Year: 1869

Government Committees in SessiOn-Re.


trenchment-The New Fast vessels-What


fs TO Become Of Them-The Rigging Of


Ships-The Reduction Of Wages-The Brook


lyn Bridge.


The mania for retrenchment that has come In
with the administration begins to show itself in
the Navy Department. Despite OF the reported in
ability Of the new Secretary to give attention to
business for a single day without being sheved for
month thereafter he has set deal Of work in mo-
ton. An investigation has been put on foot looking
to many important changes IN every branch OF the
department. The ships are to be reported on
that It may be seen whether they in the
best condition possible for the service required.
Outstanding contracts to be inquired into, with
view OF seeing what compromise can be effected
with the contractors that the government may be
spared further expenditure for what 1t no longer
stands In need. The condition not only Of the navy
yard in Brooklyn, but Of all the navy yards, is to be
investigated, to see how expenses may be cut down,
what materials and machinery OF various kinds.
useless to the department, now under the control OF
the commandants OF the different yards may be dis
posed OF. There are now four committees sitting at
the Navy Yard in Brooklyn, charged with these i'm
portant Investigations. Some OF these committees
Will complete their work in ten days, While others
Will probably be occupied for month.


The first OF these committees Is tnat OF which Rear
Admiral StreDng Is the CHAIRMAN hear Admiral
Lardner and Commodore :. z. Lee are the other
members The principal duty OF this committee Is TO
examine into the condition or the navy yards, with
reference TO the work they have to do and how the
expenses OF these yards can be reduced. They are
also to examine the steam engines now slowed in
the yards and determine their fitness or unntness
for naval purposes. host of the engines lying in the
yards were captured in blockade runners.
There o ais ss large sd q uaay IN Of ms
far as the needs OF the Navy Department are con-
cerned and it is proposed to sell this and the steam
hin fort fhA nf thn
navy. Another dnty imposed Oh this committee Is
that OF recommending uniform code or regulations
for all the yards. Their laborS in Brooklyn Will be
completed, it is thought, the latter part Of this
month.


Next in importance is the committee Of which
Admiral Godsborough Is the chairman and Captain
Boggs, Chief Engineer Robie and Chief Engineer
Moore are members. This committee are 10 report
upon the steam machinery OF the vessels now afoat,
its present condition and efficiency ana the atera
tons deemed advisable But oy lar the
most mportant matter wch h this Uaan Coni''ee
the five new vessels known,as the Wanpanoag class,
from the name of the first OF the number completed,
snail be reduced to that OF the old tubs that left
during the so helpless against blockade runners.
These ships were ordered and completed under q
former administration and are reported TO be oe-
noXous to the cid line officers. Tney are intent on
showing that an immense amount or money mas been
expended In the construction OF these vessels which
are useless that they are completed. A word as
to the character OF these vessels and what tne OLD
liners propose TO do may be better UNDERSTOOD They
are all constructed on nearly the same model are
$50 feet In length, As feet beam and register
1000 tons. Each vessel Is provided with eight
boilers and their trial trips, or so many OF them
as have been under steam, have made an average
speed Of sixteen and threequarter knots per hour.
over seventeen knots have been made by these ves-
sells, which is equivalent to about twenty miles, This
is the fastest time record. The only vessel at all
rivaling 1t is the steam yacht OF Turkish Pasha,
which has made about the same time. Those who
are opposed to having any vessels In the naval ser
vice SO fast these want some OF the boilers taken
out to give for the storage OF provisions being
content for the sake OF this change to their speed
reduced to twelve knots. Fault Is also found IN
that they have too many smokestacks, interfering,
In the steam naval service Is never used There are
many other objections to the vessels, all OF which
can be overcome by adding light spar deck, which
is admitted to be feasible thing even by those who
dislike the vessels.


Tne committee OF whicn Captain Strong Is chair
vate parties with view 10 stopping work underway
by means OF some compromise.


Captain Almy Is chairman OF committee VINO are
making Investigations AS TO whether any employees
OF the yards have been discharged for political


Commodore Thomas o. Selfridge, Captain John
Guest and Captain Rhnd are the committee who
considering the rigging OF the vessels and
whether it Is best adapted to the wants of the SER
vice.


REDUCTION OF WAGES.


grossly exaggerated statement or the alleged
strike among the employees OF the Brooklyn
Navy Yard appeared IN one OF the morning
papers yesterday. The facts IN the are
SIMPLY these:-An order was received from Secretary
Borie OF the Navy, by Admiral Godon, on Wednes-
day last directing the latter Official promulgaie
the fact throughout the various departments OF the
navy yard that the wages OF the employees would
be reduced twenty per cent, dating from April l.
This announcement among the wOrkmen had the
effect OF breeding considerable grumbling. a. they
complain that at the present high rates OF living
the Increase is act OF the greatest injustice to
them. on the following morning Thursday when
roll was called about 400 OF the 900 which COM
prises the total force were absent. The absentees
were chiefly OF the carpenters, caulSers,
painters, machinists and blacksmith depart
ment There was no formal declaration,
however made by these men against
the action OF the government did they refuse TO
40 TO work Yesterday there but few absentees
when the morning roster was called over, nearly
the usual number answering TO their names, and
the work went on as usual. IL cannot be denied,
however Imperative TO the enforcement OF discip-


line by quiet and obedIent submission on the part
OF the employees or essential TO the spirit OF eco
nomy which prevades the government IN this
much solid ground for objection TO tue action
OF the department IN this latter instan ce. IL was
sisting OF worsrnen from the yard, had gone TO
Washington for the purpose OF setting forth their
grievances and urge their cause. The reduction IS
certainly very heavy; and in the laborers' depart
ment, where few have heretofore eked out mis-
cradle existence one dollar day. they now mad
their stipend reduced to eighty cents by virtue OF
Sam.


THE EAST RIVER BRIDGE


Major Generals Newton ana Wright and Major
King OF the committee appointed by the government
to investigate matters pertaining TO the East river
dom Commaadant OF the Navy Yard, to get his
6pinlon as to the probable effect the bridge would
nave upon tnesldNd SnippiIgs lnc AuullTH sutteu
that there would be no inconvenience whatever TO
the navy resulting from the bridge II built In pass
ing 1t the masts OF the vessels could be lowered TO
lis feet and II need were, to IL.


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AFFAIRS AT THE PHILADgLPAIA NAVY YARD
Operations in the Philadelphia Navy Yard are at
present being pushed ahead with great vigor. since
orders received from Washington TO NJ out
Immediately the Juniata, the number OF men EN-
poyed upon her has been greatly increased, Some
200 extra men have been put on. The authorities
OF the yard have been collecting all the men-ship
carpenters, machinists, &c.-they could find In the
city. and have almost depleted the shops OF private
parties. The orders from the department directed
the fitting out of the vessel In three weeks, but 1t ~
extremely doubtful II she be ready In that time
The work on her. however, Is going forward as