Omaha daily bee., 1908-04-12
NAVY YARD MONEY WASTED
Congressman Lilley Says Hundred
Million Has Been Sunk in Mud.
CALLS FOR CHANGE IN POLICY
Cites Figures TO show Large sums Are
Annually spent on stations
that Are Practically
worthless.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE investga-
ton of the navy yards at Charleston, Port
Royal. Mare Island, Portsmouth. N H.;
New Orleans and Key, West by q commits
sion appointed by the president with view
to their abandonment was urged by Rep
resentative Lilley of Connecticut before the
house today. Mr.. Lilley offered a joint
resolution providing for the appointment
of this commission and for Improvements
in other yards, so as to eliminate the
waste OF public moneys in the maintenance
Of the same"
Mr.. Lilley quoted from reports made by
boards of officers and former secretaries
Of the navy as far back as 1885, to show
that the condition of the navy yards then
was open to severe criticism, and that the
fact that the reorganization Of the Navy
department itself was desirable. IL not
absolutely necessary.
The navy yards mentioned in his reso-
luton were taken up separately and dis
cussed by Mr. Billey. The Mare Island
yard. he said. has cost $1,175.OOO, but the
secretary OF the navy states that this dry
dock will not permit the docking OF a bat
tleship." And not only is this true, but
a battleship cannot get to the yard. AL
though Rear Admiral Endicott. then chief
OF the bureau OF yards and docks, ten
years ago practically recommended the
abandonment of this yard, since that time
S72S, S66 has been spent in dredging alone
and $5.1A,712 has been appropriated and
spent on the yard.
Expense at Key West.
'Key West is a place." said Mr.. Lilley,
that has cost us S,23sO3s. It Is six miles
from the straits and the low water depth
in its channel Is twenty-six feet. and $101, 900
has been spent there for dredging. At
this yard in the fiscal year ending in 1907,
se4,31S was expended for labor, and the
value of their total product was but S,126.
Portsmouth, N. H., or Kittery, Me-, is
a plant that has cost us over Sl000O,000. I"
| Continuing, Mr.. Lilley said that last sum-
mer when he visited the Portsmouth IN.
HI navy yard with the other members of
! the house committee on naval affairs
aboard the Dolphin, the captain of the YES
| sci told him It was not safe to take even
so small a craft as the Dolphin up to the
| yard, because of the dangers Of the swift
current and narrow channel, The eX-
pensive dock has never docked a first-class
battleship, he added. and yet $244,9O0 more
was appropriated for this place the last
session of congress
! Concerning the navy yard at New Or
leans Mr.. IAlley said in 1907 s7s,274 was
| spent by the government for labor and the
total product was S1,046.
/ "But the point that a business mar
would fail to comprehend" he continued
lis that $4,000 was appropriated by bott
sessions OF the last congress for new con
struction at New Orleans. for what ad.
vantage to the United States navy Goo
only knows"
Mint of Money in Circulation.
Charlestown, he said. has but twenty.
! five feet OF water In it's channel Yet
congress has appropriated $l1sS,9S4 tC
build there a magnificent dry dock. mo
only is the channel too shallow, but there
is no berthing room for vessels or ships
OF any description 10 dock there The
total establishment has cost SS, ss4.3OO anC
the dredging Sos 900. At the last session
OF congress S2S7 600 more was appropriated
| for this yard at Charlestown.
The naval station az Port Loyal" con
tinued Mr.. Liliey, was removed I,
Charlestown in lsOO-l9O3 but as late a.
1907. A4T24 was spent here for labor anC
although abandoned these expenditures
will go on to the end OF time unless tn
property is sold. given away or blown up
Mr.. IAlley criticised congress for no
establishing a naval training school a
Annapolis and moving the academy sew
enty miles below Annapolis, thus savinl
the 100000 that is going 10 the Grea
Lakes, Annapolis he said. for which con
gress hast seen fit to appropriate sum
that win reach a total OF Sl0OO0,0OO 4
sunk in the mud. "Batueships eannC
reach the academy and the United State
coast and geodetie survey reports shoV
that the upper Chesapeake is fast film
up"
Text of the Resolution.
Mr.. Lilleys resolution reads as follows
| Whereas. AS there has been gross eS
traVagance and lamentable misappropris
| tion OF public funds 10 the extent OF MOI
than 500 10000 In expenditures in our nav
and naval stations in excess OF what bus
ness men would have expended 10 pre-
| cure the same results. and
| Whereas, Great economies may be cl
fected by the federal government by th
abandonment and sale OF certain nav
yards and naval stations and the reorgan
Eation OF the others, therefore be u
Resolved, by the senate and house
representatives OF the United States
. America In congress assembled, That III