I have the honour to report that the condition of the Naval Yard Police has become so bad that I am reluctantly compelled to bring the whole question to your notice again.
So many men applied to be discharged and when questioned would give no definite reason, but hinted vaguely at general discontent, that I directed three entirely independent and disinterested Officers to enquire into their grievances and their report is herewith.
I agree with most of the propositions brought forward and consider that one of two things must be done: either
1. To employ Marines for the European portion of the Police.
2. To bring the pay and advantages of the present system to a scale somewhat higher than that of the local Civil Police Force. I have named the alternatives in the order I consider best; to recruit suitable men here now is almost impossible. So many well-paid appointments are open to respectable Europeans that only the worthless or newly arrived find their way to the dockyard, the latter only with a view to making a convenience of the force till they can get something better.
Considering the importance of having this Yard, with its enormously valuable stock of stores, properly guarded it is obvious that only trustworthy men should be employed, men picked from a large force as in the Home Yards.