Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-11-30
MEYER HEEDS
DEMAND FOR
REFORM
SWEEPING CHANGES IN
ADMINISTRATION or NAVY
Secretary Resolves to Put De-
partment on Business Basis.
Such as It Has Never Exper-I
fenced Since Its Organization


~ Nerning Journal special Leased wirel
Washington. Nov. e9-Heeding the
cry for reform In naval affairs. Soc
fafy Meyer on Wednesday viii inaug-
nfaie the most sweeping changes IN
the navy department since the cstab-
ment OF the bureau system IN ts42.
Himself y former director Of banks and
manufacturing companies. he hopes
to put tho department on a business
basis beyond the dream Of his pre-
ceeessors. The Keynote ~ his reform
is the snbDrdiuatiun Of the bureau
chief. Summarized. essential changes
in the Meyer plan are:
The selection of fuur responsible adj
yisers on subjects within the four
groups Into which duties Of thu de-
partment fan 20 be known as the
aide for material the aide Of person
mel. the aide for operations Of tho
fleet md the aide for inspections.
The grouping 81 the bureaus into
Two divisions OF material aud person
nel. according 70 the nature q their
duties.
The establishment Of q division Of
operations Of the fleet
The establishment 81 a %comprehen-
sive Inspection system.
The establishment Of a modern e.
ficient cost Keeping system In the
navy yards.
The separation Of navy yard work
into two divisions Of hulls and ma-
chinery.
The abolition Of the bureau Of con
sfruction
The abolition Of the bureau Of
equipment
Henceforth officers who fight the
ships are 10 have more Influence in
the navy department Chosen men
from among them are 90 be the off
cial eyes ana ears Of the secretary,
laden with fuli responsibility for their
reports. but not his hands. The score
tary will retain his administrative and
executive power for his own exercises
and that Of the assistant secretary OF
The navy. All the reforms go into ef-
feet December /. except the abolition
~ the bureau Of equipment which
congress alone can 10.
The aide. for operations ~ the fleet
win be Rear Admiral Richard Vain
wright. commander Of the Third dtFis-
ion Of the Atlantic fleet
The aide for personnel VIII De Rear
Admiral Potter. now chief Of the
bureau Of navigation.
The aide for mntrriai viii be Rear
Admiral william swift. commnndant
Of the Boston navy yard.
The aide for inspection will be Cap
tain Aaron ward. recently supervisor
~ the Now York hnrhor, who Viii he
come a rear admiral January ?
Captain Reginald r \ Nicholson.
n member ~ the board Of Inspection
and survey viii be made chief of the
hurean 81 navigation. vice Potter
When Mr.. Meyer assumed office ne
found some confusion in the depart |
mont and in the navy yards, due 10
hanKes instituted by secretary New
berry q few weeks before the close OF
his administration. steps were ttkcu
60 ascertain how far II WAS desirable
To follow reforms outlined by Secre-
Newberry. The sherry board WIS
by report how the various
conflicting orders and regulations
could best bc %reronciled Then came
Leutz board which WIS asked 10
recommendations concerning
consolidation of the bureau ~
steam engineering with other bureaus
, step undertaken by secretary New
Jerry. Finally Secretary Meyer ap-
the Swift board TO consider
-oports Of the other boards and make
recommendations for the improvement
business methods of the depart
with those reports as a basis, Soc
'otary Meyer has evolved his plan Of
The secretary found that the
lureaus OF the department We're in
dependent of one another and TINT he
must decide al difficulties between
hem. The aides an, 10 advise him on
hese points
If the secretary seeks advice from
Individual officers in whom ne has
confidence, but who hnve no definite
10 the organization of the
department. said Meyer. TO-DAY
% explaining his reforms. he gets
that may be rood. but that ~