New-York tribune., 1896-01-09
INCREASE or THE NAVY.
SECRETARY HERBERT APPEALS TO
CONGRESS.
Hr ASKS AUTHORITY TO ENLIST 1000 MEN AND TO
CHARTER PRIVATE VESSELS IL AN EMER-
crxcv covsrrr-C.rro& or FOUR


CHARTER PRIVATE VESSELS IN AN EMER-
ENcY-coNsTEUcTIoN OF FOUR
MORE BATTLE-SHIPs FAVORED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuYEl
Washington. Jan. The Navy Department
to-day caused stir he by forwarding to Con-
gress a communication. urging the granting OF
authority to enlist more sailors. to press into
service in time Of emergency members OF the
Naval Militia. and TO charter private Vesseis
when necessary. Coming on the heels Of recent
war talk. the letter has attracted more than
usual notice It is a wcll-known fact that the
Navy is now short handed. but Mr. Herbert Is
not only looking To- the present, but Is consid-
ering the future one cection Of "A bill he pro-
poses 10 Congress reads as follows:
Whenever an exgency may exist which In the
judgment of the President renders th'ir s,br
necessary the Secretary Of the Navy Is iurther
authorized to enlist for period or Two Years uIr
sooner discharged such OF the Naval Militia as may
be- required for the purpose OF manning trs''s as
under laws row existing or under the AUTHORITY
conferred 10y Section Of this resolution The irssi.
mem So enlisted shall be discharged whenever in
the Judgment OF the President the eXigehcK un" h'
which their services were required SHdA H''N
passed.
Another section provides:
That it, upon the enlistment o. men for temporary
second section Of this resolution. it shall appear
necessary the Secretary Of the Navy Il hereby an,
nflrrrs NOT NO abov" the rank OF lieutenant may
bo requisite the Efficient organzail3n ana anu cU, h
officers shall serve only during the continuance OF
the eXgcncy under which mex ne,cers SO ap-
quirod and provided fuither tnh' DIN Din, a,i, and
pointed shall be assigned to duty WIN Win ranh r anu
pay Of the grades established pN eN'S''"s INV
The Secretary also proposes
That whenever in the Judgment Of the President
exgency exists rendering such acuh,n6 acuon na1' -
sary the SECRETARY Of the Navy IS rat Teaa~
vessels which may be required Tor the "a, sunh
poriaton Of troops or ior o,mv' d psnch terms and
conditions as may bc deemed proper foI 'ne p'o-
lection OF the public interests.
SUPPORTING HIS RECOMMENDATIONS.
In support of hts recommendations. the Sec
retary says that the number II men authori"en
hy existing law to be enlisted in the Navy
is barely sufficient to equip vessels wh'h are At
any one time in commission. II new Vcssel Il
t. b. sen, g. sea- some ship I'm service. he SAYS;
must g ont II commission ana IN" '"l.S''i
men on the one %" transferred 20 the Nti,'''
Il by reason of any pull eXlgency IL 'f'"ir ~
come necessary 10 place all thr N'Ss''' ~, NJ
Navy in actual service. il would d. linp'@Sl"'r
- Do s., for want - ews To- man thrm anu
there docs not appear t. br any auih'Ily ni'"'i
which the President or 'ry u me craNS
could I'm such case ncreas" the enlisted IL IL
even temporarily. - meet an en"rgrn'N. me
necessity g., additional men In IN" Navy MI.
Herbert points out Is now greater thah ~ ""'
n,h.r lin. i'm recent years His recommendations
for An increase are base. on car"tul 'tI'u"-
tion Of the needs u th' service.
Congress last year authorized an addition "i
900 men only. although 1000 were asked i'r'
In using his force. the Department having nh"
regard for economy. did not enlist IN" inl nun,
l.~ of men until they Wei- imprratiN"ly n''hrl'
but with the completion ~ the crew "f me IL
diana the entire 1000 had To be- mustered "a
Considering the constantly recurring '.n"Fgencls
of the service. and the number II vessels So
Ia he placed In commission the necessity f"F
enlistment of 1000 more men is again uie"1.
In order 10 render ;hc pr posed measur" com
plcie and 10 make reasonable provision i'r
emergencies which may a: any moment occur
ana which might arise At q tim" when congress
Is not IN session. tn S,c-"iaiy asks that Ut"
President he empowered when occasions are
SUN GENTLY grave To- warrant such action o. en-
list tn" Naval Militia and others. ana q appoint
and commission such additional Officers not
above the rank II lieutenant rs may hr r'-
nuirod for the purpose u manning and officer
Inc vessels " the Navy not having full crews
and such other ships rs may hc called INTO
carry into effect tn" recommending Ions - the
Secretary provides further that the services Of
the officers and mer aboy" referred T. shall he
dispensed with whenever the emergency under
which they were employed shall hnv" passed.
The desirahty # the enactment II some pro-
vision Of law authorizing the Secretary ~ the
Navy I'm cases II emergency to charter private
vessels for temporary service Is strongly urged
by MIR. Herbert
BATTLE-SHIPS AND TORPEDO-BOATS.
In response to the Quay resolution requesting
Information ns TO whether the Navy Depart
ment deemed it advisable to build six battle
ships instead Of the two authorized by the last
Congress on the basis Of the bids submitted for
these two Secretary Herbert sent to tn" Senate
to-day n long letter the subjcc' After in
forming the Senate that contracts for both the
battle-ships authorized have already been
awarded to the Newport News Shipbullding and
Drydock Company. the Secretary says that the
l. lfea
mend that any bids received and not accepted
should be further considered. because II sees ~
reason why. If other ships are row authorized,
the building of them should not also be open 10
competitions Since the Departments plans for
battle-ships have been completed, and as all the
contractors I'm the United States have had op-
portunity to inspect these plans. and as they
have been examined by all those able 10 build
the ships. the Secretary thinks there seems to be
no reason why any delay should occur in letting
contracts for new ships to be authorized by TINS
Congress If an advertisement for new bids for
bat ships were issued. hr says. ten days from
date thereof for receiving and opening the bids
would give ample time and opportunity for com
petition. Under such an advertisement the De-
partmcnt would also. a. in Ike cases heretofore.
call for bids on plans Of bidders. and any plans
heretofore prepared by bidders might be resub-
mitted on the new BIDS
The Secretary calls attention to the fact that
IN his recent annual report he had recommended
that three additional batte-snips be authorized.
and he says the Department would be glad TO
have authority to build four ships such were
CONTEMPLATED In the Senate resolution. Plans
for torpedo boats Nos. g. and have also been
examined by contractors. and the Secretary sees
no objection to making contracts for the add-
tional torpedo boats recommended in his annual
report N the ba7is of these plans. Bids for these
could also be opened on ten days notice.
Concerning probability that Congress. II It
authorizes twelve more torpedo boats, should
limit the number which one firm might be per-
mtted to construct the Secretary recommends
that the lots into which each individual bidders
share is divided sh' uld not be too small for the
reason that the larger number OF boats secured
L.. nne firm the cheaner the price for each will