Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-26
An Important Order Issued by Sec
retary Herbert.
CONCENTRATING THE RESPONSIBILITY
Changes in the Ordnance and Con-
struction Bureaus Duties.
SIMPLIFYING METHODS

Secretary Herbert has made another
move in the line of his policy of concen-
trating the responsibility for the construc-
tion Of all parts of naval vessels in one
bureau, that of construction and repair.
He has issued an order amending the ma
val regulations wherein they define the
duties of the bureaus Of ordnance and con-
struction, so as to place all of the prac-
teal work on a ship under construction on
the construction bureau, subject to the in
spection and according to the plans Of the
ordance bureau. The text of the order is
as follows:
Duties of the Ordnance Bureau.
Strike out paragraphs 2 and 3. naval
regulations and substitute therefor the
following, defining the duties of the bu-
reau of ordnance:
2. 1t shall recommend the armament to
be carried by all armed vessels, the ma
terial, kind and quality of the armor. the
interior dimensions of revolving turrets.
and their requirements as regards rotation;
1t shall also fix, within the carrying pow
er of vessels as determined by the bureau
OF construction and repair, the location and
command of the armament, and distribute
the thickness of arnor.
8. It shall, as the work proceeds. In
spect the Installation Of the armament and
its accessories on board ship and the meth
DDS Of slowing, handling and transport
Ing ammunition and torpedocs, all which
work shall be performed to its satisfac-
ton. 1t shall determine the requirements
Of all ammunition hoists, and the method
Of construction of armories and ammuni-
tion rooms on shipboard and in conjunc-
tion with the bureau of construction and
repair determine upon their location and
that of ammunition hoists; it shall also
confer with the bureau Of construction and
repair respecting the arrangements for
centering the turrets. and the character of
the roller paths and their supports.
Bureau of Construction and Repair.
Under article 10, relating to the duties of
the bureau Of construction and repair,
strike out paragraph 1, and substitute
therefor the following:
1. The duties of the bureau of construc-
ton and repair shall comprise all that re-
lates to designing, building. fitting and re-
pairing the huils of ships, turrets, spars,
capstans, windlasses, steering gear and
ventilating apparatus, and the designing,
rstruction and installation of all ammu-
milton holsts, their shafts machinery and
appurtenances, after consultation with the
bureau of ordnance, and according to the
requirements thereof. as determined by
that bureau; placing and securing armor,
after the material. quality and distribution
of thickness have been determined by the
bureau of ordnance; placing and securing
on board ship, to the satisfaction Of the
bureau of ordnance, the armament and its
accessories as manufactured ana supplied
by that bureau; care and preservation of
ships in reserve AMI requiring for or man
ufactIring all its equipaGe and supplies for
ships prescribed by the authorized allow
ance tables. The bureau of construction
and repair shall also. after conference with
the bureau of ordnance, design the ar
rangements for centering the turrets, the
character of the roller paths and their sup
ports ard furnish that bureau every op-
portunfty to inspect the installation on
board of all armament and accessories sup
piled by said bureau.
To Simplify Existing Methods.
There was no purpose in making this
change to take away from the functions
Of any of the bureaus. but the Secretary
was animated by desire to simplify the
existing methods of the departm ent. At
present. when there was such a matter as
a guntrack to be fitted to the deck Of
ship under construction, the ordnance bu-
reau undertook the work with Its own men.
At the same time the construction bureau
might have force at work In the same
place. and the result was that one or the
other had to suspend for some time.
Under the new rule in such cases, the con-
struction men will do all OF the work with
one force, and to make sure that it Is In ac-
cordance with the requirements Of the ord
nance bureau that bureau will have an
Inspector at hand to watch the work as 1t
progresses. This Is believed to be in the
line of sound business practice and Is ex-
pected to facilitate work and save monsy.