The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-04

establishing coal depOts throughout the
T properp aoqH they se ocao Gd
modern conditions coal Is the very lie OF the
eency % obep wG she
helpless, The conditions existing at the out
break OF the war with Spain IN this respect
the Government of the United States has re-
Department has taken stops to provide In these
new possessions such facilities as the means
az ina for t9S %Sss q eos
with the necessary plants for making ordinary
repairs to vessels OF war"
CONSOLIDATION OF BUREAUS RECOMMENDED
In tho opinion OF the Department It would
be In the interest Of good business prsaniza-
bureaus OF Construction and Repair. steam
Engineering. and Equipment under one head.
The material Of the ship, II is an Integral work.
Of D ship, L IL made with one builder Il
Ia not given part to constructor OF hnlls,
part TO a steam engine manufacturer and part
enter into the work, are all under one head This
is the method Of private shipyards which build
sdminIstration Of three heads between whom
responsibility are liable TO arise. resulting II,
delays and too often In friction and lick oil
Each OF tho above bureaus has now. during
INSPECTORS az each yard consolidated bureau
could, OF course. be run much cheaper than
three bureaus, and great saving made by
reduction Of the now three separate working
forces. both clerical and mechanical, especially
Ia our navy yards. Fewer naval officers would
stead OF three. 40 that more officers would he
available for other duty. Under the present
system one bureau brings its work TO the point
not always ready for II. There IL necessarily
a lack OF Tint adaptation and harmony ofmoye-
consoldation were effected. the matter Of fur
nishins coal and other current supplies. which
nd o fSS sn of the BG to S 81
Bureau OF Supplies and Accounts. and such
other incidental changes made as became
THE terms Of office OF the chiefs OF the three
bureaus will all expire In little more than a
retired ist. and i Is due to them ali. as an as.
surance that the change Is recommended on
systematlc aud not personal grounds. 20 sug-
gest that II made II shall not go Into effect UNI
Ill the beginning OF the fiscal year after the ex-
piration OF their said terms"
"a 10 the number Of constructors be removed
and that II be left to the discretion OF the Sec
rotary to appoint to this corps. from graduates
OF the Naval Academy. such additional hsslSt-
ant constructors as the demands oil the SER
vice make advisable
NAVAL RESERVE.
The Department submitted bill TO the last
Congress for the organization q national
into law during the coming session. The navy
anont has increased TO such an extent as 70
be u reserve upon which TO call Ia time of war.
The officer in charge OF the naval militia In his
IN ,hs connsetion 10 When Sttemton Is in
vited. IL Is deemed TO be very important thnt
such TSssaTgSe the wHoe S9Insy
ready for call.
The Department approves the recommcnda-
n.li n
made to transfer the eighteen or nineteen VOL
unteer assistant surgeons. who served during
vice. to the regular Navy without limitation as
to age. This increase In the medical corps 10
in the mum Der Of snlistcd men in tho Navy and
Marine Corps. made at the last session oi Con-
gress. and the es,abl ishment OF new hospitals
In our recently acquired possessions.
THE ARMoR QUESTION.
The most important question. pertaining to
naval construction at the present time. and one
that demands prompt attention, Is that OF the
armor for vessels now building and for othcrs
authorized but not yet contracted for on ac-
lsa, prohibiting the Department from con.
contract has been made Tor the armor therefor
within $500 q ton. The price fixed IL ono f'.r
and The Department has therefore been unable
to invite proposals Tor the three hattleshlys
ard the three erm9rsd cruisers authorized by
There remain TO be contracted for 7.Ijs tons
Of armor for the Maine. OHIO aud Missouri.
These vessels are now building. and 1t il i'm.
perative that their armor should Ice contracted
for early In the comm year 10 delay u beyond
.hat 5ms ". h eESy nS n,s
OF competition Under existing laws $500 ton
may be paid for armor 'ot suitable quality"
parently buy the best armor. which for such
Nesse. Is, OF course. the only suitable armor.
nary n pro o Of face Sardenins. which. though
good. is no. the best. and the Department. hoes
not therefore consider II suitable for the vessels
In addition TO the 1856, tons OF, .armor
required for the Maine. Ohio and Missouri
three Gattieships an about 3. loo tons ior the
three armora,l cruisers aut horizcd by the act
OF March 3. 1897. q total Of about 2l.I5s tons
for. In order to attract bidders the Depart.
ment GROUPED together all the armOr re-
out the country inviting bids for -. 100 tons Of
armor plates and appurtrnances OF the kind
hs yeqv 'ST .ne NEW Hrssfs d ,h
period over which deliveries might extend. but
one bid was received, and that named price
greater than that authorized. and IL was other
wise an Irregular bid.
II Is uIgently recommended that In the early
days otNts next session Congress enact such
special legislation. by Joint resolution or other
wise, as may be necessary To enable tho De-
partment TO make contracts early in the com
quality that can be obtained IN this country
for the Maine, Ohio and Missouri. aud that tho
b,
the price OF armor to $500 per ION. and tho re-
strictlon preventing the armOred vessels
therein authorized from being contracted for
until the armor therefor Is contracted for. 10
removed.
REWARD or OFFICERS.
The Department renews it's recommendation
OF last year for a change In the present law Tor
rewardinR officers for conspicuous conduct IN
battle and for extraordinary heroism The in
Justice OF the present system liz apparent The
of an officer aver the heads OF other
officers operates IA IA reduction OF the latter in
rank aud also delays them IN securing the In
creased pay which ACCOMPANIES regular rise in
grade. In other words, the promotion u made
not at the expense Of the Government, which
should bear II, but at the expense OF the unfor
tunate officers who are over Slhughed and who
are thus punished, although faithful to every
duty and only unfortunate In lack ing the on
for conspicuous conduct or heroiIm.
The spirit OF the Navy II 80 good that I am
sure this II painful TO the officer promoted NJ
well as the officer reduced. The Department
there tore again urges that legislation be en-
acted provid ing that advancement in rank for
serylc ices 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 az ad-
ditional to the numbers IN each grade to which
they have been promoted
While those engaged in the battle Of Manila
have been deservediy rewarded-and no men
ever deserved reward more rlchly-those who
took part In the operations at Santiago dis
playing the same conspicuous conduct