The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-04

for that event
The Postmaster General renews the sug-
Festion made in a previous report that the
department organization be increased 20
the extent Of creating a direct district
supervision OF all postal affairs, and in
this suggestion I fully concur
There are now connected with the post
Office establishment. S2.ssl employees. who
are in the classified service. This includes
many who have been classified upon the
suggestion OF the Postmaster General
He states that another years experience
at the head Of the department serves
serves only 10 strengthen the conviction
as to the excellent working Of the civil
service law in this branch OF the public
service.
Attention is called 20 the report Of the
Secretary Of the Navy. which shows very
gratifying progress in the construction
Of ships for our new navy All the yes
sells now building. including the three tor
pedo boats. authorized al the last session
Of congress. excepting the frst-ciass bat
tleship Iowa, viii probably De completed
during the coming fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase Of the
navy for the year ending June 81, 1895, are
large. but they include practically the en-
tire sum necessary 10 complete and equip
all the new ships not now in commission.
so that unless new ships are authorized
the appropriations for the naval service
should fall below the estimates for the
coming year by at least Sl2.00000.
The secretary presents. with much
earnestness a plea for the authorization
Of three additional battleship and ten or
twelve torpedo boats. While the unarm-
ored vessels heretofore authorized, in
GLIDING those now nearing completion.
will constitute a fleet which is believed
is sufficient for ordinary cruising purposes
in time of peace, We have now completed
and in process of construction but four
frst-class battleships and but few torpedo
boats. If we are 10 have navy for war
like operations. offensive and defensive,
we certainly ought TO increase both the
number of battleships and torpedo boats
The manufacture of armor requires eX-
pensive plants and the aggregation Of
many skilled workmen. All the armOr
necessary TO complete the vessels now
building will be delivered before the list
of June next If no new contracts are
given out contractors must disband their
workmen and their plants must lie idle
Battleships authorized at this time would
not be well under way until late in the
coming fiscal year, and al least three
years and a half from the date of the
contract would be required for their COM
pletion. The secretary states that not
more than Is per cent. of the cost of such
ships need be included in the appropria-
tons for the coming year. I recommend
that provision be made for the construc-
ton of additional battlships and torpedo
boats.
The Secretary of the Navy recommends
the manufacture. not only of a reserve
supply Of ordnance and ordnance material
TO- the ships Of the navy. but also a supply
for the auxiliary fleet. Guns and their
appurtenances should be provided and
kept on hand for both these purposes
We have not to-day single gun that
could be put upon the ships Paris or New
York of the International Navigation
Company, or any other ship of our re-
serve navy. The manufacture of guns at
the Washington navy yard is proceeding
satisfactorily, and none Of our new ships
Will be required 10 wait for their guns or
ordnance equipment.
An important order has been issued by
the Secretary of the Navy. co-ordinatine
the duties of the several bureaus con-
cerned in the construction of ships This
order. IL is believed, will secure to a great
er extent than has heretoforD been possi-
bic the harmonious action of these several
bureaus and make the attainment of the
best results more certain. During the past
fiscal year there has been an unusual ana
pressing demand in many quarters of The
world for the presence of vessels to guard
American interests. In January last dur
ing the Brazilian Instruction a large
feet was concentrated in the harbor OF
Rio de Janeiro The vigorous action of
Rear Admiral Benham in protecting the
personal and commercial rights of our cit
liens during the disturbed conditions af-
forded results which will. it is believed
have far-reaching and wholesome fnfiu-
ence whenever in times circumstances il
may become necessary for our naval COM
manders TO interfere in behalf of our
people in foreign ports. The war now in
progress between China and japan has
rendered ii
patch eight vessels to those waters.
Both the Secretary of the Navy and
the Secretary of the Treasury recommend
the transfer Of the work of the coast sur
vey proper to the navy department.
neartly concur in this recommendation
excluding Alaska, and very small area
besides, all the work of mapping and
charting our coasts has been completed
me photographic work which must he
done over and over again by reason Of
the shifting and varying depths of water
consequent upon the action of streams
ana tldes, has heretofore been done under
the direction of naval officers in subordina-
tlon to the superintendent of the coast
survey. There seems to be no good rea-
son why the navy should not have entire
charge hereafter of such work, especially
as the photographic office of the navy de-
partment Is now, and has been for MANY
years, engaged in making efficient mana
entirely similar to those prepared nv tbn
coast survey.
l 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 irnnair
It's emciency l consider it Of the utmost
Importance that the young and middle
aged officers should, before the eve of re
urement, be permitted to reach a grade
emitting them to active and important
duty
The system adopted few Years ago
regulating the employment of labor AZ
the navy yards is rigidly upheld and has
1ulIy demonstrated its usefulness and ex-
pediency 1t is within the domain of civil
service reform, inasmuch as workmen are
employed through board of labor selected
AT each navy yard and are given work
without reference to politics and in the
order OF their application preference.
however, being given to army and navy
veterans and those having former navy
yard experiences. Amendments suggested
py experience have been made to the rules
regulating system. Through its opera
uon the work at our navy yards has been
vastly improved in efficiency, and the on
DOFlunlfV Crlr hoe -. ,