Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-30
PERSONNEL OF THE NAVY.
Harmony COunseled I'm the Work of
Building Up That Arm Of Defense.

Harmony COunseled I'm the Work of
Building Up That Arm Of Defense.
Amos J. Cummings in the Army and Navy Register
The new Secretary Of the Navy has been
long enough at the wheel to indicate the
character of his administration. Every
energy Is apparently to be bent toward the
Improvement of the navy. New life Is al
ready evident in all the bureaus and the
service itself is being revivified. The as
sistant secretary is also man of positive
convictions and goes to work with Will
to second the aspirations of his chief.
There is no friction between the two Off
GERS They work tremendously and with
an eye to the true interests of the navy.
Mr., Roosevelt is an enthusiastic friend Of
the service and, like the Secretary himself,
will leave no stone unturned to increls" It's
efficiency. 1t is fair to presume that the
armor plate business will soon be settled.
The report of the armor factory board has
not yet been made, but 1t will undoubtedly
be satisfactory to the Secretary, and Com
gress will probably heed his recommends
tons. The vessels already authorized
should be finished promptly as possible
and more be placed upon the stocks. The
safety of the nation requires it.
In the meantime the differences letween
the line and staff remain unsettled. Gr tie
Ffty-third Congress a joint committee of
the two houses reported what is known as
the Meyer bill. No action was taken upon
it in either house. In the Fiftyfourth Con-
gress various propositions We're discussed
In the naval committees Of both houses. but
rothing definite was reported. The
Congress will undoubtedly try to come to
some agreement. 1t ought to he reached
carefully and dispassionately, without
prejudice to either branch of the service
1t will not do to report separate bills one
for the line and one for the staff. This
would be impracticabie. The disagreement
between the line and the staff ought to be
cctf 1a1
taken by Congress. Each knows whit it
wants, and concessions should be made en-
both sides. All the bitterness that has l.een
displayed should be allayed 1t will not do
to say that they can come to 10 agreement.
Facts do not bear out this statement. They
did come to an agreement during the short
session of the Fffty-third Congress- but
too late for that Congress to take action.
Neither should struggle to take any adj
vantage over the other. Such struggles
awaken animosity in both houses and will
certainly lead to the defeat of any bill
proposed. The quarrel itself has had an
the service 1t is a family quarrel that
ought to be settled m the family and no
one would hail with greater joy such set
Element than the naval committees of 10th
houses.
The nation looks upon the navy With
pride despite the efforts of its enemies to
tnjure it. And among these enemies Is SEN
satlonal journalism. The slightest injury
Take the Texas. So many lies have been
manufactured concerning her that half
the people believe today that she is lnsea-
worthy. liable at any time to overturn and
go to the bottom. The truth is she is one
OF the best ships in the service. Lately
the Indiana has taken her place in the
columns of the sensational journals. Il
has been said that she was strained in the
dry dock at Halifax, and other detrimental
stories concerning her have been printed
All are without foundation. No finer bat
tleshfp floats today. She came from the
deck at Halifax as stanch as when she
entered it. and in far better condition
These reports are wantonly made, but they
hold the navy up to unmerited scorn and
ridicule. 1t not only has a bad effect upon the
people here. but abroad as well 1t reflects
discredit upon the commanding ofiic. rs
This is undeserved. The true spirit ami
mating the officers Of the navy was shown
by the commanding officer of the Maine in
the East river several weeks ago. He re-
ceived due praise therefor, but under SIM
liar circumstances scores of commanding
officers of our navy would have acted the
same. The disagreements between the line
and staff are responsible in measure for
the action of the sensational journals. The
sooner they are settled the better for the
service and the better for the country at
large Messieurs o the line and staff come
together like men and settle your differ
enceS.