Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-25
BUYING SHIPS FOR THE WAR.
Assistant Secretary Aliens Report
shows That the Best Possible
Bargains We're Made.

WASHINGTON. Nov. IA clear. cou-
else and business-Iike statement Of SO mucn
OF the operations of the navy department
during the war as related TO the procure
ment and care of ships and generally TO
the material. is provided in the annual re-
port OF Assistant Secretary Allen just made
public. Among other duties, the assistant
secretary was charged with the procure
ment Of vessels for the auxiliary navy. He
says this work was managed with the ut
most care. not only as to the quality of
ships, but also as TO the price paid. and lie
ComElends the intelligence and fidelity OF
the board headed by Captain Rodgers.
which Inspected the vessels purchased. He
declares that in making the purchases Of
vessels, the same care for the govern
ments interest on the financial side was
exercised as would be the case with Il
private case. with an effort in every case
to make the best bargain possible.
In numerous instances. the department
paid Very much less than the price asked
10: the shlps, n in some cases less than
the price recommended by the inspection
board. In the beginning, Mr.. Allen says,
IL was possible thai prices We're higher
than could nave been secured if il had
been practicable to wait for competition.
but true economy and the best interests
o! the government made il the correct
policy TO pay u higher price for 4 vessel
when her services were vitality needed
rather than suffer the governments in
terests to be jeopardized by waiting for Il
low r price.
In leaving This branch Of his report he
refers with pleasure 10 the generous pa
iriotism of the friends of the government
"a It's time of need. naming Mr.. +. August
Scfermerhorn and 9r. w. Il. Hearst. who
had offered 10 the government their pri-
Naie yachts, Free Lance and Buccaneer.
respectively.
The organization of the auxiliary naval
force. as well as the purchase of the ships.
We conducted by the assistant secretary's
office. and the report shows that. OH this
account. but S.20,6S9 was expended. out of
an appropriation of S3,COO.OC0.
1t Is said that the sword of honor which
congress directed to be presented TO Ad-
miraI Dewey is now being made in ac-
cordance with Tiffany's design. which in
the commission for medals of honor to the
men of Dewey's fleet has been given 10
Daniel Chester French.
me assistant secretary speaks in terms
OF highest praise of the naval war college,
which he says has rendered valuable sery-
ice in stimulating our officers of high rank
to professional advancement and in the coll
lection and arrangement of professional in
formation. To this end he says the most
important step is the transfer of the col
leSe from its Present location at Newport
TO annapolis, whore il will form a post
graduate course for the naval academy.
MIR. Allen says that the naval militia
system reveals the inherent weakness OF
MS organic system under the severe stress
OF the demo:Istrated fact that the country
IS absolutely in need of a proper naval re-
serve which can be promptly modified
under the call Of the president.
Like Captain Crowninshield. he thinks
that this reserve should be comDossd of
seafaring men, and whose status should b..
that of a body directly under the control of
the federal government. Such a force
should be no divided authority. About 5000
men in addition to those now in service
would be required TO completely man our
navy when the ships under construction
are completed, and even at present provis-
ion should he made for one-hal of that
number, or 1908 men. These 1900 reserve
men could be enrolled from the naval mil
itiamen who saw service in the Spanish
war. supplemented by enrolment from the
seafarinS places TO whom the amount of
pay during service. the transportation 10
and from their practice stations and the
uniforms furnished would be "a sufficient
inducement. The cost to the government
would be $1i.G0. and Mr.. Allen submits
the drafts of i bill to carry out his views
on this point.