The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-11-02
ARMY AND NAVY.

In Navy Payniaster General Edwin Stewards
report he suggests that the Navy has suffered
for many years from being Obliged 10 make its
purchases from the lowest bidder, and / recon-
mend that Congress be asked to authorize
awards TO be made to the lowest responsible
bidder for the best and most suitable article
in onformity with the law governing the pur-
chase Of supplies for the use of the Army"
Col. Charles Haywood, Commandant of the
United States Marine Corps, in his snnnalre-
port. says that his force is too small. Because
Of this the marines are ovcrworked. aud Col.
Haywood recommends that the corps be in
creased 800 men. lie also wants legislation TO
remove the stagnation in the grade Of Captain.
Surg.-Gen. J. T. Tryou, of the Navy. in his
annual report. submitted 10 the Secretary OF
the Navy, urges better siek-quarters aud i'm
proved sanitation on board modern vessels Of
war, and he also says there will never be an
efficient medical department on board ship or
an efficient hospital organization until the en-
tire existing system of appointing pay nurses
without the necessary qualifications TO intelli-
gently perform their duties is abolished
Commander L. L. Leary has been selected
for the command of the American ram KataI,-
din. 1t will probably be year or more before
this naval craft is ready for commission, but
she has reached that stage where il is desirable
10 have her prospective commander around TO
superintend her fitting out. and Commander
Leary has accordingly been ordered as her
general inspector with the view to command
when completed.
The War Department after years Of expert
ments, has found two brands of smoke less
powder which, it believes, promise to excel any
yet produced by foreign powers, and which
are undeniably better than any snal-arn
powder so far invented in this country 1t
will accordingly issue advertisements shortly
for the purchase Of five tons for the small-arms
of the service. The two brands which have
shown the most satisfactory results and from
which selection will probably be made are
those of Mr.. Leonard, Of Virginia, and one from
California.
Paymaster- General VIM. Smith, U. s. A., in
his animal report to the Secretary of War
shows that the pay OF the Army during the
past fiscal year amounted to $l3.O59,021, and
other disbursements bring the total expeudi-
lures mp to Sl5.739.451. Mileage disbursements
amounted To Si74.<25.
Concerning the dynamite cruiser Vesu yius
with her pneumatic guns it is stated by Capt
| w. L. Sampson, OF the Bureau of Ordnance
Navy Department. in his annual report that
tho trials Of these guns showed that at times
their practice was very satisfactory but under
apparently the same conditions AT another time
the practice was not satisfactory, and he adds
this comment: THE Bureau is Of opinion that
radical changes in the system might be made
which would greatly improve il, and is inform
ed that the company has this in hand It
Is. however, believed that the guns on board
the Vesuvius cannot be made successful"
The presentation OF the handsome service of
silver to the cruiser New York took place last
week on board the warshp now lying at the
Navy-yard wharf in Brooklyn. The service
| is the gift OF the citizens of New York and