Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-12-14

for their guns or ordnance equipment.
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 or SHIPS
| This order, it is believed, VIII secure 10
| a greater extent than has heretofore
| been possible the harmonious acton OIL
these several bureaus and make the at
tainment of the best results more GER
tain.
| PROTECTING AMERICANS.
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 Ameri-
can interests. In January last.
| during the Brazilian instruction, a
large aeet was concentrated in the har-
| Dor of Rio de Janeiro. The vigorous
action of Rear Admiral Benham In pro-
tecting the personal and commercial
rights of our citizens during the dis
turbed conditions afforded results
which will, IL is believed. have far
reaching and wholesome influence
whenever. in like circumstances, II may
become necessary for our naval com
manders to interfere on behalf or our
people in foreign ports.
The war now in progress between
China and Japan has rendered IL neces~
sary or expedient to dispatch eight YES
sells to those waters.
The secretary of the navy and the sec
rotary of the treasury recommend the
transfer of the work of the coast sur
vey proper to the navy department.
heartily concur in this recommends
ton. Excluding Alaska, and very
small area besides, all the work of map
ping 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 consequent up
on the action of streams and tides, has
heretofore been done under the direc-
ton of the naval officers IN subordina-
ton to the superintendent of the coast
survey. There seems to be no good rea-
son why the navy should not have en-
tire charge hereafter of such work. es-
pecially as the photographic Office of
the navy department Is now, and has
been for many years, engaged in max
ing efficient maps entirely similar to
those prepared by the coast survey.
RAPID PROMOTIONS.
I feel it my imperative duty to call at
tention to the recommendation of the
secretary in regard to the personnel of
the line of the navy The stagnation of
promotion in this, the vital branch of
the service. is so great as to seriously
impair it's efficiency. / consider 1t of
the utmost Importance that the young
and middle-aged officers should, before
the eve of retirement, be permitted to
reach grade emitting them to active
and important duty.
NAVY YARD MATTERS.
The system adopted a few years ago
regulating the employment of labor at
the navy yards Is rigidly upheld and has
fully demonstrated its usefulness and
efficiency. 1t is within the domain of
civil service reform, inasmuch as work
men are employed through a board of
labor selected at each navy yard and are
given work without preference for poll
tics and in the order of their applica-
ton, preference, however being given
to army and navy veterans and those
having former navy yard experience.
Amendments suggested by experience
have been made to the rules regulating
he system. Through its operation the
work at our navy yards has been
greatly improved in efficiency, and the
opportunity to work has been vastly
and fairly awarded to willing and COM
petent applicants.
1t Is hoped that if this system con-
tinues to be strictly adhered to, there
will soon be- as a natural consequence.
such an equalization of party benefit as
will remove all temptation to relax or
abandon it.