Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07
Philippines Coast Defense. !.
NAVY Department.

The return Of the battle-ship fleet from
its voyage around the world, in more
efficient condition than when 1t started,
was a noteworthy event Of interest alike
to our citizens and the naval authorities
OF the world Besides the beneficial and
far-reaching effect on our personal and
diplomatic relations in the countries
which the fleet visited. the marked sue
cess OF the ships in steaming around the
world In all weathers on schedule time
has Increased respect for our Navy and
has added to our national prestige
Our enlisted personnel recruited from
all sections Of the country is young and
energetic and representative of the ma
tional spirit. It is, moreover, owing to
It's intelligence. capable of quick train
ing into the modern man-of-warsmen.
Reorganizing the Personnel.
Our officers are earnest and jealous In
their profession. but it Is regrettable
fact that the higher officers are old .or
the responsibilities of the modern navy,
sand the admirals do not arrive at nag
rank young enough to obtain adequate
training in their duties as flag officers.
This need for reform IN the Navy mas se
been ably and earnestly presented to
Congress by my predecessor, and l also
urgently recommend the subject for con-
sderation.
Early in the coming session a compre-
hensiye plan for the reorganization OF the
officers of all corps of the Navy Will be
presented to Congress. and hope IL Will
meet with action suited to Its urgency.
owing to the necessity for economy
in expenditures | have directed the cur
taiIment of recommendations for naval
appropriations so that they are thirty
eight millions less than the correspond
ing estimates of last year. and the re-
quest for new naval construction is Inn
tied to two first-class battleships and one
repair vessel.
Changes in Administration.
The use of a navy is for military pur-
poses, and there has been found need
in the department of a military branch
dealing directly with the military use
OF the fleet. The Secretary OF the Navy
has also felt the lack of responsible adj
yisers to aid him in reaching conclu-
sions and deciding important matters be-
tween coordinate branches of the de-
partment To secure these results he
has inaugurated a tentative plan lnVolV-
ing certain changes in the organization
Of the Navy Department, including the
navy wards. all of which have been
found by the Attorney General to be IN
accordance with law l have approved
the execution of the plan proposed, be-
cause of the greater efficiency and econ
omy 1t promises.
Naval Observatory Director.
The generosity of Congress has pro-
vided in the present Naval Observatory
the most magnificent and expensive astro-
nomical establishment In the world. 1t
is being used for certain naval purposes
which might easily and adequately be
subserved by small division connected
with the Navy Department at only a
fraction of the cost of the present Naval
Observatory. The official board OF Visl-
tors established by Congress and APP
pcinted in 1901 expressed its conclusion
that the official head of the observatory
should be an eminent astronomer APP
pointed by the President by and with
the advice and consent OF the Senate,
holding his place by a tenure at least
as permanent as that of the superln-
tendent of the coast survey or the head
of the geological survey. and not merely
by a detail of two or three years dura-
ton l fully concur in this judgment,
and urge a provision by law for the
appointment of such director
Should Be Temple of Science.
It may not be necessary to take the
observatory out OF the Navy Department
and put it into another department in
which opportunity for scientific research
afforded by the observatory would seem
to be more appropriate, though l believe
such a transfer in the long run is the
best policy. I am sure, however, l ex-
press the desire of the astronomers and
those learned in the kindred sciences
when l urge upon Congress that the
Naval Observatory be now dedicated to
science under control CT man of science
who can. If need be, render all the
service to the Navy Department which
this observatory now renders. and still
furnish to the world the discoveries in as
tronomy that a great astronomer using
such a plant would be likely to make.