The times., 1899-12-13
FOR A BUREAU OF SHIPS.
Secretary Long Would Consolidate
All the Constrnctfon DEPARTMENTS.

secretary Long Would Consolidate
All the Construction Departments.
Secretary Long has decided 70 call more
forcibly to the attention OF Congress the
recommendation in his annual report for
the reorganization OF the present divided
administration of ship construction. and 20
that end has had prepared the draft Of a
bill embodyiug the plan. which viii be for
warded to the Committees on Naval Affairs
Of the Senate and the House The measure
will provide. in substance that the Bureaus
Of Construction and Repair Equipment. and
Steam Engineering be abolished. AID their
functions embraced in one new bureau.
This is TO be called the Bureau OF ships.
1t is to have full charge OF all construc-
tiOn and repair work. including the design
ing, arrangement. and installation OF ma
chinery, and the selection and distribution
Of auxiliary engines, and the general equip
meEt of vessels Of war The text Of the
bill has not yet been made public. but il
is understood 10 contain a provision that
the purchase Of coal. now in charge OF the
Bureau OF Equipment. be transferred to the
Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. OF which
the Paymaster General of the Navy is the
head.
1t is expected that there viii be con-
siderable opposition to this sweeping ard
important measure when it is taken up for
consideration by Congress. Already stories
have been spread calculated TO do harm To
the department purpose. One OF these
is taat the main object Of the consoIida-
tiOn is to get rid OF one OF the officers
whose bureau would cease to exist If the
bill were enacted into law.
The chiefs OF naval bureaus are commits
stored for a term of four years The posi-
tion carries with it the rank and pay of
rear admiral junior grade. Rear Admiral
George w. Melville. the Chief OF the Bu-
reau of Steam Engineering is serving as
such under a commission which will eN-
pire January 10. 1900 The Chief of the
( Bureau of Equipment is Rear Admiral
Royal B. Bradford. whose term will ex-
pire December Is, 1901. Rear Admiral
Philip Hichborn's term as Chief OF the Blu
reau Of Construction and Repair viii Cx-
pire September Z 1901.
The bill abolishes the Offices held by
these officers. It Will be seen. therefore,
that under the terms Of the bill prepared
tao consolidation CT the three bureaus into
the Bureau of Ships csnnot become COM
pIete until December. 1901. when the com
mission Of Admiral Bradford will expire
The position OF the Navy Department in
regard TO the consolidation plan is that
the construction OF a ship in its entirety
should be iLtrusted to one builder This
is the English system and the method o.
private shipyards. How far the differences
between the various bureaus concerned il
ship construction are responsible. il al all
for the desire Of the department to change
the present system is nCt known. Sscre-
tary Long had urged placing the work OF
the Construction Steam Engineering and
/ Equipment Bureaus under one head. on the
ground that it is the proper method OF pro-
csdure. Incidentally he has pointed out
that a cor5olidated bureau can be operated
! cheaper than three bureaus.
I The bill does net limit the selection OF
/ the Cf.ef OF the Bureau Of Ships TO officers
/ CT the Construction Corps Care was taken
/ tc avoid such limitation, and should the
! measure become law "a line officer will
/ be eligible for the position.