Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-13

taken their regular turn at sea duty and
they have insisted that before granting adj
ditional of1cers there should be some re-
organization Of the various bureaus at the
department. Secretary Moody also, Il
would seem, takes the position that there
Is a SUFFICIENT number Of officers in the
service and that the trouble is that they
are not assigned to duty in the proper man
ner. The impression in the house and
senate is that the great majority Of naval
officers have soft snaps In the way Of shore
billets and the result Of Mr.. Moody's in
quiries Is expected to confirm this impress
sion.
Re~organiSing Bureaus.
Secretary Moody has also decided to re-
organize the various bureaus OF the de-
| partment and in this direction he has pro-
posed several changes which have provoked
sharp criticisms from the heads Of the
bureaus. The secretary Of the navy is au-
thorlzed by law to distribute the duties
Of the Navy department as he may see at
and It is under this general direction that
Mr.. Moody will act The details Of this
plan contemplate the assignments of all
officers except those Of flag rank by the
chief Of the Bureau Of Navigation, who is
Z " Dt the utdu VI Tue ulNlSlou VI ptIbOuutA-
All other bureaus, including the bureaus
of supplies, accounts and medicine and sur
gerry, are to be placed under the assistant
secretary Of the navy, but in case he should
need advice he can receive assistance from
a line oficer detailed for that purpose. The
stan bureaus vigorously object to this ar
rangement for the reason, 1t is urged,
that the line will thus be enabled to extend
its authority. Having the detail Of all Of
1cers, save those Of flag rank in its power,
the bureau Of personnel can. 1t is said,
not only assign line but STAFF officers to
duty at such points as It may see At, to
embarras the heads Of the departments in
the performance Of their work. It Is also
pointed out by those who object to the sec
retary's plan that should the ofice OF as
sistant secretary become vacant the line
officer detailed in that office would act in
place Of the assistant secretary and thus
both the division Of material as we'll as the
division OF personnel would be under the
direction of line oficers. 1t is said that Mr..
Moody will make many changes In the Navy
department.
Lees Opinion Has Weight.
1t is the general opinion among the few
congressman still in Washington that had
General Lees Interview on the Cuban sit
uation been given to the public before the
adjournment of congress 1t might have had
a different effect on the present status Of
reciprocity with the new republic. There
Is no doubt that General Lee is as ia
miliar with the conditions of Cuba and
the Cubans as anyone in this country. At
least, he is so supported in this regard
by public sentiment, and enjoys the con-
hdence OF the men of both parties, many
of whom regret that he did not give his
views earlier in the session. Speaking of
the disasters that appear to menace the
future Of Cuba, Representative Cousins OF
Iowa said the other day:
II cannot see any assured happiness for
the Cuban people, and l mean, Of course,
commercial prosperity when l say this,
except through annexation. I have always
believed that to be the only solution OF
one Of the most vexatious problems that
has ever confronted the people OF the
United States, to whom Cuba looks as a
child. toward its parents. The men who
represent the business interests of the
island have always favored annexation, and
today they desire 1t more than ever.
think It rather premature when Cuba is
spoken Of as a possible state in our union
That is so remote 1t is waste Of time tc
consider 1t. The bone and sinew Of the
island. the thinking men thereP who have
the best interests of their country al
stake, desire such a political alliance with
the United States, for without II they can
not occupy, a position which gives then
standing commercially with other coun-
tries. I fear the first outbreak will come
from the laboring classes, and such q hap
|, pening would be almost disastrous. Lei
Cuba com In as a territory before in.
ternal strife brings back to 1t once more
the devastation and misery 1t suffered
through Spanish tyranny"
The present prominence Of this question
is worrying to a considerable extent the
beet sugar people, who now realize that II
defeating Cuban reciprocity they manufac'
tured a boomerang which will strike then
an annexation blow.
Reducing Force I'm PHILIPPINES.
> Secretary Moody today cabled to Real
Admiral Wildes. the ranking admiral II
Philippine waters, instructing him to plac,
the gunboats Arayat, Basco, Calamianes
: Marivelea, Panay and Paragua out OF com
, mission. These vessels are small gun
: boats which have been engaged in patro
7 duty in the lower islands OF the archi
!. pelago.
. This action is part Of the movement re
= Gently decided upon to reduce the activ
naval force on the Asiatic station. l
, will furnish a considerable number of ON
GERS and ment to reinforce the presen
: quota on the station. which is not at al
J commensurate with the duties to be per
4 formed. Orders also have been sent for
a ward for the withdrawal OF the suppl
: ship Arethusa. now at Cavite, from tn
> station. 1t will come to the New YorI
navy yard. 1t is probable that the gun
> boat Princeton also will be withdraw
Q from the Asiatic station in a short lime