Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30

photograph by G1lbert)
establishment of the new system Secre-
tary Welles highly commended it and stat
ed that the department, in consequence of
Its operation. had been relieved from great
embarrassment.
The Present System.
The bureaus of steam engineering and
equipment owe their birth to the necessities
of war. The bureau of navigation, like
wise, was born of war. 1t has under it's
Immediate charge all matters relating to
the movements of ships, which formerly
belonged to the bureau of ordnance and
photography. In addition to the equipment
of vessels. the bureau Of equipment had
recruiting among Its duties. but this was
subsequently transferred to navigation
which was placed in charge of all matters
relating TO the personnel of the service. At
the same time recruiting was given to
navigation there was taken from this bu-
reau and transferred to equipment all the
material hitherto possessed, including COM
passes. lights, etc. The bureau of ordnance
and photography was finally reduced TO the
bureau Of ordnance. photographic matters
were first given to the bureau of naviga-
ton, but they were placed by law last year
under the bureau of equipment
When Mr.. Whitney was Secretary Of the
Navy he recommended the adoption of a
plan reducing the bureau system to five
which is almost identical with that pro-
abolition of the bureaus Of steam engineer
ing and equipment and their consolidation
with the bureau Of construction and re-
pair under the name of the bureau of ma
terial, construction and repair which should
contain two divisions. one of construction
and equ pment and the other of steam en-
cheering. Representative BOutelle of
Maine, now chairman of the naval affairs
committee of the House. was a minority
member of the naval affairs committee
when the Whitney bill was favorably re-
ported by that committee. His report Wig
orously opposed the reduction and CONSOLE
dat:on-
Meets With Opposition.
Vigorous opposition is already meeting
Secretary Longs bill. Rear Admiral Philip
Hichborn. chief naval constructor; Rear
Admiral r. B. Bradford, chief of the bu-
reau of equipment, and Rear Admiral G.
W. Melville. chief of the bureau of steam
engineering, all object to its enactment
and if called upon will present their OBJ
jcCtions to the committees. In view of
Representative BOutelle's attitude on the
hitney bill no doubt is expressed that he
will assume a similar policy with respect
I" the Long measure. In order to prevent
opposition and at the same time to avoid
relieving one of the chiefs of bureaus aft
fected by the proposed consolidation, all
Of whom performed noteworthy service dur
ing the war with Spain. the Secretary has
Incorporated provision in the bill under
/
by which me Rear Admiral Hichborn will
have retired and the terms Of Rear Admiral
Melville and Rear Admiral Bradford Will
have expired
To Avoid Friction.
The bill is the result of the friction ex-
listing between the bureaus. which prevents
the expedition of matters requiring prompt
acton. In addition. each of the bureaus
affected by the bill is constantly reaching
out in an endeavOr to take duties belonging
to another bureau. In the interest of har-
mony and Of good business administration
1t IS desirable in the Secretary's opinion.
ing the three bureaus under one head who
shall be Immediately responsible to the de-
partment. In big shipbuilding plant or
in any other business firm the Secretary
points out that pickering between three
heads Of divisions could not occur, because
there is the one man to direct the work.
Rear Admiral Melville, whose term as
chief of the bureau Of steam engineering
expires next month Is the hero of the
of friends in and out of Congress. Rear
Admiral Melville will be retired on January
10, 1903 and if reapponted as chief of bu-
reau he Will be able to retire as q senior
rear admiral Rear Admiral Bradford
served as attache of the American COM
mission which negotiated the peace with
Spain. and the character of his service dur
ing the war has been so high that his
friends say that he should be rewarded by
another term. The personality of the two
officials named entering largely in the con-
sidcration of Secretary Longs bill will UNI
doubleday influence many members against
voting for its passage. c. A. L.