New-York tribune., 1893-12-01
4 GOOD N1F1L REPORT.

| Secretary Herbert in his administration Of the
| Navy has fully justified the favorable cxpecta-
tions which were expressed in these columns
| when his appointment was announced BY long
| training in the House Committee on Naval AZ
| fairs he had become cOnvcrsant with the re-
quircments of the service. and was an expert in
| all matters of construction and policy. His
annual report, of which make large use on
| another page. is very able document and
ranks with the mastery reports of his prede-
cessor. There is hardly n branch OF the de-
partment'S work which he has not made his
own by laborious and intelligent study. He
Eliminates every question of naval policy by
his lucdty Of style his sound Judgment and
his enlightened common sense. Secretary Her
bert is good American. That type Of states
manshp is very rare in President Cleveland's
councils.
The section Of his report which will attract
the widest interest is that relating TO future
naval policy. He lays stress upon the fact that
while the Nation now has an efficient fleet Of
cruisers. gunbOats and anXiliares. which would
be of great use as cOmmercedcstroyers in Il
naval war. there are only four frst-class battle
ships under construction. He contends that
unarmOred cruisers are not fighting vessels, and
that the military value of commerce-destroy-
ing feet is easily Overrated. The illustration
which he employs is not fortunate one, since
it involves an inadequate estimate Of the meal
culab,v harm caused by the Alabamas raids
on American commerce: but his conclusion is
correct that the COnfcderatcs even with ten
times as many privateers could have accom-
.t... ....l.- a..
Of batle-ships. We agree entirely with the
Secretary that the Government, in orler to
command peace by naval strength. must have
more batte-ships. He recommends the con-
struction Of at least one additional battlcship
and Of six torpedoboats. and makes q powerful
argument against the suspension Of naval work
when the shipyards are now fully equipped
with the appliances for building the best ships
Of every class
Almost the only point on which we in
clned TO take issue with the Secretary is his
defence of the present system % offering large
premiums for speed in excess OF contract re-
qurcmens. This method was Necessary when
Secretary Whitney introduced it. bnt il has
served It's purpose and ought now TO be- aban-
donal. The cost Of the system is rot the worst
premiums into consideration when they bid for
Government work. Their bids would be- higher
il they were not confident OF their ability TO
earn the premiums. What is indcfcnsiblc is the
sacrifice Of every element TO speed The con
tractor having TO depend in large measure upon
the premiums for his profits is tempted in the
construction Of the ship TO make speed the SUI
prcmc object and TO lose sight Of everything
else. The speed trials. moreover. which pro-
duce artificial paper records that will never
again be repeated in actual service subject the
machinery to a tremendous strain that invari-
ably wcakcns the ship.
At all other points we are in hearty accord
with Secretary Herbert. His comments upon
the necessity Of keeping politics entirely out
Of the navy yards indicate that there Is 10 be-
no departure from the wise policy introduced
by the Harrison Administration. We trust that
the new proposals. which he has in mind in
relation 10 the reorganization Of the line OF The
Navy. will enbody the same principle Of non
partisanship. The Navy, like the Army, ought
10 be kept absolutely out of politics, especially
in matters Of detail and promotion. The re-
port. as Il whole. contains indubtable evidence
OF the symmetrical development Of the naval
resources Of the Nation. We congratulate Pres
ident Cleveland and his party upon having at
least one Cabinet officer who thoroughly under
stands what he is about. and is doing thor
Oughly good administrative work