The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-28
CO NIPPLE ! {
SURPRISE
SPRUNG
President Appoints Com
mission Of Eight to Con-
slider. Needs Of Navy.


Roosevelt believes the organization OF
the navy department Is not such as
to bring the best results and today he
appointed a committee to consider
certain needs OF the navy" His ac'
tIon was somewhat OF surprise In
view OF the fact that the members OF
the commission appointed today, two
We eks ago Met at Washington and III
dorsed Secretary Newberry's plan VI
reorganization and In veiw also OF the
authorization by the senare of an in-
quiry into naval expenditures, and the
Iced. If any, OF legislation to improve
the administration Of the navy depart
Ment.
Announcement OF the president s
action was entirely unexpected at the
navy department Secretary Newberry
appeared to be the most surprised OF
all.
The president has sNnt identical
letters to each of the eight members
OF the commission which is headed by
Paul Morton. former secretary of the
navy, the other members being JUS
'Ice Moody. also a former secretary
of the navy, Judge A. G. Dayton, for
,nGrly chairman Of the house naval az
Gairs committee and Rear Admiral $.
:. B. Luce. A. T Mahn, William Fl.
Foyer, Robley D. Evans and William
S. Cowles. all of whom are on the re-
tired list The letter follows:
My Dear Sir: | have appointed
cf q Iy ton ~
consider certain needs or the nav.
The organization OF tac department
Is cow not such as to bring the best
results and there is failure TO CO.
ordinate the work of bureaus and 10
make the department serve the c1e
end for which ii WAS created, that Is.
the development and handling OF FIRST
class lighting fleet With this propo-
sition will ask you to consider:
"1-All defects In the law under
which the navy department Is nov
organized, including especially the
detects by which the authority OF
chiefs of the bureaus is made In cer-
tain respects practically equal to that
of the secretary or the president.
'2-The division Of responsibility
and consequent lack Of coordination
in the preparation for war and conduct
Of war.
"3-The functions OF certain br-
reaus. as TO whether 1t is not possible
to consolidate them.
"4-The necessity of providing the
secretary OF the navy with military
advisors, who are responsible to him
for co-ordinating the work of the Du-
reaus and for preparation for war.
"5-The necessity for economical al
lotment and disbursement of appoint
sure strict accountability.
't-Finally. l want your views as to
how best to recognize and emphasize
the strictly military character of the
navy. so that preparation for war shall
be controlled under the secretary by
the military branch Of the navy which
bears the responsibility for the success
ful conduct Of war operations.
II wish to have the above subjects
considered under two general heads:
"1-Ae to the fundamental princi-
pies of an organization that will insure
an efficient preparation for war in time
of peace.
"2-Specific recommendations as to
the conditions in the present organiza-
tion that will accomplish this result.
In addition to the above reports.
desire your recommendation as to the
number. location and general facilities
OF the navy yards. which are required
by stragetic considerations In time Of
war and for maintaining the feet in
constant readiness for war in time of
peace.
Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Preceding by several hours. the
presidents announcement, WAS the
issuance of a general order by Secre-
tnry Newberry, which has been ap-
proved by the president, designed to
carry into effect the secretary's naval
reorganization plans SO far as they
pertain to the navy yards and naval
stations. Its general purport is TO
consolidate the manufacturing force
at navy yards, and its effect will be to
make the commandant. while, as hero
tofore. paramount, resemble In his
connection with the yard work. the
president Of large industrial plant;
the principal technical assistant be-
coming under the commandant the
general manager.