Year: 1869

WASHINGTON March q, 1869.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-


The new administration OF the Navy Department
works excellenty well and already justaes the sa-
gacy of the President in selecting Secretary OF the
Navy OF proved mercantile and financial character
and associating with him naval officer OF high
rank and rare executive ability Secretary Borie ia
. gentleman OF intelligence ana sound judgment,
energetic prompt and clear In the transaction OF all
business which comes before him. and with happy
blending OF the suartter In nodo and ortfter re
which cannot fail to make favorable impression
upon all who approach him with honest purposes
and legitimate ends in view, while schemers and
sharpers will discover that they must now look
elsewhere for openings to work out their swndling
designs upon government money or property Under
Mr.. Bore's administration there win be no more
iron clad rings or fraudulent sales OF vessels to rela
tives and friends Of of1cals In the department.


The position Of Admiral Porter Is a somewhat
and it would have been well for the interests Of the
navy II the arrangement now established by Presi-
dent Grant had been put IN force many years ago
respond with those which devolve upon the see-
ond lord Of the British Admiralty, who Is always
his merits and proved executive ability. To this
oicer committed the control and direction OF the
rally understands the requirements o the service In
all its details far better than any civilian who can
s be selected for the The rst place in the
cial head OF the service. The Naval secre-
tary Is the executive oilcer, and II he Is
ready to act lntelligently upon every question Of
naval detail which may be presented for his decision
and to ss handle the entire ~ easily ne would
Ia precisely the man for this place. Endowed with
an instructive fondnese for hs profession and IN
herlttng profound devotion to the naval interests
OF the United States, Porter has not only galantly
upheld the honor Of our nag In battle but he has
zealously worked through many laborious days and
nights to master all the theories and de-
tails OF the organization and working OF
the naval systems Of Great Britain and France, in
spired by the hope that the Information thus OBJ
tained and duly weighed and considered by the light
OF his own experience would sooner or
his country e oe aoS beyond a aes o.
tion the best informed man upon naval affairs
IN America, II not In the world. Admiral Porter has
long been aware OF the embarrassments which stood
In the way OF an efficient administration OF our
navy under our old system. and has strenuousy ad-
vocated a reorganization Of the Navy Department.
Up to this time his efforts in this direction have been
opposed by the naval authorities, but they are at
acted upon by Congress. T6e hi which las inst iust
passed the Senate and which Will, without doubt.
meet with 2 favorable reception IN the House, es.
three officers OF the navy, not below the grade OF
rear admlrals OF the line, who shall be APP
Senate, and hold their ofiices for the term
OF four years. The duties of this Board OF
Survey are thus set forth In the bil:-


II shall be the duty OF hoard OF survey examine MI
repair all vessel. Of war and 70 present
Navy be allowances BOOK Of The so%psmsn, Of
mend alterations and amendments tbsreoi from time
TO time, Is M 70 them then, may seem eiPedenl ,. :,


vessel o. war, any contract for he eon.rcion
and @ ss Sa ~ s fSS Ss %


and examined by said board Of survey and their opinion


i shall be The duty Of each every commanding ocer
Az So to make ~ ron 9S ms 70 n. ssa as be % dsssd


ports Of the performance Of The vessels under their re specsvs