The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-19
proposed Reorganization Of the Navy.
In SssArr. January 10, 1853.


The Committee Naval Affairs having had under con
Iteration The Organization of the naval establishment OF
=, United States and the Navy Department, report;
That, in examining the history OF the legislation of
Congress with reference TO The navy appears that very
lille has ever been done by law for the purpose OF Civ
iOg organization 10 the Navy Department Until the
year l7gs the Secretary Of War performed the duties de-
yoyed upon the Secretary OF the Navy The Department
Of the Navy was not established until that year. and The
.et passed Tor that purpose, the 30h of April I79s,
consists Of bat single section which is follows
sBs enacted, SC, Tina. there shall be executive de-
o.rnen under Inc denomination of the Department OF
seetary the Navy, whose duty IL shall DO
.se orders he ,ba Presiden
.na ms SERIALS and the constncton armament equipment
sad employ Of vessel Of war, well all other
{. ss@4s'sa WIN 'As '''" s'As" q s on''sa
By this act every Thing appears 10 have been left 10
executive discretion, and organization whatever pre-
On the 10th OF July Of the same year, however, an
et was passed creating single officer in this depart
mrnt, called accountant, whose duty i was made TO
for moneys advanced and expended for the naval
Nothing further in the way OF organization for the Navy
Department done until the passage oil the act OF the
TN February, 1919 entitled An &C, 10 alter and amend
he several establishing Navy Department. by add
ing thereto board Of commissioners" This act pro-
yiled that the board OF commissioners shall be attached
10 the office OF the Secretary OF the Navy and under his
upentsndence shall discharge all the ministerial duties
Of said Office relative 10 The of naval stores
and materials, and the construction, armament, equip
mnt and employment OF vessels Of war, well other
matters connected with the naval establishment of the
United States The second section Of this act also au-
borizes the commissioners to prepare such rules and
regulations shall be necessary for securing uniformity
in The several classes Of vessels and their equipment and
for repairing and reftling them, and FOR SECURING
RESPONSIBILITY IN THE suBoRDIEATE OFFICERS AND
AGENTS.
Department and tweniy six years after the establishment
Of the government the first effort seems to have been
made to secure Iespo' sby IN the subordinate omceis
and agents OF the navy" The want OF "responsibyln
the subordinate officers and agents is st the wee Oh Inc
NAVY Department SO far the act OF 1872 from eject
ing me desired object 4 q he e
which before existed The commissioners OF the navy
by that act were c 10 the Secretary OF the Navy
TO register his edcs and employed principally IN making
contracts and collecting materials and whatever nfor
nation or advice they may have given other and more
important matters connected with the navy was given
without the obligation OF law and, consequently without
The public and serious responsibility which should attach
10 official advice. F}@f H
No further legislation took place in reference TO the
organization Of the Navy Department until the session
of Congress OF 1912. Thea, by the act OF August 81,
1872 the act constituting board OF navy commissioners
was repealed, and i've bureaus were organized and at
tached to the Navy Department. These bureaus were
/. Bureau OF Navy Yards and Docks.
O. Bureau of Construction Equipment. and Repair
g. Bureau OF Provisions and Clothing.
A. Bureau OF Ordnance and photography
s. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
This act likewise failed 10 secure to the public service
the advantages OF the best and most efficient professional
ability and for the same among other reasons, that these
chiefs Of bureaus continue TO be clerks, without the
responsibility necessary secure independent action and
proper co. operation. These defects the committee hope
oobvate by the bill which they have reported, by making
these officers, in sonnexion with the Secretary OF the
Navy the official and responsible advisers OF the Secre
tary in relation to naval matters
seems therefore, PLAIN from all previous Legislation
on the subject OF the navy that Congress has made little
or no progress towards such organization as 10 ade-
quate to the correction OF those pernicous influences
which have been .e in the administration OF naval al
fairs from the beginning. $1,000
The constitution con.ers on Congress the power to
provide and maintain navy" This has been done in
the most general manner, whilst, with The exceptions
mentioned above, all other organization has been left TO
executive discretion The President, by the constitution,
is commander inchie Of the navy, which implies pre-
yous organization yet appears, according 10 the pres
ent organization he really the only officer in the gov
eminent responsible Tor the civil administration OF the
Navy Department The Secretary OF the Navy is, in fact,
like the chiefs OF bureaus only clerk IN the language
OF the act of 1885, o execute such orders he shall
receive from the President The chiefs OF bureaus and
The Secretary take shelter from responsibility under him
while, from The very nature OF things, II IS impossible
tina, the President can give tina, the details Of
the naval service which should correspond with his re-
sponsibiliiy.
The ac OF the 3ist of August, 1912, establishing the
naval bureaus gave to each branch OF the head
presumed be peculiarly qualified Tor the discharge OF
the proper duties OF his bereau But nevertheless prac
iicaIy there is no responsibility in each Chief OF
bureau than there was in the old Board OF Navy Commis
sioners The Secretary OF the Navy Department being
necessarily civilian, entirely dependent on the chiefs
OF bureaus other irresponsible advisers Tor information
in relation TO the service This information Is generally
given in unofficial manner, and therefore involves no
responsibility and s consequently too often given with.
out knowledge reflection The want OF professional
knowledge and experience of the Secretary OF the Navy
acting in subordnalion TO the esien while the Presi
dent IRON The multiplicity OF his engagements, j. ao-
geher unable 10 besow the details OF the naval ser
vice any attention commensurate with his responsibility,
10 demand The creation OF some suitable body 10
which the country may eok with greater confidence IL
appears Indispensable therefore, Tor the proper admins
snon OF naval AFFAIRS that there should be associated m
the Navy Department, officially, men OF the greatest
ability and professional experience, and that they should
be placed in position actually OF high and public respoD-
sbility The subjects which exclusively inrusted 10
single bureau often OF so much importance as rem
ders desirable that the experience and the knowledge
possessed by all the chiefs OF bureaus should be put in
equison Tor the benefit OF The public service The chief
oil ons bureau may often be more competent Judge OF
subject belonging another bureau than the chief OF the
latter; and ell the chiefs Of bureaus could not fail TO de-
rive instruction from frequent and mutual discussions and
deliberations practical questions pertaining 10 naval
Affairs The country has right 10 the benefit OF all the
experience OF public funconares on every question upon
which the concentration OF counsel may be conducive TO
the public safety Ii IL likewise entitled 10 know 10 whom
be held responsible for njudcious or erroneous acro1
The Secretary OF the Navy Department is entitled 10
ceye from his subordn ,tes the information which be may
require, in Official and under the SANCTION oil
ofhcIal responsibility. He ought not to be permitted TO
act upon questions relating to the public sorvce upon
the suggestions Of interested secret irresponsible ad
visers That advice and those counses upon which be
determines questions OF magnitude pertaining TO the
vice, OF questions affecting the rank honor, and per-
sons interests OF officers, ought be OF record and
preserved for necessary reference The spirit Of the con-
siituiou as we'll the sentiment OF The nation dictates
that in sveYv branch of the public