The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-03-22
FIFTH ON THE SEA.

That will Be Our Power When Our
New Navy is Afoat Ex Secretary
Tracy Speaks II ighly of His Successor
Who. in Turn. Compliments Mr.. Tracy.
ExSecretary Tracy's return 10 private
lie was formally cele brated by the IIamil-
ton club Of Brooklyn. by banquet. By n
happy coincidence the new Secretary Of the
Nnvy Hilary a. Herbert, was enabled 10 be
present, and the banquet incidentally be
came n glOriiication OF the new navy, and
gave the club, W hich is not political or.
pnnization n chance to express ii apprecia.
ton Of both the outgoing and incoming nd.
ministrstions. TX Secretary Tracy, in re.
sponse to the cheers that greeted his name
in part said;
That marked progress has been made In
the reconstruction of the navy during the
last administration is, believe, admitted bv
all. shall not on this occasion enter into
tile details Ol that progress. In my first
annual report, in Dccem her. 1880 ! stated
that when all the shivs which had been nu-
thofi2ed up to that time should have been
completed. the United States would still rank
rs the l2th naval power. and that we .were
absolutely at the mercy oi states having less
than one third Oi our population. oue-thif,-
ieth at our wealth nnd one hundfcdth OF
oar area But such is not the condition of
the United States today When the
shiuS now in course Ol construction are
completed we Will rank as
the hnh naval puwer surpass-
ed only hv England. France, Russia aud
Italy. We shall lave pnssc both SPAN
and Germany and can once more take rank
among th" naval powers of the world. am
aware thai this is the first public announce.
ment ol our superiority to Germany, but
10 II Al 4 al Ian
after careful comparison of the two nayies,
shin bv ship.
For 10 years the management of the navy
yards has been Il scandal ami disgrace Ia
ihe country. They ARE filled with men EN-
plOypd without reference to their fitness for
the work they nre set 10 do, Worthless men
having political influence would b- retained
while efficient men without It would be dis.
charged. On September /. 1891. the connec-
tion heretofore existing between the navy
aud politics was severed. and since then
employment has been dependent entirely
upon the needs nl the service aud the skiil
and efficiency ~ the person to be employed
1ailOfs are no longer employed rs riyelers.
upOn iron ships. nor are shuenakerS set To
bnild steam engines ANY man can now
go into n navy ward and offer his services
and 10 he is needed he will he subjected to
tusl and il found skillfu will he retained.
and il not he will be discharged HIS re.
tentiOn or discharge depends entirely upon
his personal fitness and not at all upon his
! political opinions.
Secretary OF the Navy Herbert followed,
and, after complimenting his predecessor
on his administration, said:
n is perhaps not the time for me 10 man
out a programme, bnt one thing ! can say
no personal ambition shall tempt me 10
make changes for The sake Of change. TX.
pressing my own opinion, think we ought
TO carry on our programme of providing for
| At each session Oi Congress one or more new
vessels for the navy, 81 aS to keep up a reg.
ulnr methodcal inCrease--not to Il view Ia
forming such navies ~ those Of France and
Engand-we do not need such expensive
organizations bat we do need u navy first.
class in all its appointments.