Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1887 — “HEPAIRING” NATAL HULKS. [ARTICLE]

“HEPAIRING” NATAL HULKS.

Secretary Wliltney Opposed to tlie Policy of Kepairint- Worthless Naval Hulks. A Board of Repairs recommended that the iron-hulled steamer Palos, now on the Asiatic station, be repaired, and estimated the cost at $5,000 on the hull and SIO,OOO for new boilers and machinery. One of the arguments in favor of the recommendation was that no other vessel now in the navy would serve the same purpose, she being able, on account of light draft, to enter all the ports on the station. The Secretary indorsed the recommendation as follows, Aug. 1, 1887: “This indorsement suggests the expenditure of the sum of about $50,000 upon the Palos, 'lhe Palos is an iron tug of about 300 tons, twenty-three years old, and is in no respect a war vessel as now understood. She cost originally, in 1865, $75,000, when iron was twice its present price, and could probably be built now for SSO,OOO. She has cost in repairs since she was originally built, $183,248. She is kept on the China station as a substitute for a vessel of war on account of her light draft, which enables her to visit the rivers and shallow bays. I do not approve of the proposed repairs. We are not responsible for the maintenance or non-main-tenance of a navy, but we are for the proper expenditure of our appropriations. The excuse that we must keep her afloat or otherwise we shall have no vessel to take her place is a matter for Congress. We can not justify spending $50,000 upon the old iron tug as a vessel of war except upon the ground that Congress has not made other provision for this service, which is a matter for Congress and not for ns to consider. Nothing has done so much to defeat the appropriation as the willingness of the department to spend money upon worthless things. These reports show that an expenditure of about $ O,OOJ Will put the Palos in shape for another year and a half, within which time something could be built fitted for the servic e, and which would not disgrace the country in case of war. One good shot from a modern machine-gun would destroy the machinery of the Palos aud end her career. Ido not believe in spending monev on this kind. Ido not fail to appreciate and credit the responsibility the bureaus feel, but I think by this time, after I have antagonized so often this kind of reasoni g, I ought to be relieved from this sort of recommendation. “ »V. Whitney, “Secretary of the Navy.”