The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-07-18
Senator Fletcher's Speech on
The Pensacola Navy Yard
Taken From the Congressional Record.

oughgoing. up-to-date. well-appointed,
emclent navy yard, under skillful OPP
Grafton and masterful direction. The
government property, worth millions of
dollars, will go to certain and speedy
ruin.
All this because the navy depart
ment asserts its right and its choice to
90 indirectly, in effect, what it can not
90 directly. It has no authority to
abandon the yard; it claims the power
70 close it, The difference Is about
the same as that between 'tweedle-
dum' and "tweedledee." For my part
l would rather see the yard abandoned
than closed. 1t would seem reasonable
and appropriate and advisable to con-
suit and obtain the concurrence of con-
gress before taking such a course.
congress, before deciding so serious a
question, involving a reversal of past
pollcles, turning against a yard and
haroor selected nearly a century ago
and favored by experts since, and sac
rthcing valuable property, would likely
through its regular or special commit
tees, make a careful examination Of
the whole matter and give due consid-
Grafton to all the facts, circumstances,
and conditions. The conclusion, when
that Is done, will find acceptance.
Until then l question the wisdom and
the authority to peremptorily discharge
the force and close the yard, as the
department proposes. l claim, for in
stance, that specific appropriations for
that yard made by congress must be
used there and can not be applied else
where.
The report of the secretary of the
navy shows these appropriations at
page II, and the unused portions ag-
gregate $74,35s.3s. l claim that the
secretary Of the navy can not establish
a vo1 hos ~, ~
try without the consent Of and pro-
vision by congress, and If one be es-
tablished at Guantanamo or anywhere
else, it does not follow that thereby
the secretary is given leave and license
to abandon or close yards long estab
lished elsewhere. in the teeth of con-
gress and against every expression he
has ever been able to wiring from con-
gress. 1t is important to know pre-
cisely what is being done in this re-
spect and the reasons and authority for
such action. Not only Florida and the
gulf states, but the whole country is
concerned in this matter.
The Pensacola navy yard was es-
tablished in 1924, having been selected
by board of naval officers. President
Adams, December 3, 1925, approved the
action of congress, and oak forests in
the vicinity were purchased for ship
building purposes. When the state
was admitted, in 1S45, Gov. Broome
affirmed federal jurisdiction. In 1886 a
complete plan for a first class naval
station was commenced, and by 1861 it
became one of the most complete and
efficient stations in the country. Ad-
miral Farragut reported that Pensa-
cola should be retained as the first
class navy yard of the south.
To say that along with Pensacola
and New Orleans should be abolished
New London and Sacketts Harbor is
trifiing. New London has not been
navy yard since the civil war, and
Sacketts Harbor is only a somewhat
unimportant yard sailors home.
We contend this yard is sufficiently
fortified, or easily can be. 1t should
be made a first class yard. 1t is easy
to say the expenditures there exceed
the productive work at present. 1t is
a very simple matter for the depart
ment to dney work to yard-starve
it-and then cite the pay roll and other
expenses in comparison with the
amount of work turned out and prove
that a wise economy dictates the cut
ting down of expenses. That simply
means that the necessary expenses of a
man without employment exceed his
income. There is work to do, but II 1t
is sent elsewhere and there is nothing
furnished the yard to do the very con-
dition complained of is produced. The
evidence that the yard is improbable
is manufactured thus by those who
would destroy IL.
Pensacola does an export business of
more than $20,000,o00 annually. and
considerably work could be done for
outside concerns while government
work is slack at this yard.
Mr.. President, 1 ask that the resolu
ton lie on the table until called up
for some further remarks by my col
legaue, and possibly by myself, before
action is taken up 1t.
The Vice President. without objec-
ton, the resolution will be printed and
lie on the table.