Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03


pensive plant and the aggregation of man:
skilled workmen. All the armor necessary,
| to complete the vessels now building will
| be delivered before the LIST of June next.
/ IL no new contracts given out con-
tractors must disband their workmen and
their plants must lie idle. BattIeships au-
| thorized at this time would not be well
under way until lat, in the coming fiscal
| year, and at least three years and a half
from the date of the contract would be-
| required for their completion. The Sec.
rotary states that not more than Is per
cent Of the cost of such ships need be in
cluded in the appropriations for the COM
| ing year.
/ recommend that provision be made for
the construction of additional battlcslipss
| and torpedo boats.
Gums Wanted for the Reserve Navy.
The Secretary recommends the manufac-
ture not only Of reserve supply Of ord
nance and ordnance material for ships of.
| the navy. but also a supply for the auxili-
| airy fleet. Guns and their appurtenances,
should be provided and kept on hand for
both these purposes. We have not today,
single gun that could be put upon the
ships Paris or New York Of the Interna-.
tionai Navigation Company, or any other
ship OF our reserve navy.
The manufacture of guns at the WASH
ington navy yard is proceeding satisfactor-.
lily, and none of our new ships will be re-
quired to wait for their guns or ordnance
| equipment.
| An important order has been issued by
the Secretary Of the Navy co-ordlnating TIL,
| duties or the several bureaus concerned IN
the construction of ships. This order, 1t is
| believed, will secure to a greater extent.
| than has heretofore been possible tho
| harmonious action of .hese several bu--
| reaus and make the attainment of the
| best results m Ore certain.
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 insur-.
| rection, a large feet was concentrated in
the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. The vigorous
| action of Rear Admiral Benham in protect
ing the personal and commercial rights of
our citizens during the disturbed condi-
lions afforded results which WILL it is be-
| lieved. have a far-reaching and wholesome
| influence whenever In like circumstances
| 1t may become necessary for our naval
| comma nders to interfere on behalf Of our
| people in foreign ports. The war now in
progress between China and Japan has
rendered ii necessary or expedient to dis
patch eight vessels to those waters.
| The Navy Should Control the Coast
| Survey.
| Both the Secretary of the Navy and the
| Secretary of the Treasury recommend the
transfer of the work of the coast survey
| proper to the Navy Department l heartily
concur III this recommendation. Excluding
Alaska and a very small area besides all
the work of mapping and charting our
| ha. .oI
graphic work, which must be done over,
and over again. by reason of the shifting
and varying depths of water. consequent
| upon the action of streams and tides, has.
heretofore been done under the direc ton
| Of naval officers in subordination to the
| superintendent Of the coast survey. There
| seems to be no good reason 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 max
| ing efficient maps entirely similar to those
| prepared by the coast survey. l feel 1t,
my imperative duty to call attention to the
| recommendation Of the Secretary in re-
| gard to the personnel of the line of the
| navy. The stagnati ton Of promotion in this,
| the vital branch of the service. is 20 great
as to seriously impair its efficiency.
| i consider 1t of the utmost Importance
that the young and middle-aged officers
should, before the eve Of retirement. be-
| permitted to reach a grade emitting them
to active and important duty. =
Navy Yard Reform Works Well.
The system adopted few years ago
regulating the employment Of labor at the
navy yards is rigidly upheld, and has fully
| demonstrated its usefulness and expe-
| diency.
1t is within the domain of civn service
| reform, inasmuch as workmen are en-
| ployed through a board Of labor, selected
| at each navy yard. and are given work with
out reference to politics and in the order of
their application, preference however. be-
ing given &C army and navy veterans and
those having former navy yard expe-
rience.
Amen 1rnents. suggested by experience.
have been mado to the rules regulating the
system. Through it's operation the work at
our navy yards has been vastly improved
In efficiency, and the opportunity to work
has been honestly and fairly awarded to
willing and competent applicants.
1t is hoped that IL this system continues
to be strictly adhered to there will soon be.
as a natural consequence. such an equal
ization Of party benefit as will remove all
temptation to relax or abandon 1t.
Secretary Smith Commended.
The report Of the Secretary Of the In
terror exhibits the situation of the numer-
Gus and interesting branches of the pub
lie service connected with his depart
ment. i commend this report and the
valuable recommendations of the Secre-
tary to the careful attention of the Con-
gress.
The public land disposed Of during the
year amounted to 10. 4O6, lOO.71 acres. In
Guiding 2S,S76.O5 Of Indian lands.
1t is estimated that the public domain
still remaining amounts to little more
than 6OO,OOO,OO0 acres excluding, however.
about 360.OOO.OOO acres In Alaska, as well
as military reservations and railroad and
other selections of lands yet unadjudicated.
The total cash receipts from sale OF
lands amounted to $26142S5. including
sd 1881. 90 received for Indian lands.
Thirty-five thousand patents were Issued
for agricultural lands and thirty-one hum
dred patents were issred to Indians on
allotments Of their holdings In severalty.
the land so allotted being inalienable by