The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-25
PURCHASE OF SHIPS DURING VAR.
Assistant Secretary Allen's RepOrt-lte-
 organization of Naval Reserve.

organization of Naval Reserve.
 Washington, Nov. 24-A clear con-
 else and business like statement of so
 much of the operations of the navy de-
 partment during the war as relates to
 the procurement and care of ships, and
 generally to the material, is provided in the annual report of Assistant Sec
 reary Allen just made public. Among other duties the assistant secretary
 was charged with the procurement of vessels for the auxiliary navy. He de- clares that in making the purchase Of vessels the same care of the govern- ment's interest on the financial side was exercised as would be the case with private case with an effort in every case to make the lest bargain
 possible. In numerous instances the department paid very much less than the price asked for ships and in some
 cases less than the price recommended by the inspection board. In the be- ginning MT. Allen says, it was possible that prices were higher than could
 have been secured if it had been prac- ticable to wait for competition. But
 true economy and the best interests of
 the government made it the correct
 policy to pay higher price for a yes sel when her services were vitaly needed rather than suffer the govern ment's interest to be jeopardized by waiting for lower price. Not very long after the purchasing began, the com petition to supply ships became very active and the department was then enabled to get vessels at very reason able prices. MT. Allen had declared open to public inspection all the cor respondence relating to the purchase of these vessels and their price.
 Dewey's Sword.
 MT. Allen refers briefly to the charter of the four fine vessels of the American line, which, he said, performed valuble service for both the army and the navy,
 and he said that in the settlement with the company he believed the govern ment saved a considerable amount of money by paying the company lump sum as an equivalent for the excuse of placing the ships in condition, The or-
 ganization of the military naval force
 as well as the purchase of ships was conducted by the assistant seeretary's
 office and the report shows that on this amount $720,639 was expended out of the appropriation of 8 ,000,0 It is said
 that the sword of honor which congress directed 10 be presented to Admiral Dewey is now being made in accord
 ance with Tiffanys design while the
 commission for the medals of honor to
 the men of Dewey's fleet, has .een giV- en Daniel Chester French. A suggestion is made that a heroic statue of the late
 Admiral Porter be erected in Franklin Square in this city at a cost of $5I ,G1D. Reorganization of Naval Reserve. MT. Allen says that the naval militia system revealed the inherent weakness of it's organic system under the severe stress of the war, and demonstrated
 the fact that the country is absolutely
 in need of proper naval reserve,
 which can be promptly lnobiliZcd under the cal of the president. Like Captain Crcwninshie!d, he thinks thar this le- serve should be composed of saafarins men and that it's status should be that of a body directly under tle con- tToi of the federal government. Such force should be maintained cut of tho federal appropriation and there should be li) divided authority. About 9.g00
 men in addition to those now in service
 wuuid be required to complote,y ran
 o'lr navy when the ships under con- struction are completed, and even at present provision should be made for one-half that number, or 4000 men. These 4000 reserve men could be en- rolled from the naval militia, men who saw service in the Spanish war, sup plemented by enrolment from the sea- faring places to whom the amount of pay during service, the transportation
 to and from their practice stations. and the uniforms furnished, would be suf ficient inducement. The cost to the gov ernment would be $144 900 and MT. Allen submits the draft of a bill to carry out his views on this point.
 Eap