The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-24
MATTERS DISCUSSED
The Personnel Of the Commls sion-Army and
Navy Needs

The Personnel Of the Commis sion-Army and
Navy Needs
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-Three or four of
the officers of the cabinet were engaged in
conferences at intervals throughout the
day. In the morning Secretaries Carlisle,
Lamont and Herbert spent some time at
the White House and during the visit
views were exchanged between them. The
impression is that in addition to talking
over the financial conditions, they are in.
terested in the personnel of the Venezuelan
commission. 1t is believed that the presi-
dent is already in communication with
some of the persons whom he would be
pleased to have undertake the work, but in
advance of their acceptance of member
ship their names will not be made public
and consequently the. composition of the
commission is purely speculative at this
time.
NEEDS OF THE NAVY
Lieut.. Niblock, in charge of the naval
militia of the navy department, callel at
tention of the authorities to the urgent ne
cessities and the confusion that is apt to
result in case our military and naval forces
are called into joint action, as they must be
in defensive war, growing out OF the lack
of uniformity in small arms and signal
codes. The army is armed with the Krag-
Jargensen rife of 80 caliber, while the
navy has contracted for a supply of Lee
magazine rifles of % caliber, so that the
same kind of ammunition will not serve
both arms, and grave mistakes are apt to
occur in issuing it to the men.
Lieutenant Niblock suggests, in the inter-
est Of the naval militia as we'll as on broad
er grounds, that it would be we'll If the war
and navy departments would settle, as
soon as practicable, by competitive tests,
which is the better weapon, that of the
army or navy, and stop at once the making
of the less desirable arm.
In the case of signal codes there is like
conflict. He says the army has used the
political naval co!e for twenty-five years
with the greatest success. When change
was made the navy followed, but after
fair trial was obliged to abandon the pres
cut army code and return to the original
code. The navy cannot use the army
code. The army can and has used the
present naval code. J
> BIDS FOR BATTLEsHIPs
The board of naval bureau chiefs, after
carefully considering for several weeks the
bids submitted for building battleships five
and six, has recommended to Secretary
Herbert the acceptance of the bids of the
Newport News Dry Dock and Shipbuilding
ships on the plans of the navy department
for 81, ,25O, 900 each. In the event, how
ever, that the Union Iron works of San
Franci1co, the next lowest bidder, At 49,
100000, shall scale down the bid so as to
leave only a reasonable difference between
their figure and the $2,25O,OOO asked
by the Newport News company for
one ship, it is recommended that
each of these companies be awarded the
contract for building one vessel. The Sec
retary has before him the alternative prop
cepts BIDS I" build six ships Of The
Kearsarge class, two to 60 to the Newport
News company, two. to the Union Iron
Works and two to 60 to the Cramps, .on
condition that,all she bidders. shall meet