The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-09

, cut down very heavily the estimates Of the
bureaus before submitting them: and. az
Chairman CUMMINGS well says. the Secre-
tary's long service on the House Naval
Committee had peculiarly fitted him for
that task. Take. for example. the esti-
mates OF the Chief Of Bureau Of Yards and
Docks. They called for ss,567, sci .66. But
Mr.. HERBERT cut the proposed outlay on the
Brooklyn Navy Yard from S1.7ss. 661.92
down TO $4,000: then he chopped the
League Island estimate Of q, 331 ,O4O 80 down
to $4,000; next he allowed but s110,965.77
out OF 81. 167. $50 asked for the Norfolk yard;
IRON that he proceeded TO reduce the ST.
S57. sO7.O5 OF the Mare Island yard to s37,O19.
while the estimate OF SIS, 4s4.9i for Port
Royal station dwindled to $1s,36S.
We need not go further into detail to
illustrate the point that II. after 30 vigor-
GUS an exercise of the pruning knife by the
Secretary, Mr.. CUMMINes's committee has
still been able to lop OF s2.67O. 1882 from
these estimates. what remains may safely
be accepted by Congress as representing
current needs Of the navy.
But there Is still another way OF looking
at the matter. not less suggestive. For
armor and armament the estimates ask
fo.JOO,UOUt anu tHb DlI ACTUALLY
81. OOo,OOo Even the latter amount is very
large. but on examining the reason for it
we find that last year nothing at all was
allowed for this item. although the
estimates had called for S2,O00,OO0.
We further find that Mr.. HERBERT's
report. as Chairman OF the House
Naval Committee at that time. ex-
planned that unlooked-for delays in the
manufacture OF armor had occurred. so that
the appropriations made in previous years
would cover all demands for armor and
armament, and nothing more was needed.
This year. however, Secretary HERBERT re-
ported that the facilities for making armor
have been VASTLY improved" so that it
would probably come forward at the rate OF
more than $50 tons a month. 1T is due
to this rapid increase in the rate Of deliv-
cry" he proceeds to say, that the large
item for armor and armament is presented
to Congress in the estimates CT this year.
as the money will be needed before the end
OF the next fiscal year to pay for the mate
rial actually delivered"
1t is seen, therefore. that this item alone,
absolutely needed to fulfil contracts al
ready entered into makes a difference be-
tween the present bill and its predecessor OF
81, 000. 900. and thatit not only fully accounts
for the entire difference between them. but
covers, also. n balance OF over $4,000.
which would otherwise represent a greater
economy in this years bill. But can the
committee safely cut down to $4,000 900 the
Sc. 100000 estimated for this item? With
out going into the exact particulars, 1t
may be said that tabulated statements
and explanations given by the report indI-
cate that the amount in the present bill will
be sufficient until new legislation at the next
session Is obtained. The more rigid inspec-
ton OF plates lately enforced by the Navy
Department. and the time required for APP
plying the HARVEY process to armor OF diff
ferert shapes. will. 1t Is thought. delay the
deliveries Of armor longer than had been
anticipated. This Is understood to be the
Wow OF the Navy Department also.
Congress. therefore. will make no mis-
take In providing the very moderate
amounts called for by this bill. The recon-
struction OF the navy Is work OF the high
est Importance. which has been pushed on
with creditable vigor during the last ten or
twelve years. Fortunately even the pend
ing measure. by diverting old sppropria-
lions for a second pneumatic cruiser and a
submarine craft to the construction Of four
torpedo boats. is able to do its part In the
work. by providing. also. for giving
modern battery and new machinery to the
Hartford. it practically adds another vessel
to the active list. and one around which I'm
perlshablo historic memories cluster. Per-
maps when the bill reaches the Senate
way will be found by which it may do still
more for new construction without seriously
burdening the Treasury.