Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-12-07

IVA
az eur government in the future Is TO
haya naval strength enough TO command
.ha neace and be in condition 10 'sniorec
M ferms dictated by It's sense OF Iignt
aud justice it mast nave more pas'ssht tpr
and must build a reasonable nuniper oi tor-
naao boats, For the defense OF ports sor-
pedo boats are perhaps more euectlse &c.
eording TO cost than any. other class VI
yasseIs The knowledge or their existence
aione viii make an enemy chary about aD-
nroaehing within bombarding DISTANCE. Inc
yaipe OF this boat Is recognized Dy All ha'ai
powers, and they are being butt ABROAD III
one can yalne economy more highly
than 1 DO. and Its practice ~ csftainly
necessary at this time When the govern,
nent expenditures are likely 70 Dc more
than its receipts, but the safety OF me
country, its honor and its dignity must rise
above every other consideration, anu ~ IS
respectfully submitted tnat she ~ least
some vessels at each session OF congress
ought not to be interrupted now. rec,
ouslend that the CONSTRUCTION OF AT ieast
one battleship and ak torpedo poats DE au'
thorized by congress at the coming session;
'crhe authorization OF these vessels Would
require the expenditure OF very little money
during the coming fiscal year. goo 90
each, and not more than S36O,uoD ct Inis
sum. estimating the total cost at .Zu,oOv
would be expended within the hseai year
ending June 80, 1895. So much time Is re-
CURED 10 perfect the plans or q Dattieship,
put IL under contract, and provide the ma
terial. that not more than one-tenth OF the
xost OF such a vessel, IL II should De au-
thorized, would need to be appropriated for
during the coming session or congress
Every vessel now authorized may pe eAt
pected to be In commission by, the nrst
aay OF July, 1896, SO that unless other
ships be provided for now We shall at that
date not have a single ship In process OF
construction. II is not believed that the
American people, intent as they are on en-
forcipu pnDnnmy In government eAptlul-
tnres, are willing that this great work
should be stopped short at this time. .
The secretary argues at much length In
support OF his position.
The report maintains that serious re-
suits will follow a continuation OF the pres
ent neglect in the line OF improving tue
personnel Of the navy which suffers from
long delay In promotions. Says the secre-
tary: 'sThls most important branch or the
public service. which may properly De
termed the right arm of the republic Tor
external defense, now suffers from Two
great evils. viz: First, q large proportion
OF the officers Of the line OF the navy, at a
time when mind and body ought 10 be at
without command and the habit 1t begets.
Second, no method now exists whereby the
government can get the very hover OF It's
personnel into those positions where they
can be Of the greatest service TO the coun-
try, In consequence OF which q duh mechan-
icai movement takes the place Of healthy
progression led by merit and fitness. L am
engaged in the. preparation of a plan Tor
the reorganization Of the line Of the navy
which l think will meet the requirements
Of the service"
1t is recommended that the number of
enlisted men and boys in the service be
increased by 1000.
Public interest in the naval militia Is
gradually and steadily increasing. At the
date of the last annual report the number or
men certified as mustered In and serving In
the naval militia OF seven states was Ida.
During the present year organizations have
been authorized by the legislatures Of Penn.
sylvania and Illinois, and the number OF
officers and men mustered In and serving
at the present time Is 2,376.
Speaking Of labor at the navy yards, the
report says there Is no doubt that the sys-
tenn Of employing laborers without refer
ence TO their politics and making merit the
sole test of their retention and advance
ment Ia greatly 70 the benefit OF the gov
Estimates and Appropriations.
For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1895,
the estimates for the navy and marine
corps, including increase of the navy and
public works, amount 10 S27,S So, 91402. The
stimate COR the same purposes for the
current fiscal year amounted 10 S2i,4l.-
498. 81. or S3,4l4,41J.S1 less than those for
the next fiscal year. For the current fiscal
year the estimates for Increase OF the navy
amounted to 50, TO3,65I, and for the next
fiscal year they amount TO So, 5J,G25, the
difference being 81. T5l, sos. The estimates
for the running expenses of the navy and
marine corps, including improvements at
navy yards and stations for the next fiscal
year, amount to SO, 430. SS0.02, being $685.
0i7.Sl in excess OF the estimates OF the cur
rent fiscal year.
The report details all the operations of
the navy during the year, and scattered
through IL is a great deal of information
upon various minor branches Of the navy
department, largely technical In character.