Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-29
Secretary Longs Recommended atoms.

Secretary Long has not been at the
head of the navy department many
months but he has definite ideas on at
least several features of the conditions
he finds. He is firmly convinced Of the
desira bility of making our navy effec-
tive in every sense of the word. The
vessels we have are the equals of any
in the world and he would have the
facilities for employing them to the
best advantage the next matter of SUI
preme consideration. He deems ade-
quate docking facilities an imperative
necessity and the reasons advanced
are commonly understood and unan-
swerable. He would also have the re-
pair shops thoroughly equipped and
suitable armament provided for what
vessels we have, all recommendations
suggested by common sense but which
owing to variety of causes probably
unavoidable have not received the at
tention deserved.
He asks for but one more battleship
the system seems to demand. He says:
Our remoteness from foreign powers,
the genius of our institutions, and the
devotion of our people to education,
commerce and industry, rather than to
any policy that involves military en-
tanglements. make war to be thought
of only as a last resort in defense Of
our rights. and our military and naval
establishments as police force for the
preservation of order and never for
aggression. While all this is, there
fore, an earnest of peace as the normal
condition of our national life, there is
no question of the necessity, the wis
dom, and the economy, to the same
end, Of an effective navy, in view of
the vast extent of our coast and the
possibility of attack from the sea upon
our great cities, where the concentra
ton of population and property is
enormous" He Furthermore wishes it
distinctly understood that considera BILE
expense is necessary to keep the navy
we have in good condition. THE build
pense, incurred once for all. But to
maintain it, to provide it with docks.
naval stations, and other necessary
facilities, to man and equip it, to keep
it in repair-in short. to run the naval
establishment-is. and must continue
to be, a large charge on the public
treasury, and, for time certainly, an
increasing one. Economy is necessary
at large and in detail not merely as a
good theory to proclaim, but as an
actual practice to perform
In other words he would have the
best as far as we go, not merely the
best ships with poor men and poor
ornaments and without sufficient
money to keep them in the best of con-
dition. A navy of this kind ready for
instant action, capable of striking it's
most effective blow at once he would
regard the most effective-and who
would not?
1t is not difficult to fancy that we
can read his opinion on the armor
question between the lines. The re-
Of ha cc;c tn
government armor plant has not Yet
been made, but we notice that in one
part of the report where he is consider
ing the demands for repairs he has this
to say, possibly, however, with no
thought of an armor plant in mind:
1T is impossible, however. to hold
these expenses at what they would be
if done under the competition and
under the longer hours and more ia
vorable conditions of private establish
ments, and the chief constructor, in his
estimates for the ensuing year, is
justified in asking for a larger appro-
priation under this head, especially as
the constant additions to the number
of vessels in the service necessarily in
wolves increased expenditures for care
and maintenance.
AS is generally known Secretary
Long is a firm believer in civil service
reform and in his report he takes oc-
aSiOn to emnhasize his views He
does believe, however, that pursuing
the policy of the administration to
treat soldiers and sailors literally, all
persons who served in the military or