Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

Of other nations. always b Of greater eise
than our army. We have most wisely con-
our navy, and 1t has now reached fairly
high standard Of efficiency. This standard
OF efctency must not only be maintained
but increased. 1t does not seem to me nee.
essary, however, that the navy shouldn't
least In the immediate future-be increased
beyond the present number of units What
10 now clearly necessary Is to substitute
efncient for inefficient units as the latter
become worn out or as It becomes apparent
that they are useless. Probably the result
would be attained by adding single bat
tieship to our navy each year, the super
seeded or outworn vessels being laid up or
broken up as they are thus replaced. The
four single-turret monitors built imme-
diately after the close of the Spanish war,
Tor instance, are vessels which would pc
of but little use in the event OF war. The
money spent upon them could have been
more usefully spent in other ways. Thus
1t would have been far better never to have
built single one of these monitors and
to have put the money into an ample sup
ply of reserve guns. Most Of the smaller
cruisers and gunboats. though they serve
a useful purpose so far as they are needed
for international police work, would not
add to the strength of our navy in con-
hict with serious foe. There Is urgent
need of providing large increase in the
number of officers, and especially in the.
number Of enlisted men.
Recent naval history has emphasized GER
do, need emphasis. Seagoing topedo boats
or destroyers are Indispensable, not only
for making night attacks by surprise upon
an enemy, but even In battle for finishing
already crippled ships. Under exceptional
circumstances submarine boats would
doubtless be Of use. Fast scouts are need
ed. The main strength OF the navy, how
ever. lies and can only lie in the great bat
gunned vessels which decide the mastery
of tho seas. Heavy-armed cruisers also
play most useful part, and unarmed
cruisers. II swift enough. are very useful
proxirnately equal prowees the comparative
perfection of the instruments of war will
ordinarily determine the fight. But 1t is OF
course true that the man behind the gun.
in the coming tower. considered not only
individually, but especially with regard to
the way in which they work together are
even more important than the weapons
sable battleship il of course helpless against
even light cruiser If the men aboard 1t
are unable to hit anything with their guns;
and thoroughly well-handled cruisers may
count seriously in an engagement with
much superior vessels. If the men aboard
the latter are ineffective. whether from
lack of training or from any other cause.
Modern war. ships are most formidable
mechanfsms when well handled. but they
are utterly useless when not we'll handled;
and they cannot be handled at all without
long and careful training. This training
can under no circumstance be given when
once war has broken out. No fighting ship
OF the first class should ever be laid up
save Tor necessary repairs; and her crew
should be kept constantly exercised on the
high seas, so that she may stand at the
highest point of perfection. To put a new
and unframed crew upon the most power
full battleship and send 1t out to meet a
formidable enemy is not only to invite but
to insure disaster and disgrace. To i'm
provise crews at the outbreak of a war.
so lar as the serious fighting craft are con-
cerned, is absolutely hopeless If the Off
GERS and men are not thoroughly skilled
in, and have not been thoroughly trained TO,
their duties. it would be far better to keep
the ships in port during hostilities than to
send them against a formidable opponent,
for the result could only be that they would
be either sunk or captured. The marks
nianship of our navy is now on the whole
in gratifying condition and there has
been great improvement in fleet practice
We need additional seamen; we need a
large store of reserve guns; we need suff1-
cient money for ample target practice. am
pie practice of every kind at sea- We should
substitute for comparatively inefficient
types-the old third-class battleship Texas
the single-turreted monitors above men
toned. and indeed all the monitors and
some Of the old cruisers-eficient, modern,
seagoing vessels. Seagoing torpedo-boat
destroyers should be substituted for some
of the smaller torpedo boats. During the
present Congress there need be no addi-
tons to the aggregate number of units of
the navy Our navy, though very small
relatively to the navies of other nations is
for the present sufficient in point of num-
bers for our needs. and while we must
constantly strive to make its efficiency
nigher. there need be no additions to the
total number of ships now built and build
ing. save In the way of substitution as
above outlined. l recommend the report
of the Secretary of the Navy to the careful
consideration of the Congress, especially
with view to the legislation therein advu-
Gated.
Naturalization Laws.
During the past year evidence has &C.
cumulated to confirm the expressions con-
tanned in my last two annual messages as
to the Importance Of revising by appro-
pirate legislation our system of natural.z-
ing aliens. 1 appointed last March a COM
mission to make a careful examination of
our naturalization laws, and to suggest ap-
proprlate measures to avaid the notorious
a buses resulting from the improvident or
unlawful granting of citizenship This
commission composed of an officer of the
Department of State, of the Department
of Justice and of the Department of Com
rnerce and Labor has discharged the duty
imposed upon it, and has submitted a re-
port, which Will be transmitted to the Con-
sress for its consideration, and, l hope. for
its favorable action.
The distinguishing recommendations Of
the commission are:
First. federal bureau of naturalization
to be established in the Department OF
Commerce and Labor, to supervise the adj
ministration of the naturalization laws and
to receive returns of naturalizations mend
ing and accomplished.
Second. Uniformity of naturalization GER
tifcates, fees to be charged and proce-
dure.
Third. More exacting qualifications for
citizenship.
Fourth The preliminary declaration Of
intention to be abolished and no allen to
be naturalized until at last ninety DAYS
after the filings of his petition.
Fifth. Jurisdiction to naturaize aliens
to be confined to United States district
courts and to such state courts as have
jurisdiction in civil actions In which the
amount in controversy is unlimited; in cities
of over 100000 inhabitants the United
States district courts to have exclusive
jurisdiction in the naturalization of the
alien residents Of such cities
Criminal Laws.
In my last message l asked the attention
of the Congress to the urgent need of ac-
ton to make our criminal law more effec-
tive: and I most earnestly request that
you pay heed to the report of the At
torney General on this subject. Centuries
ago 1t was especially needful to throw
every safeguard round the accused The
danger then was lest he should be wronged
by the state. The danger is now exactly
the reverse. Our laws and customs reIJ