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23d Congress.]

No: 526.

[1st Session.

ON MAKING PROVISION FOR NAVAL SCHOOLS FOR MIDSHIPMEN, AND FOR INCREASING THE PAY OF CHAPLAINS AND SCHOOLMASTERS OF THE NAVY.

COMMUNICATED TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 3, 1834.

Mr. Watmough, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom the subject was referred, reported:

The Committee on Naval Affairs, taking into consideration the condition of the naval schools as at present established at Boston, New York, and Norfolk, and their inadequacy to effect the object proposed, deem it a duty to present to the House the accompanying bill. It is presumed no one will question the vital importance of these institutions to the service, both as it respects the well-being of the junior officers, and their future usefulness to their country.

By the subjoined letter (A) from the Secretary of the Navy, it will be found that there are 450 midshipmen in service. Of these, about one-half are supposed to be at sea; one-fifth on duty at shore stations; and the remaining 135 are on leave, waiting orders, on furlough, or sick. Admitting that of the latter class thirty-five are sick, and this would seem to be a very large proportion, there still remain one hundred youths left entirely to their own guidance, freed from those restraints so essential to their period

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of life, and subject alone to the influences of their own ardent impulses. The consequences are, in too many instances, fatal. It is believed to be the duty, as it assuredly is within the competency of Congress to arrest the evils resulting from this state of affairs. The appropriation called for in the bill, under the judicious management of the Secretary, will effect much. The third and fourth sections of the bill, which provide an increase of the pay of the two respective grades of the service, the chaplains and schoolmasters, it is hoped will have the effect to enhance greatly the benefits to be derived from the appropriations; while, in truth, they do no more than fulfill the original intention of Congress in-creating those grades, by placing them on a footing consistent with their dignity and usefulness. Their present rate of pay is admitted on all hands to be entirely insufficient. A reference to the annexed letter of the Secretary, marked B, with its accompanying "statement, A, shows the actual condition of the schools, the amount expended from the contingent fund, but under no law, and the limited number of youths who are enabled to avail themselves of what benefits do result. It is true the Department has lately issued an order requiring all midshipmen, not otherwise employed, to repair to some one of these schools; but as the government does not feel itself authorized to allow the traveling expenses incidental to such an order, few will be able to avail themselves of its benefits. The fifth section of the bill is intended to obviate this difficulty. If, however, the whole number should repair, as required, it would only afford an additional and paramount obligation for the passage of the bill. All of which is most respectfully submitted.

A BILL relative to naval schools.

Be it enacted, by the Senate and, House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to improve the means of instruction now in operation at New York, Norfolk, and the Navy yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sum of ten thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby, annually appropriated, until otherwise ordered by law, out of any moneys not otherwise appropriated, to carry into effect the provisions of this act.

Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passage of this act, the pay of chaplains in the navy shall be twelve hundred dollars per annum, and that, in addition to the duties now imposed upon them, they shall be required to instruct the junior officers in mathematics, in natural and moral philosophy, in history, and in such other branches of science as may be deemed by the Secretary of the Navy best calculated to advance the interests and elevate the character of the service.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passage of this act, the pay of schoolmasters in the navy of the United States shall be twelve hundred dollars per annum; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Navy to see that no individual shall be appointed to said station unless his application be accompanied by the most satisfactory testimonials of intellectual and moral attainments.

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That each midshipman or junior officer, when not under orders, or furloughed by competent authority, shall be directed by the Secretary of the Navy to attend at such one of the schools as may be designated by the Secretary, and diligently to submit himself to instruction, and while there shall be subject to all the rules and regulations for the better government of the navy, as though actually engaged in service on shipboard; and the order of the Secretary of the Navy, or of any superior officer, competent to give the same to any midshipman to repair to said schools, shall be deemed a sufficient voucher to entitle said midshipman to the full amount of his transportation.

Sec 6. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Navy shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary for the good order, sound government, and direction of the said schools.

Sec 7. And be it further enacted, That the pay specified above for the chaplains and schoolmasters shall be in lieu of and in full of all compensation and allowances whatever, at present made.

A.

Navy Department, December 26, 1833.

Sir:

Your letter of the 23d instant has been received. I have the honor, in reply, to inform you that the number of midshipmen in service is 450. Of these, about one-half are usually at sea; about one-fifth on duty at the shore stations; and the residue are on leave, waiting orders, on furlough and sick. I am, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

LEVI WOODBURY.

Hon. John G. Watmough, of the Naval Committee, House of Representatives.

B.

Navy Department, December 23, 1833.

Sir:

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 20th instant, enclosing a printed bill relative to naval schools, and asking for a statement of those at present organized. The bill is herewith returned.

The enclosed statement (A) is furnished as containing the desired information.

In reply to your other inquiry, I have no doubt that the sum named in the bill could be usefully expended in improving the present means of naval instruction at Norfolk, New York, and Boston. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LEVI WOODBURY.

Hon. John G. Watmough, of the Naval Committee, House of Representatives.

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A.

Statement of the actual condition of the naval schools as at present organized, the number and character of the professors employed, of youths instructed, and the annual expenditures to maintain them.

Number and character of professors.

No. of youths instructed.

Annual expense.

General remarks.

Pay, &c.

Contingencies.

BOSTON.

One teacher of mathematics and languages.

6

5981 75

Small amount for books, instruments and stationery.

Since the late order, the numbers will,
at the end of this quarter, be probably more than doubled.

NEW YORK.

One teacher of mathematics

15

981 75

Quarters or rooms are furnished in receiving ships.

One teacher of languages

662 50

NORFOLK.

One teacher of mathematics and languages

31

981 75

52

$3,607 75

Extract of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, dated—

Navy Department, January 23, 1832.

In relation to the other bills concerning naval schools, I have no doubt that two, or, at the most, three, such schools would be amply sufficient for the wants of the service. Not over seventy or eighty midshipmen can at one time be permitted to attend them, in the present state of the service.

Raising the pay of schoolmasters on shipboard, and making provision for teaching the French and Spanish languages at these schools, would, without doubt, be highly useful. The bills are herewith returned.

I am, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

LEVI WOODBURY. Hon. John G. Watmough, of the Naval Committee of the House of Representatives.