Year: 1873


tion at the various naval stations. These |
will be ready for sea. fully fitted, as fast l
as proper crews can be provided TOR them, |
and if the necessity for action should
come, before the time for it arrives, all
there is Of the American navy will be set
ahoat on the Atlantic ocean will be IN con-
dition and position to take its proper part. |
'Inadequate," says the Secretary, "as |
this force may be deemed of the response |
biliues and pretentIons to q Government /,
like ours, and greatly at disadvantage as
we certainly will be in respect to the
number and character of our vessels in a
contest with the fleets eff any respectable
naval power 1 believe that the activity,
skill, science and experience of our navy
will be found equal to any difficulty
which courage dare to meet or energy will
avail to conquer"


The Secretary concludes as follows: "In
taking the action above referred to the
Navy Department has already incurred
considerable expense and has been forced
to assume some responsibilities unusual
in time OF peace, but convinced of the
wisdom of prompt and decided action,
have not shrank from these responsible
ties nor hesitated with the approval of
the President to make Warlike prepara-
tions in the interests of peace, and Of hu-
manity. l confidently rely for support in
this attitude upon the patriotism and good
sense of the American people and their
REPRESENTATIVES VINO cannot fail to remem-
Der that our naval condition is the result
of the causes which have been constantly
pressed upon ther consideration but which
have failed to receive full attention doubt
less on account of more pressing present
requirements and obligations, and who
will clearly realize that duties constantly
postponed are certain to be more difficult
and much more expensive when perform
ed in haste ander pressure of imperious
necessity. The Department has had no
necessity to Overstep It's appropriations
even if II were lawful to do so, but the
pressing demands of the present will con-
sumo now what was provided for the SER
vice of the year IN several Of the working
bureaus. These must be promptly relieV-
ed if their work Is TO go on. The oeca-
sion has clearly shown l think, that our
navy, as it exists, sheuld at least be put in
! condition for active service, and in any
event, a moderate appropriation for this
purpose ought at once 10 be made, and if
war should by any possibility come, we
must be literally provided to utilize the
means we have TO provide others to meet
emergency.


Supervising Architect MuIlett in his
annual report, after enumerating the sites
purchased for public buildings, recon-
mends an appropriation for the purchase
for public buildings, recommends an ap-
preparation for the purchase of additional
property to enlarge the site occupied by
the custom house at st. Paul. In refer
ence to public buildings at Chicago, Null
let says: al desire to call the attention Of
the Department to the Importance of erec-
ting the Adams street front for which no
| appropriation has yet made. II Is OF
great Importance that this front should
be erected simultaneously with the re-
nainder and as the entire building will
be required, would strongly recommend
that an appropriation be obtained for the
commencement of that wing. Should this
be done, a considerable saving in cost as
well as time will be made and the entire
building can be placed under roof at an
early day"


The progress in public buildings in St.
| Louis have been very unsatisfactory, but
/ it is trusted the obstacles in the way Of
| its rapid prosecution will soon be remov-
ed. - -


| The postofiee and custom house at
/ Pittsburg are far too small and he recon-
/
new building at that place at an early
day.
He also thinks It desirable that a new
building be erected at Toledo, Ohio


An appropriation for the erection of the
proposed new buildings at Nashville, Gov.
ington, Kentucky; Evansville, Indiana,
and Little Rock, Arkansas, are not suti-
cient and it is impossible to comply with
restrictions on their costs except by erec-
ting buildings inadequate in in size and
unsuitable for the purpose intended and
the architect suggest that in cases where
it is not considered desirable to approprI-
ate the amount necessary to erect sulta-
BILE and permanent buildings, it would be
more advantageous to defer action and
rent temporary accommodations until
such time as the finances of the Govern
ment may warrant the appropriation OF
the necessary amount. He renews- the
recommendations to sell the marine hos
pital property at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania,
and also at Detroit, Michigan.


He thinks it indispenably necessary
that the east front of the Treasury De-
partment be rebuilt and recommends the
erection of building for the accommo-
dation Of the Note Printing Bureau and
for the records of the Department; also
that steps be taken TO secure from the city
of New York the whole or a portion ol
the Battery for the erection of q new
Custom House, and that a suitable ap-
praiser's store be built in the same local.
ty. He recommends an extensive Detroit
Custom House.


In conclusion, Mr.. Mullet calls atten-
ton to the eight hour law as injurious tC
the best interests of the Government anC
to the workmen themselves, and says: 81
this rule is to be the permanent policy o
the Government, and Its mechanics anC
laborers are to be compensated at the rate
of 20 percent. above the highest marke
rites, see no reason why officers clerks
and other employees of the Government
should not be paid by the same rules
Under the present system gentlemen o
education who occupy positions of trus
and pecuniary responsibility IN the differ
ent bureaus actually receive less than me
chanics' wages and are discriminate
against in favor Of men who as a rule ex
hIbit little interest in the performance o
their duties and have no responsibility
whatever. 1t is also fact that many
mechanics receive under the present sys


TEN not only more than their foreman anc
master mechanic but more than the su'
perintendent of the work on which they
are engaged, the latter classes being al
lowed no compensation for extra labol