Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-01
President Hopes to Perfect Eli
tire Reorganization Before
His Term Expires
WANTS VOLUNTARY COMMISSION
Mon to Undertake Great Work Will
30 Com peIled to Serve Without Pay
General Plan Proposed Will Fol-
low Lines Of British Admiralty -
Politics May Be Kept Out.
Especial correspondence.)

Washington, Dec. president
Roosevelt Is contemplating the APP
/ pointment of a voluntary commission
to consider and report on the ques-
ton Of recognizing the navy depart
ment.
/ Secretary OF State Root. under whose
administration the army was reorgan-
lied and the general staff system
adopted, has been asked to become
head of the commission. This fact. to-
gether with the presidents well known
conviction in favor Of the general staff
plan, may be accepted as quite definite
ly Indicating that such q commission
would recommend the application OF
the general staff plan to the navy.
Secretary Root has not yet indi-
Gated whether he will be able to accept
the commission. 1t would involve q
great deal OF arduous work, and the
secretary's time Is so much occupied
with other and very important busl-
ness that 1t Is difficult for him to I'M
dertake new burdens. The personnel OF
the commission is entirely an open
4 question thus far. Whether Mr. Root
will serve is the first point to be de-
cided. A number Of distinguished men,
whose recommendation would have
! large weight with the country. have
/ been mentioned in connection with the
task, but it iS not permitted at this
time to give them.
Between the difficulties which re-
late to securing the services of the
right men, and those which are IN
volved In the fact that Mr.. Roosevelt Is
nearing the end of his term in office,
At is not ut present certain mat Tue
commission will be named. The presi-
dent earnestly hopes that he may be
able to establish the machinery. ana
set 1t in motion, before the close OF
his administration. Whether the COM
mission could conclude It's task before
March is extremely doubtful, but
people who desire the reorganization
believe that the incoming administra-
ton would push the work forward.
Invitations to this service do not
present the most alluring prospect.
1 There will be no compensation for 1t,
and members OF the commission will be
able to assure themselves In advance
that they will receive their full share
OF criticism--and worse--no matter
what they may do or recommend. None
the less. 1t is looked upon as the oppor-
tunity for q distinguished service to
/ the country.
| Tho Plan Contemplated.
n 81, {e. mt NV G.
tabiishmem Of general staff for the
navy may be expl. I'D in a few words.
At present the head of the navy Is
civilian secretary Of the navy; neces-
sarily not an expert in technical nau-
/ teal affairs. He has his own staff OF
assistants and clerks. all civilian. or
/ mainly SO. Next come the coordinate
bureaus navigation, yards and docks,
supplies and accounts, medicine and
surgery construction and repair, steam
engineering, ordnance, and equip
ment. THESE eight bureaus are each
supreme in their own fields of author
jity; any order Of a chief of bureau IS
| by law considered as emanating from
| the secretary OF the navy. and is CIV
en- full force as such.
These bureaus are Independent OF
each other, and the secretary Of the
navy is their one common superior. He
/ is not a technical man. What is the
result?
The bureau OF construction and re-
pair builds a war vessel. When 1t IS
put into commission the bureau or
navigation takes charge of it, In time
latter bureau learns, from the Of
Eers at sea, that the vessel is defec-
I've in some respects; att least. that
|sorhe changes would be desirable In
another of the same class. They report
to this effect, and the report goes to the
chief Oh the bureau of navigation.
4 The chief Of this bureau being con :
yinced that there is merit in the crit
icisn or suggestion, passes it on up 10
the secretary of the navy. Not being
technical person, he can not be ex-
pected to form a Judgment; so he re-
fers the question to the bureau OF
construction ana repair, which neces-
sarlly must have to do with such
matters.
Inclined to Resent Criticism.
The officers Of this bureau, being
human. incline to resent criticism OF
their work. They regard that vessel,
perhaps, as their masterpiece. Ihey
take no stock in the criticisms; and the
reply to the secretary of the navy with
a deluee Of technical reassurances is
calculated to leave him hopelessly be-
fuddled. Between his conflicting ad-
visers he doesn't know which ITO pre-
fer, ana SO does nothing.
That is the present situation. Al
least. II is the situation as outlined by
the naval critics. The president pc
lieves there is something wrong. ana
would like to see the whole matter IN
vestigated.
| Similar to British Admiralty.
I The general staff remedy for this
condition would work somewhat arter
hesfashion Of the British admiralty
, boaS5. This is a group of advisers
, of he secretary of the navy llavai
offers fresh from sea service, thof,
oughy competent to pass on techhlcai
< auctions. In the British organization
. it ihluded the flag officer who is .ne
r chie naval adviser and is responsible
forihe personnel; the flag officer VINO
is s.ponsible for material; the nag
, officeor captain who is responsible lot
! suppls: and the financial secretary
IS famiir with all financial detalis' nus
Is boardvouldt be called in to slt Oh ene
s comp4nt from the bureau OF naVlsa.
u tion:S would consider that complaint
i from ne standpoints of navlsation' oa
/ battleservire. Of fleet movement, 81
a inanc.1 ern.. and Of practicability