St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-17
NEW NAVY GLORIFIED.
Ex-Secretary Tracy's Return to
Private Life Celebrated by
Banquet.
Both the Old and New Heads OF
the Navy Department Make
Speeches.

NEW YORK, March 1G.-EX-Secretary
Tracy's return to private life was for
mally celebrated by the Hamilton club,
of Brooklyn, tonight by banquet. By
happy coincidence the new secretary
of the navy, Hilary A. Herbert, was en-
abled to be present, and the BAN
quet in Mr.. sTracy's honor incident
ally became Qualification Of
the new navy, and gave the club, which
is not political organization, chance
to express its appreciation of both the
outgoing and incoming administrations.
Ex-Secretary Tracy, in response to the
cheers which greeted his name, III part
said:
That marked progress has been made
in the reconstruction of the navy during
the last administration is, believe, adj
mitted by all. | shall not on this occa-
sion enter into the details of that prog
reSs. In my first annual report, in De-
cember, 1889, | stated that when all
the ships that had been authorized
up to that time should have been COM
pleted, the United States would still
rank as the twelfth naval power, and
that we were absolutely at the mercy of
states having less than one-third OF our
population. one-thirteeuth Of our
wealth. and one-hundredth of our
area. But such is not the
condition of the United States
today. When the ships now in course
of construction are completed, we will
rank as the fifth naval power. surpassed
only by England, France, Russia and
Italy. We shall have passed both Spain
and Germany. and can once more take
rank among the naval powers of
the world. | ain aware that this
is the first public announce
ment of orr superiority TO Germany. but
the statement is made not unadvisedly,
but after careful comparison of the
two nayies, ship by ship. From such
comparison it appears that with the
ships which constitute the fighting
force of the two governments the
United States can throw in any one di-
rectiOn at a single discharge, $1,000
pounds of metal against $4,000 pounds
by Germany. In speed and efficiency
our cruisers far surpaSs those Of the
German navy.
"For fifty years the management of
the navy yards has been a scandal and
disgrace to the country. They are filled
with men employed without reference
to their fitness for the work they set to
Wv. w VI bhiOOo hNHluS POiltlNtA
influence. would be retained, while eff
ticient, without it, would be discharged.
Sept. /. 1891, the connection heretofore
existing between the navy yards and
politics was severed, and since then
employment has depended entirely upon
the needs of the service and the skill
and efficiency of the person to
be employed. Tailors are no
longer employed as riveterS upon
iron ships, nor are shOemakerS set to
build steam engines. Any man can
now go into navy yard and offer his
services. and. if he is needed, he will be
subjected to trial, and if found skill
full will be retained, and if he is not he
will be discharged. His retention or
discharge depends entirely upon his
personal fitness and not of all upon his
political opinions"
Secretary of the Navy Herbert fol-
lowed, and, after complimenting his
predecessor on his administration.
said:
ut is perhaps not the time for me to
map out Il programme, but one thing
can say, no personal ambition shall
tempt me to make changes for the
sake of change. III relation to
what has been said concerning the
employment OF those characterized by
fitness only, L can only say that shall
adhere to that rule. have as yet had
no chance for anything more than a
cursOry examination of their operation,
but approve OF the spirit and purpose
of these orders and expect to carry
them out. Expressing my own Opin-
ion, l think we ought to
carry on our programme of providing
for at each session of congress one or
more new vessels for the navy so as to
keep up regular, methodical increase
not with view to forming such
naYies as those Of France and England
we do hot need such expensive
organiZationS-bu we do need a navy
firSt-class in all its appointments"