The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-04

iset. tnc,aasnw these nov assEins ecEapses.on;.
viii eorststzts a 9eet wascA X = eeaef@-
IL suf4cisnf for ordtaary Cruising Ear
compete. and n eoa-se u construction
hut tou- Srxt-eiaxs o8tsse<a&vs ard oEt teN sos-
fs1q 5extss II We are % have 1avy ~ w.
Ike er@raslcng. offensive AID Gete2slses
eersasa2y oughs 10 increase botn tie number o.
hzftlesh2ps and tarf@1e bcass~ lie nsa &c
tu-s o. srr7of requires an expSasiye pifnt 80
fhs sgEre gsskoa Of Ena-sy skssAe1 workrIeh ~
the srno- necessary % complete the vessels
nov kEkokaS viii oe delivered oeteEe f1e Ast
et June nsxE II ne new contracts sEs EaVsa
cut sas contractors uusx et~hsc2 taesr WoTk-
rsez and thas- pisHss must lie ida Tbs osstle-
ships authorised o. tais tine would nof % sstA
under way u1ui ate IN sns coming nsc&l year.
and at east fs-es yssrs a1d hall from TIE eats
Of tire contract would bs required for tHstr
completion. The secretary ssstes saAt nct
more than Is per cent o. tia ecss OF suca snaps
Ing year. Irecom mend that provision be male
Tor TIE construction Of sdtisonI eaki1eships
and torpedo boats
The secretary recommends the msnufactrre
not only OF ordnance and ordnance mat sEisl or
shtps for the navy. bus supply for fae suxill-
AIRY 1sst Guns and their sppnrtenaness
Should ps provided ard kept On hand ter both
these purpossS We have today Eof singe
gun that could Be put OF tie shfps Paris or
New YORK. Of the Iniernatsoaal Naysgstlon
C0mpsry or any other snip Of our resexy navy-
The manufacture Of guns af tee Washington
City navy yard Is rrocae ling satssfac orssy, and
none Of cur new ships viii 10 required 20 wsRs
for their guns o. ordinances equipment
Az important order has been issued hy me
secretary OF the navy. eo-ordilsttng the duties
strucsien Of ships. This order viii. 1t IS De-
iievsd, secure 10 a greater extent shaa has here
tcfors been possible the harmonious action OF
these several bureaus snd make the sttalnmens
Of the best results more esrtsln-
During the past 1scal year there hss been an
unusual and pressing demand In many quarters
Of toe world for ths presence OF vessels TO guard
American interests. In January last, during
the Brsx Ian insurrecton. = large feet was con-
eentratei IL thu harbor Of Rio do Janiero. The
vigorous action OF Rear Admiral Benhsm IN
protecting the personal AMI commercial rights
OF our citizens during tae disturbed conditions
afforded results which Will, il is believed, have
iar-rssehiug and wholesome influences when
ever, IN ike circumstances. IL may become nee
esssry for eur naval commanders 10 interfere
on behalf OF our people in foreign ports. The
war in progress between China and Japan has
rendered IL necessary or sxpedient 10 dispatch
eight vessels to these waters.
Both the secretary OF the navy and the secTe-
taty OF the treasury recommend the transfer OF
the Work OF fhe coast survey proper 20 the navy
department. ] heartily concur IN this recon-
mendetion. Excluding Alaska and very small
area beside, aiitAe work OF mapping anu chart
ing OUT the coast has been com pleted. The hy-
geographic WORK. which must be done over and
over again By reason OF the shifting and varying
depths of water conesQQ snb upon the action OF
streams and tides has heretofore been done
under the direction OF thu naval officers in
subord!uatioa 20 tie superintendent OF the
coast survey. There seems 70 be no good reason
why tho navy should not take entire charge
hereafter OF such work. especially as the hydro
graphic 0f3es Of tAs navy department is now
and has Hean for many years snga red in max
ing efficient maps entirely similar to those pre-
pared by the coastSuryey.
feel is my imperative duty TO call attention
10 the recommendation Of the secretary ia re-
gard 10 the personnel of the line OF the navy.
The stagnatlon OF promotion in this. the vital
branch OF the service, is so great to seriously
impair its efficiency. / consider it of the Ut
most i'm portance that the young aud middle
aged officers should before the age OF retire.
ment be permitted 10 reach = grade emitting
them - active and in poTtant duty.
The system adopted lev years ago regulating
the employment of labor az navy yards IS rigidly
upheld and has fully demonstrated its useful-
ness and efficiency. Il IS within TIE domain Of
civil service reform, iuasmgch as workmea are
employed through a board OF labor selected st
each navy yard, and given work without
reference 10 politics ana in the order OF their
application, preference, however, being given
to army and navy veterans aud those having
former uavy-yaF1 experience Amendments
suggested by ex nerience have been made TO the
rules regulating the system. Through Its opera
tion the work sf our navy yards has been greatly
improved in efficiency. aad she opportunity 10
work has been vastly and fairly awarded %
wiling and competent applicants. 1t is hoped
that 1t this system continues TO be strictly ed-
hersd TO there viii soon be, ss . natural conse-
quence, such an equalization Of party benefit
viii remove all temptation 70 raiax or Gbsn-
don IL