The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-20
NAVAL ADMINISTRATION.
The Changes Through which II Has Passed
During n Century, and lts Needs.

During n Century, and It's Needs.
WAsHrNdroN. July 19.-1n the general atten-
tlon now directed to improving the efficiency
OF the navy. It is possible that some effort may
be made to put the system OF Navy Depart
ment administration on a better basis. At the
foundation OF our present Government there
was no Navy Department. and. In fact. very
little navy. throughout Washington's Admin
istration the only Cabinet officers were the
Secretaries OF State. War. and the Treasury.
tho Postmaster General. and the Attorney
General. During his second term Washington
informed Congress Of tho misdeeds Of Algiers
and thereupon that body. in March. 1894. au-
thorlzed the building or buying OF half dozen
frigates. to mount each not less than thirty
two guns. This was the foundation OF our
present navy. The completion OF peace with
AlRiers during the following year suspended
operations on the frigates. but three OF them
were pushed ahead BY subsequent lee lslation
and launched In 1897. All this was done IN
der the supervision OF the War Department. as
presided over BY Secretaries Knox. Pickering,
and McHenry. Not until 1898 was separate
Navy Department established, tho first Secre-
tary nominated being George Cabot. who de-
clined the office. whereupon BENJAMIN Stod-
dert OF Maryland was appointed.
1t is curious to trace the changes in navy
administration from tho first In the autumn
OF 1915, during the war OF the Revolution. when
Congress provided for two cruisers. 1t founded
o Marine Commiteee Of Its own mombers. A
year later. Q subordinate Continental Naval
Board was established and subsequently sub.
divided into an Eastern and a Middle Board.
Three years afterward. a Board Of Admiralty
was substituted. consisting OF two Congress-
men and three other members. Then its au-
%Oss ss S ssr
an Agent OF Marine. While finally the latters
fpiSs fell the Of
awav. after the close Of the Revolutionary war.
OF any navy requiring administration. can only
:, After the Navy DEPARTMENT had been estab-
IL
under the Secretary Board Of Commission
to be y ,bs 81 nd Of the
like Hull. Decatur. Porter. Bainbridee. Morris.
been praised By hsh naval authorites In our our
day: However. after lasting twenty.se.en
pubsr ss' waa
I'VE; twenty years nitsrward; in 1872. during
Judge Advocate. General added
It VIII naturally be suggested that many
of complexity and diversity. In fact, Secretary
sraap "
ment work into three main divisions, consist
Ct material and sonsSruetion :third Of fnsnee
and and. ACCOUNTS But C9nerSess would not con-
s Da and 1a4y Sy Wy
tue o. his executive 81, AUTHORITY the ADVANTAGE
reau % Provisions and Clothing under the
Paymaster.G General This now constitutes.to a
Secretary Tracy. on succeeding to control. de:
voted himself promptly to another branch OF
enlarged the functions OF the Bureau Of NavI.
cation as to bring under IT nearly everything
81 ns As1 has
10 certain extent * Hp Eoyldesa for FINELY the
OF CONSTRUCTION and Repair Steam Engineer.
Ing, Ordinance. Eauipment and Yards and
ssss.sassSs IT, Ssssss n = 4 &s ss s sna
oTice. necessarily stands By Itself: 'o''''"' .
In considering whether still further improve
general that in countries where the Legislative
Il nndsE Civilian hes w
81 where
the navy. In Ensiand France and Italy i the the
head OF the navy Is also member Of the par;
OF officers Of the navy OF high rank. One OF tho
points which the European systems have in
tho ,administratIve duties. the. latter in Eng
First Lord Of the Admiralty. while the former
are Entrusted to the charge Of the First Sea
three divisions already spoken OF for the dis
tributon Of all Navy DEPARTMENT work. name
Y. personnel; material. and accounts. exist In
| the various European countries.
Whether any further improvements can be
| made on our present bureau system remains
to he seen ; but it must be admitted that there
| is less complaint Of its workings under the
present notifications than there was few
| years ago.