Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04

There are now connected to the Post
ONCE establishment 2s,324 employees who
are in the classified service. The head of
this great Department gives conclusive evil
dence of the value Of civil service reform
when. after an experience that renders
his Judgment on the subject absolutely re-
liable. he expresses the opinion that with
out the benefit of this system it would be
impossible to conduct the vast business
ntrusted to him.
1 desire to commend as especially worthy
of prompt attention the suggestions Of the
Acknowledgement relating to a more
sensible and business-Iike organization and
better distribution Of responsibility in his
Department.
The Navy.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
contains a history of the operations OF his
Department. during the past year, and ex-
hibits a most gratifying condition of the
personnel of our Navy. He presents a salts
factory account OF the progress which has
been made in the construction of vessels.
and makes a number OF recommendations
TO which attention is especially invited.
During the past six months the demands
for cruising vessels have been many and
urgent. There have been revolutions calling
for vessels to protect American interests
IN Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica Hon.
duras, Argentina, and Brazil. while the con-
dition Of affairs in Honolulu has required
the constant presence OF one or more ships.
With all these calls upon Navy, it be-
came necessary. in order to make up a
sufficient fleet to patrol the Behring Sea
under the modus vivendi agreed upon with
Great Britain. to detail to that service one
vessel from the Fish Commission and three
from the Revenue Marine.
Progress in the construction of new YES
sells has not been as rapid as was antici-
pated. There have been delays in the COM
pletion OF unarmored vessels, but for the
most part they have been such as are con-
stantly occurring even in countries havin z
the largest experience in naval ship-build-
ing. The most serious delays. however.
have been In the work upon armored ships.
The trouble has been the failure of con-
tractors to deliver armor as agreed. The
difficulties seem now. however. to have been
all overcome. and armor is being delivered
with satisfactory promptness. AS result
OF the experience acquired by ship builders
and designers and material men. 1t is be-
heved that the dates when vessels will be
completed can now be estimated with rea-
sonable accuracy. Great guns, rapid-fire
guns. torpedoes. and powder are being
promptly supplied.
New Ships.
The following vessels of the new Navy
have been completed and are now ready for
service:
The double-turreted coast-defense monitor
Miantonomoh. the double-turreted coast
defense monitor Monterey the armored
cruiser New York. the protected cruisers
Baltimore. Chicago. Philadelphia. Newark.
60 no md
Boston, the cruiser Detroit. the gunboats
Yorktown. Concord Bennington, Machias
Castine, and Petrol. the dispatch vessel Dol
phin. the practice vessel Bancroft. and the
dynamite gunboat vesuvius. OF these the
Bancroft, Machias. Detroit. and Castine
have been placed in commission during the
current calendar year.
The following vessels are in process of
construction: The second-class battle ships
Maine and Texas. the cruisers Montgomery
and Marblehead, and the coast-defense
monitors Terror. Puritan. Amphitrite. and
Afonadnock. all Of which will be completed
with in one year; the harbor-defense ram
Katahdin and the protected cruisers Co
iumbia, Minneapolis. Olympia, Cincinnati.
and Raleigh, all of which will be COM
pleted prior to July 1, 1895; the frst-class
battle ships Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts,,
and Oregon, which will be completed Feb
ruary 1. 1896 and the armored cruiser
Brooklyn, which will be completed by
August 1 Of that year. 1t Is also expect
ID that the three gunboats authorized by
the last Congress will be completed in less
than two years.
Since 1886 Congress has at each session
authorized the building Of one or more
vessels, and the Secretary Of the avy pre-
bents an earnest plea for the continuance
Of this plan. He recommends the author
txation Of at least one battle ship and six
torpedo boats.
pistently pursuing the policy we have in
Augurated Of building up a thorough and
ancient Navy, I can not refrain from the
puggestion that the Congress should care
FULLY take into account the number of I'M
finished vessels on our hands and the de-
pleted condition Of our Treasury in con-
bidering the propriety Of an appropriation
1t this time to begin new work.
The method Of employing mechanical Ia
Dor at navy-yards through boards of labor,
and making efficiency the sole test by
which laborers are employed and contin-
he'd, IL producing the best results, and the
Secretary Is earnestly devoting himself to
its development Attention Is invited to the
placements Of his report in regard to the
workings Of the system.
The Interior Department.
The Secretary Of the Interior has the
supervision Of 50 many important subjects
that his report Is Of especial value and
interest
On the Goth day Of June, 1893, there were
on the pension rolls 966O12 names, an in
crease Of 1924 over the number on the
POLLS June 30. 1902. OF these there were II
widows and daughters Of Revolutionary
soldiers SO survivors of the war of 1912,
os4z0 widows Of soldiers Of that war; p, 51S
yurvivorS and wiows of the Mexican war,
gSd2 survivors and widows of Indian wars.
IA army nurses. and 475.6 45 survivors, and
WILLOWS and children of deceased soldiers
Hnd sailors Of the war Of the rebellion.
Hhe latter number represents those pension
% ON account Of disabilities or death re-
putting from army and navy service The
pumoer OF persons remaining on the rolls
June 30 1888, who were pensioned under
*ne act OF June q, 1890. which allows pen
1dons on account Of death and disability not
snafgeabie to army service was 459,155.
The number added to the rolls during the
year was 123.634. and the number dropped
Nas $3.50. The first payment on pensions
ellowed during the year amounted to $685.
bd249.eS. This includes arrears, or the
accumulation between the time from which
She allowance Of pension dates and the time
of actually granting the certificate
Suspended Pension Payment,
Although the law of 1890 .rmits pensions