The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-11

A Change in Navy Regulations which Implies
No Change OF Duties.

A Change in Navy Regulations which Implies
No Change OF Duties.
WASHINGTON, April 9.-Attention has been
drawn to the fact that the now Assistant Sec
rotary o. the Navy, Mr.. Roosevelt, will take
Office under regulations somewhat different
from those Of his predecessor, Mr.. McAdoo.
Up to a few days ago. as has been remarked,
the regulations prescribed that the Assistant
Secretary should exercise n general super
vision over the bureaus of the Navy Depart
ment and those branches of tho establish menL
acting hereunder" This assignment Of
duties wholly disappears in the new regula-
tions issued by Secretary Long Just about tho
time that his new assistant was to be noml-
mated, and what is left is the remainder Of tho
old provision, namely, that the Assistant secre-
tary shall perform such specific dutiee as
may he prescribed by the Secretary or required
by la W."
The first suggestion was that this change
had been made for the express purpose OF cur
failing the fu actions Of the Assistant Secre-
tary. But nothing could be further from the
fact. The old regul ttion was q very loose
and questionable provision, perhaps intro
ducAd as II to Justify the revival of the ONCE
Of Assistant Secretary, which had proved In
valuable during the civil wa, and then had
been dropped until after the reconstruction of
the navy had begun.
1t is evident that the officer who exercises
general supervision over the bureaus Is and
always has been the Secretary himself; and
this has been exactly as true In every particular
since the revival OF the office OF Assistant Sec
rotary az 1t was before. The AssistnnG Secro-
tary has always pei formed, first, specific
duties assigned to him by the Secretary, as,
for xample look ing after tho naval militia,
AMI, secondly. all the duties OF the office Of
the Secretary in the absence Of the latter.
It was. therefore, natural that the new Sec
to the officer whose nomination was to be sent
in, observed this faulty and conceivablv mis-
c c ,Issc,nd Phrase h.1se. in d the FEssSlatiEns' and h.d it
o~s.otice. instead OF later. whom, indeed. II might
have been invidious. There can be no doubt
whatever that this is the only matter involved
in the change; and that there will be no dimi-
mutton in the duties OF the Assistant Secretary.
The chances are. OF the two. rather in favor Of
an increase.
ing the office Of Assistant Secretary, in view
Of the variety and extent of the duties imposed
upon the Navy Department in these times. Mr..
Herbert. in his last report, took orcasio On to pay
this hearty and well-merited tribute to Sir.
Roosevelt's predecessor:
l cannot permit the occasion to pass without ex.
pressing my warm gratitude To Assistant Secretary
with which re has discharged the duties OF his
position. The naval militia, the Marine Corps. thu
repairs to ships. and other important matters have
been. by general order. especially under his charge.
Nor only has lie performed he duties pertaining 10
these branches OF the service. but he hes AFFORDED
and whenever the duty of managing the Navy De.
partment devolved upon him he has discharged Ii
In O most satisfactory manner.
With the great amount Of detail devolyed
upon the department since the reconstruct zion
OF the fleet, there 10 no question that q Secra-
tary is only too glad to have all the aid which
is fortunate in having energy and executive
ability like Mr.. Roosevelts It his