The Washington times., 1907-12-20
NAVY OVERHAULING,
TALK IN CONGRESS
Department Said to Be
Extravagant, inefficient,
and UnbuSineSSlike.
Costly Blunders in Design
ing Battleships Charged
in Service Journal.

Interesting developments regarding the
Navy Department are scheduled in Con-
gress after the holidays. Among some
of the members Of the Naval Affairs
committees there IS talk OF airing the
extravagances and deficiencies Of the
department and even of making an
urgent effort to accomplish thorough
overhauling OF IL.
II is argued in responsible quarters.
among members who have had oppor-
tunity for a thorough insight into Navy
Department matters. that there is a cry
ing need for something Ike business
methods IN this department.
Some OF the members Of the House
Naval Affairs Committee, who had op-
portunfty last summer to see for them
selves how the navy yards on the At
lantic coast were run, are anxious for
thorough reforms. They are impressed
with the utter absence Of anything busi-
neSslike In the handling OF navy analrs
ana are convinced that useless and indie
fensible extravaganza prevails. not alone
as 10 the navy yards. but as TO the
o. management Of a great many things
under the departments control.
Allege Costly 6llnders.
In the last several months. charges
have been made by a service publica-
tion, The Navy. and widely printed. that
the Navy Department has been making
d. a succession Of costly blunders In the
designing and construction OF battle
ships 1t has been pretty well de-
Veloped that the system that prevails
in the department whereby a number Of
boards practically govern IL. each board
on the same plane OF authority as the
other. and each board jealous OF It's pre-
negatives. is responsible for much Of
the alleged weakness of the depart
ment. With boards and bureaus warning
with each other, il Is impossible for
Secretary OF the Navy 70 effect a good
administration in the short time that
is usually allowed him to remain head
Of the department.
This year. the Administration IS
strongly insisting on a big naval pro-
gram II wants four battleships and a
number Of minor vessels in addition
Congress is showing a disposition just
now to look askance on the Administra-
tons battleship program Weli-informed
members OF the House Naval Affairs
Committee say that II the President gets
two battleships he will be fortunate.
Want Efficient Administration.
But in connection with this matter
OF building up the navy at a rapid
rate, there will be p strong disposition.
and this on the part Of Republicans, as
we'll as Democrats. 10 raise the ques-
don whether, IL the couhtry is to have
ST. great a navy as the Administration
ks. Il should not be managed by
'avy Department whose methods are
tDlihed. CCOnomized. centralized. and
TiEde more efficient and business-like in
every way possible.
1t Is recognized of course, among
The members Of Congress who feel the
Navy Department ought to be over
hauled. that there are great difficulties
in the way. A thorough Overhauling
~ ha Trr IN IN
many officers who enjoy easy berths on
shore, mainly in Washington. In the
way Of any real reform in this line,
10 as the social pull" OF the high navy
officers and their families, which is well
understood to be a force that will have
70 be reckoned with.