The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-27
ER0A OTHER PENS
THAT WASTE OF WAR MATERIAL

THAT WASTE OF WAR MATERIAL.
The revelations before the naval COM
mittee OF the house of representatives
by Rear Admiral Rogers. chief of the
bureau OF supplies and accounts Of the
navy department, can hardly be denom-
mated startling, although they appeal
strongly for the institution of rational
methods In the handling of war ma
terfal, not only for the navy, but for
the army. 1t has long been known
that the naval contain guam
titles of material which has grown OBJ
solete, and, therefore, valueless except
as junk, and it has been known also
that much Of the material is steadily
deteriorsting so that it will have little
value for any purpose when 1t is finally
taken from storage.
These accumulations result from
various causes. A nation with a large
navy must keep on hand immense
stocks Of ammunition and other equip
ment. 1t must also keep pace with the
times in the betterment of munitions Of
war; and must introduce improvements
in ships fittings whenever with rival
powers. The changes in the character
OF war material have been almost rev.
dictionary during the past rs years. and
the Quitting of ships has become an
entirely new art.
Under the rule of the navy officers
are moved from post to post In order to
each officer his just share Of rest and
labor. The officer in charge OF the
bureau of supplies and accounts may
be in that position for only short
time. He Is. therefore, unable to in
stitute anything like system in the dis
posal of ammunition and stores in ac-
cordance with the care Of the material
Probably he lacks authority to do So
Were the supplies Of the navy depart
ment in charge Of one person OF COM
manding authority for a period of years
a system could be inaugurated under
which the supplies could be distributed
with reference to the age of the mater
ials, and ammunition and ships fittings
which become obsolete could be dis
posed of promptly in order to make
room for new and improved equipment.
milwaukee Wisconsin
ENGLAND'S ASIATIC SUBJECTS.
The problem which the government of
Great Britain faces in it's self-govern-
ing colonies, like Canada, Australia,
South Africa, where the people are try
ing to exclude imperial subjects coming
from India, is grave one On the face
of the situation, nothing would seem
palmer than the right of any subject
of the empire to reside in any part of
the empire. On the other hand. 1t is
claimed, and with much force, that it
is the essential right Of the people of
a self-goyerning state to determine the
conditions under which admission to
residence may be granted. If an ire
concilable difference of view arises be-
tween the imperial government, bent on
enforcing the rights Of all subjects in
all parts of the empire, the advantage
is clearly with the self-governing
states They have prima facie the right
of legislation in the matter, and they
have the physical means to enforce
their will The imperial government
has the theoretical right to veto such
legislation as appears to it to be in
contradiction of the rights of It's sub
jects, but it would be sorely put to 1t
to enforce its will against any general
opposition. The dominant fact in the
situation after all is that the teening
population of India. If it once develops
a wandering tendency, may easily come
to outnumber the whites in many of
the se1f-governing states. as It already
has done In Matthew York Times.