Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-12
.REHAB|uTAT|NG THE NAVY,
[continusd from First page ]

sells remaining on the sto'ks, as will
shortly be the case, some further addi-
tions should be made by congress at the
present session.
Much space is devoted to interesting
details as to the operations OF the ships
in commission the past year in the Ber-
ing sea and elsewhere.
On the work OF the marine. hospital
bureau, in connection with the cholera
quarantine, etc, interesting statistics
are given also as to the growth of the
movement establishing a naval militia,
the creation OF which is characterized
as one OF the most important steps in
our recent naval progress.
The department again recommends
the consolidation of the revenue marine
service with the navy, and calls atten-
ton to the recommendations of the
commandant OF the marine corps in
reference to an increase in the number
of privates and on-commissioned off,
GERS in the corps.
In conclusion the secretary says in
part: The statement has been made
from time to time that the present ad-
ministration had proceeded substan-
TALLY upon the lines OF it's predecessors.
lDl5 is III ldi &c uceicc COIIcCbs Its
cardinal policy has been to persevere
continually in the direction of naval
establishment, and make no changes
merely for the sake OF change, and none
unless they would be justified by clear
and conclusive reasons. At the same
time every effort has been made to ad-
vance as much as possible. The labors
that devolved upon the present admin.
istration OF the navy department., both
in the management of the fleet and the
work of construction, have not only been
far in excess of those of any previous ad-
ministrations since the war, but have
required to much greater degree the
solution of difficult and intricate
problems in detailed supervis-
ions OF most expensive. and
varied branches of manufacture.
The ships alone in the building of which
this administration has been engaged,
aggregated 10000 tons. 1t has manu-
factured 214 heavy guns, added largely
to the plants of the working yards. and
made the Washington gun factory the
best equipped in the world; constructed
wharves, dry docks and other important
public works; awarded contracts under
the head of increase of the navy"
diOue, LO Uu6 dIlcuuI VI TIt, ,oOOsSfls duu
employed labor to the amount of s8,-
126,671. Its operations have placed
the art OF steel ship building
in the United States on a firm
basis, the whole manufactured product
has been so cheapened that there is now
prospect that steel ships of American
build may successfully compete in cost,
as we'll as structural qualities, with
those made in Europe; and finally it
has been its endeavor to leave unsettled
no question of serious Importance pre-
sented today by naval science. In the
course of its operations, great as has
been their magnitude, there have been
no suggestion of scandal or suspicion of
jobbery. Such result could only
be accomplished by service
which, like that of the navy,
admits within it's ranks only men of the
highest honor and integrity, and / can
not more fitly close this report than by
congratulating the country on the pos
session of such school for officers as
the naval academy at Annapolis, and
upon the character, ability and loyal de-
votion of the men whom that institu-
tion supplies for its service.
The estimates in the report for
the fiscal year ending June 80,
1894. for the navy and marine corps,
including those for public works and in
crease of the navy, are $24 All ,498, be-
ing $2,713, 141 less than those for the last
fiscal year.