The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-04

that event. The postmaster general re-
news the suggestion nNde in a pre-
vious report that the department or
ganization be increased 70 the extent
OF creating d direct district supervision
OF all postal affairs, and In this sug-
gestion I fully concur.
There are connected with the post
office establishment 1861 employees
who are in the classified service. This
includes many who have classified on
the suggestion of the postmaster-gen-
eral. He states that another years ex-
perience at the head of the department
serves only to strengthen the convic-
ton as to the excellent working of the
civil service in this branch of public
service.
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.
Attention is called to the report of
the secretary of the navy which shows
very gratifying progress in the con-
structfon OF ships for our new navy.
AN the vessels now building, including
the torpedo boats authorized at the
last session of Congress, and excepting
the ffrst-c,ass battle ship Iowa, will
probably be completed during the COM
ing fiscal year The estimate for the
increase of the navy for the year end
ing June so, 1895, are large but they in
clude practically the entire sum neces-
sary to complete and equip all the new
ships now in the commission, so that
unless new ships are authorized the
appropriations for the naval service for
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1896,
should fall below the estimates for the
coming year by at least S12, 900, 000 The
secretary presents with much earnest
ness a plea for the authorization of
three additional battieships, and ten or
twelve torpedo boats. While the I'M
armoured vessels heretofore authorized
including these now nearing compile
ton. will constitute a fleet which it is
believed is sufficient for ordinary cruis-
ing purposes in time of peace, we have
now completed and in process of con-
struction but four first-class battleshlps
and but few torpedo boats. If we are
to have a navy for warlike operations
offensive and defensive, we certainly
ought to increase both the number OF
battleships and torpedo boats.
The Manufacture of Armor.
The manufacture of armor requires
an expensive plant and the aggrega-
ton of many skilled worl1men All the
armor necessary to complete the YES
sells now building will be delivered be-
fore the first of June next. If no new
contracts are given out. contractors
must df5band their workmen and theiI
plants must lie idle. BattleshiDs au-
thorized at this time woul not be well
under way until late in the coming fis-
cal year, and at least three years an6
a half from the date of the contract
would be required for their compile
tion. The secretary states that not
more than 10 per cent of the cost OF
oh or,
preparation for the coming year.
recommend that provision be made
for the construction of additional bat
tleships and torpedo boats. The secre-
tary recommends the manufacture not
only of ordnance and ordnance mater
ial for ships for the navy but a supply
for the auxiliary fleet. Guns and their
appurtenances should be provided and
kept on hand for both these purposes
We have not today a single gun that
could be put on the ships Paris or New
York of the Internatto Navigation
company, or any other ship of our re-
serve navy. The manufacture of guns
at the Washington navy yard is pro
ceeding satisfactorily and none of our
new ships will be required to wait for
their guns or ordnance equipments.
Duties of Naval Bureaus Co-ordi-
mated.
An important order has been Issued
by the secretary of the navy co-ordin-
ating the duties of the several bureaus
concerned in the construction of ships.
This order, it is believed, will secure to
a greater extent than has heretofore
been possible the harmonious action OF
these several bureaus and make the
attainment of the best results more
certain.
Guarding American Interests.
During the past fiscal year there has
been an unusual and pressing demand
In many quarters of the world for the
presence of vessels to guard American
interests. In January last, during the
Brazilian insurrection, q. large fleet was
concentrated in the harbor of Rio de
Janerio. The vigorous action of Rear
Admiral Bephann IN protecting the per-
sonal and commercial rights of our cit
liens during the disturbed conditions
afforded results which will, it is be-
lieved, have a far-reaching and whole
some influence whenever in like cir
cumstances it may become necessary
for our naval commanders to interfere
on behalf of our people in foreign ports.
The war now in progress between
China and Japan has rendered 1t nee
essary and eXpedient to dispatch eight
vessels to those waters.
The Coast Survey and the Navy.
Both the secretary of the navy and
the secretary of the treasury recon-
mend the transfer of the work of the
coast survey proper to the navy de-
partment I heartily concur in this
recommendation. Excluding Alaska, a
very small area besides all the work of
mapping and charting out The coast
has been completed The photographic
work, which must be done over and
over again by reason of the shifting
and varying depths of water conse-
quent upon the action of streams anC
tides, has heretofore been done under
the direction of naval officers In sub
ordination to the superintendent of the
Coast survey. There seems to be nc
good reasons why the navy should not
have entire charge hereafter of such
work, especially as the photographic
Office of the navy department is now
and has been for many years, engaged
in making efficient maps entirely SIM
liar to those prepared by the Coast
survey.
Personnel of the Navy.
| feel it my impera tive duty to cal
attention to the recommendation of the
secretary in regard to the personnel Of
the line of the navy. The stagnatlor
Of promotion in this the vital branch
of the service is SO great as to serious
ly impair the efficiency. L consider II
of the utmost Importance that the
young and middle aged officers should
before the eve of retirement, be per
mitted to reach a grade emitting then
to an active and important duty.
The system adopted few years age
regulating the employment of labor a
the navy yards is rigidly upheld. anG
has fully demonstrated its usefulness
and efficiency 1t is within the domain
of civil service reform inasmuch as
workmen are employed through G
board of labor selected at each navy
yard and are given work without pref
erence as to politics and in the ordel