the present administration, nine new
I saIfs have been put in commission; four,
I including one monitor, have been
advanced - a point where they are
I just about 20 90 into commission: five
shortly be waiting only for their armor;
seven have been built from the keel up, of
which the Texas and Monterey are nearly
rea y for launching, and the five cruisers
are well advanced; while of the six others
previously authorized all have been de
signed and advertised, d ell bit one, the
ram, have been contracted for and are
actually under construction.
PERSONNEL
The number Of rear admirals is too small
fer the needs Of the service, AID l recon-
mend that IL be increased from six TO ten.
OF the reductions made in the numbers of
the naval personnel, by the acts of congress
Of July Is, 1870, and Aug. 5, 1882. the first
was adopted at time when the material Of
the navy was in state of rapid decline.
both in number and quality of ships and
point The Transformation and rapid de-
velopment of the feet which has taken
place in he last six years makeit bsoluteiy
necessary to call for a new adjustment in
certain branches of the personnel, in order
TO keep up a reasonable standard of eff
cheney among the officers of the navy.
The situation Of the lower part of the list
of line officers from the grades of lieutenant
to ensign is 50 serious as to be ii tie less than
alarming. AT the present rate of promo |
ton these officers bid fair to pass their lives |
in the junior grades. The average age of |
the five officers now at the head of the list in |
each of these grades is as follows:
Y.Mo.
Lieutenant. ................. -
Ensign ....--........-.......... %
This is bad enough, but the situation |
during the next few years is
growing rapidly worse, and actual |
calcula ion shows that, at the aver
age rate of promotion, the officers now at |
tie foot of these three grades will only be |
promoted out of their grades at the follow
ing ages:
Years.
Lieutenant ............ 81 /
Lieutenant, Junior grade. 81 /
Ensigh ................. ........ SO /
The spectacle will thus be presented, at a
time not very far distant, of the whole |
gra le Of lieutenants in the navy composed |
of men between the ages of 81 and 81.
As partial remedy the departme pro- |
poses that the number of lieutenant COM |
manders be increased from seve1ty-four to |
ia, and the number Of lieutenants be di- |
mlnisned in like portion; ard that the |
mum or of lieutenants of the junior grade |
aud OF ensigns be more nearly equalized.
NAVAL MILITIA
One Of the most vital defects in our pres
=
led militia, 50 trained that ia case Of |
necessity it will be prepared Co supply the |
demands of the naval service. The number |
OF seamen now allowed by law is $500. |
Most or them, at any given time, are |
necessarily scattered. They would not be |
available at all IN an emergency, nor would /
they, in any case, be numerous enough to |
form more than the nucleus OF an active |
force.
TIE want of supply of men in reserve |
places the navy at great disadvantage as
compared with the army. The army has |
always behind it a weil-trained miit a, |
whlca makes its real numerical strength |
Without this it would be a feeble instru- |
ment of national defense. The navy needs |
its reserves as much as the army, and they |
should be composed not only of trained |
Seamen, but OF trained naval seamen.
ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS.
Ahc Renerai estimates Tor tine support of |
the navy. including public works, and of |
the marine corps, have been cut down to !
the lowest posslb!e point, and show q total
Of 81, 352. 594 Sc less than the estimates of
last year and $I55, $40 80 less than the ap-
for the current year.
Ga the other hand, the estimates for in
crease OF the navy show an enlargement far
beyond that which has taken place in aay
prior year. The estimates for this purpose
for the year ending June 80, 1891, were
So, $50, 800; the estimates for the current
year are s1S,471 ,2e9, or nearly double the
amount. By far the largest part Of this in
crease IS for payments upon outstanding
contracts.
REVENUE MARINE SERVICE.
The department renews its recommenda.
ton, made last year, that an act be passed
the revenue marine service
with the navy. The advantages of this
change to both branches of tha service have
been repeatedly pointed out, and it is not
necessary to dwell upon it
again. No substantial objection has been
which couaterbaiances the great
advantages to be derived from the measure.
The act now before congress, which has
passed the House, has been carefully drawn,
and the department earnestly recommends
its pass age.