Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-07
SECRETARY LONG CRlFlClSES
REWARD SYSTEM,
JUSTICE FOR WAR HEROES
Recommendations for an Increase OF
the Navy by Eighteen New War
ships-Mere Liberal Appropriations
for Armor Plate, $500 a Ton Being
Too Small Price,

port OF the secretary VI lllS A1NN - ~
document OF unusual interest. dealing
not only with the work of the navy
during the past year and important
recommendations for the future, bus
also discussing the most important
questions concerning the navy, the au-
thorizing OF eighteen new warships,
the imperative need of special leSis-
lation in the early days Of congress for
armur of the best quality that can be
obtained and the proposition that the
thanks of congress be given To Admiral
sampson, commander-iu-chief of the
north Atlantic squadron and the Of
tfcerS and men under his command for
the part they took in the naval opera
lions at Santiago.
These larger items of the report re-
ceive extended attention ut the hands
Of Secretary Long. AS to the increase
of the navy he says: The number
of large swift, and powerful armored
cruisers of great coal endurance in
our navy is largely disproportionate
to the rest of the naval establishment,
The experience Of last year has also
shown the need of several smaller yes
sells usually classed as gunboats 1t is
therefore recommended that congress
be requested to authorize the construc-
ton Of the following vessels: Three
armored cruisers of about 10000 tons
trial displacement, of maximum draft
at deep load not to exceed &c feet, car
rying the heaviest armor and most
powerful ordnance for vessels of their
class to be SO shathed and coppered as
to have the highest practicable speed
and great radius of action. Twelve
gunboats, of about 900 tons trial dis
placement, to be sheathed and cop
pered. Three protected cruisers of
about 5000 tons trial displacement
carrying the most powerful ordnance
for vessels of this class to be shcathed
and coppered, and to have the highest
practicable speed, and great radius of
action"
The secretary adds to this connection
that the 5000 tons protected cruisers
are considered better adapted to the
present needs of the navy than the
5000 ton ships recommended last year
He also asks that If satisfactory bids
cannot be obtained for the new ships
authority be given to build them at the
United States navy yards.
The secretary's reference and recon-
incubation Of last year for change in
the present law for rewarding officers
for conspicuous conduct in battle and
for extraordinary heroism. Theinjusticr
of the present system is apparent, The
promotion of an officer over the heads
of other officers operates as reduc-
ton Of the latter in rank and also de
lays them in securing the increased
pay which accompanies regular rise in
grade In other words, the promotion
is made not at the expense of the gov
eminent, which should bear it, but at
the expense of the unfortunate officers
who are over-slaughed and who are
thus punished. although faithful to
every duty and only unfortunate in
lacking the opportunity for conspcu-
Gus conduct or heroism,
The spirit of the navy is 50 gooc.
that ! am sure this Is painful to the
officer promoted as well as the officer
reduced. The department therefore
again urges that legislation be enacted
providing that advancement in rank
for services rendered during the war
with Spain shall not interfere with the
regular promotion of officers otherwise
entitled to promotion and that officers
so advanced to higher grade by reason
Of war service shall be carried as adj
dtional to the number in each grade
to which they have been promoted
The department submitted to congress
at its last session bill substantially
to this effect, which is printed as
senate bill No. 5006, and to which at
tention is invited.
THE most important question per
tanning to naval construction at the
present time and one that demands
prompt attention" says Secretary
Long, as that OF the armor for vessels
now building, and for others authorlz-
ed but not yet contracted for under the
provision act Q. March 3. 1899 pro-
hibting the department from contract
| ing for the vessels therein authorized
until contract has been made for the
armor therefor within 5000 ton. The
price fixed Is one for which even in
ferior armor cannot be obtained, and
the department has therefore been I'M
able to invite proposals for the three
battleships and the three armored
cruisers authorized by the act of
March 3, 1899.'
The secretary says that $500 a ton
probably will buy armor made by the
ordinary good, Is not the best, and the
department does not therefore consider
! ii suitable for vessels OF the maine
class After pointing out the features
OF the new process Of making armor
and it's adoption by the leading mari
time nations except the United States
States, he says:
The department desires to make use
Of such armor for the vessels now
building which are yet unsupplied with
armnr and for the armOred vessels