Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-25
SUPPLEMENTING THE NAVY
Purchase Of Ships and Work Of the Re
serve.
Report of Assistant Secretary Allen
Why High Prices Had to Be
Paid for Vessels.

Assistant Secretary Allen has made re-
port to the Secretary Of the Navy in regard
to the purchase of ships and material, the
naval reserve etc, during the Spanish war.
What 1 wish to emphasize especially"
says Mr.. Allen, sis the fact that no vessel
was purchased until after it had been thor
oughly inspected and had been pronounced
thoroughly satisfactory by officers whose
professional training made them experts
"Attention is called to the fact, which
may not be generally known, that in Ire
purchase Of these vessels the same care for
the governments interests on the financial
size was exercised as would be the case
witis private individual or cerpo1 alton,
with the eff2r., in cry case. to make the
best bargain possible. In the full tabCla ted
detailed statement which / have furnished
Tor your report, OF Tie number OF auxiliary
vessels purchased, comprising the original
name, the price asked the price recon-
mended and the price finally paid, numer
Gus instances VIII pc found where the cost
to the department was very much less than
the original price asked, sometimes indeed
less than the price a which the purchase
Was recommended by the board. When we
began the purchase Of these vessels there
was scarcely any compel ition, and it is DOS
sible that prices were higher than could
Lave been secured if it had been practicable
10 wait until competition brought lower
neures. But 1t must be remembered that
the law OF supply and demand holds for the
government as well as for private indi-
Fiduals, and that true economy and the
best interests of the government made it
the correct policy to pay a higher price for
a vessel when her services were vitality
needed rather than to suffer the govern
ment interests To be ieopardlZed by wait
ing Tor lower price Not very long after
the purchasing began the competition to
supply ships became very active and the
department was then Enabled to get vessels
at very reasonable prices.
Donated to the Government.
"As an example of the generous patriot
ism of friends of the government at the
! time of its need it is pleasure to record
the TACT that two of the vessels added TO
the auxiliary fleet were the free and uncon-
ditional gift of the owners. The Free Lance
early in the war was offered by Mr.. +.
Augustus Schermerhorn, accepted by the
department, put into commission at once
and gave excellent service throughout the
war. The Buccaneer was generously given
by Mr.. w. r. Hearst, who also paid for
the exterior alterations necessary to fit her
for service. Both these vessels were re-
stored to their owners as soon as practical
BILE after the signing Of the armistice."
me assistant secretary speaks in terms of
highest praise of the Naval War College
which, he says. has rendered valuable serv-
ice IA stimulating our officers of high rank
70 professional advancement and in the col
iection ana arrangement of professional in
formation, so as to render 1t of the highest
value to our officers He believes that the
institute should be encouraged, and every
thing done to render it still more efficient
anu userui. 10 this end he says the most
important step is the transfer of the col
ege from its present location at Newport
to Annapolis, where it will form post
graduate course for the Naval Academy.
The Naval Militia.
Mr.. Allen says that the naval militia sys-
| TEN revealed the inherent weakness of its
organic system under the severe stress of
the demonstrated fact that the country is
absolutely IN need of 4 proper naval re-
! serve, winch can be promptly modified I'M
der the call of the President He says this
reserve sho lid be composed of seafaring
men, whose status should be that of body
directly under control of the federal gov
eminent. About 5000 men, in addition TO
nose now IN service. would be required to
Hoihpietely man our navy when the ships
unuer construction are completed and even
a. a. present provision should be made for one
nan OF that numbers, 600 men. These 1900
reserve men could be enrolled from the ma
val mllitiamen who saw service in the Span-
be S144. 900. : II
statue to Admiral Porter.
onder the provisions of en- act of Con-
gress of May 4, 1885, board WIS convened
70 consider the matter Of the erection Of a
statue to the late Admiral David D. Porter.
ihis board consisted of the assistant secre-
tary' Admiral Francis M.(Rauisay, retired,
and Prof Marshall Oliver Various meet
ings were held, but as there were no funds
available 1t was impossible to invite de-
signs from sculptors. The board has al
ready recommended that a bronze statue of
aun!ii a. Forter OF heroic size should be
erected to be placed upon a2grariite pedestal,
I'M, IN, latter being enriched with -four medal
lions COMMUNICATING notable events in the
NE OF Admiral Porter. The board also rec
commended Franklin Square AZ suitable
locality for the statue, utilizing the mound
near the northeastern corner of the park.
II Is recommended that Congress be asked
70 appropriate 100000 to meet all the ex-
penses incident to the design and erection
Of such statue