The evening times., 1899-12-14

The bill which contemplates the ccnlbl-
| idation of the Bureaus OF Construction and
Repairs, Steam Engineering and Equip
has been submitted by Secretary Long for
| the consideration of Congress through
Senator Hale, was the subject of considera-
Bile comment at the Capitol this morning.
Strong opposition to the measure has al
ready been manifested and. it was said
today that its enactment into law was
not by any means certain. Opponents OF
| the bill declare that 1t is a menace to the
effectiveness of the navy.
During the war with Spain the efficiency
of the Navy Department and the smooth
working of its bureau system evoked the
unstinted admiration of foreign nations.
and there was not criticism passed at
home except perhaps on the Bureau of
Navigation, which is the Office having the
closest connection with the Secretary's own
office. The Bureaus of Equipment, Steam
Engineering, Ordnance and Construction
not only were ready for war with all the
warships fitted for service but they re-
spOnded promptly to the necessity OF nj
ting a great auxiliary feet and enabling
the ships TO go 10 sea and stay afoat,
Spain's naval force was destroyed.
The contrast between this achievement
and that of the army was so sharp that Sec
retary Root has recommended in his annual
r"port intimation of the Nays system in
I War Department, and where Secretary
Il ng advocates generalization by combin-
n.g three highly technical bureaus, the.
Secretary of War urges further specializa-
tion. starting with the creation Of a chief
of artillery.
Those opposing the bill say that the rea-
son the Bureau of Ordnance is omitted
from the scheme is as obscure as the rea-
son for including steam engineering or
equipment. The battery Of q warship and
its installation are regarded as essentially
parts Of a vessel as its machinery or other
requisites. and the armor protection Is as
inseparably q part Of construction as the
decks or keel.
In his annual report Secretary Long gave
these reasons for recommending consoi-
dation:
when a contract is made for the con-
| struction of a ship it is made with one
| builder. II is not given in part 10 con-
structor of hulls, part TO steam engine
| manufacturer and part to an Quitting
| firm. Whatever various trades enter into
| the work are all under one head. This is
! the method of private shipyards, which
| build the largest ships, and which are not
| left 10 the administration of three -hea6s.
between whom delicate questions OF re-
| spective authority and responsibility are
liable to arise, resulting in delays and too
| often in friction and lack of harmony OF
| cooperation.
| As a matter Of fact. the engines OF some
of the best ships in the navy were built
| under differsat contracts or by different
| firms at different places from the hulls, as
| in the cases of the Texas, the Monadnock,
| the Marblehcad, the Bennington, the Con-
cord. the Bancroft tpartly1, and more re-
Gently the torpedo boat destroyer Stewart.
The bureau system, it is pointed out,
| in the best shipsards and, in all large or
| important works is distributed to a great
| er degree than in the navy. All such
works have z head who may be compared
| in authority with the Secretary of the
| Navy. but the establishments are divided
| into numerous bureaus or shops. each as
/ independent of the other as naval bureaus
are. Mr. Cramp, al the head of his great
| works has separate chiefs and shops for
hulls for machinery. for brasswork, and
| other specialties.
One of the leading opponents of The bill,
| in discussing the proposed consolidation,
| said today:
The date of naval consolidation is post
poned BY the Secretary's bill until 1902.
| In his annual report he recorded his high
appreciation of the ability and dutiful-
! ness with which the three bureaus have
been administered under their present
| heads. and as an assurance that the change
| is recommended on systematic and not per-
sonai grounds he proposed that consolida-
| tion shall not go into effect until the be-
ginning of the fiscal year. after the expra-
| tion Of their said terms. The present Sec
retary. who will probably not be in office
at that time, is willing to retain the exist
| ing bureau system for the rest of his term.
but if the scheme is a good one. it should
| be good now.
Many sagacious and experienced officers
| would be glad if Secretary Long. instead Of
waiting nearly three years TO place new and
untried men in charge of the great Bureau
of Ships. would consent to try the exped-
lent of utilizing a competent Assistant Sec
retary, who has the confidence Of the whole
service to a degree seldom IL ever en-
joyed by predecessor, and who is ready
at once TO preside over the three coIstruc-
tive bureaus. without any change of law.
There could be no extravaganza or delay
due 10 lack OF harmony with such head
as has been in existence since 1912"