The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-30
PLANS FOR REFORM
IN NAVAL AFFAIRS
Secretary Meyer VIII Inaugu-
rate Sweeping Changes
GROUPING OF THE BUREAUS
Board Of Construction and Bureau of
Equipment VIII Be Abolished
and Officers of Ships VIII
Have More Influence.
GROUPING OF THE BUREAUS

Washington. November 2s-Heeding the
cry for reform in naval affairs, Secretary
Meyer day after tomorrow will fnausurate
the most sweeping changes IN the navy
department since the establishment of the
bureau system In 1B4s. Himself director
of banks and manufacturing companies in
New England In times past, he hopes to
put the department on a business basis
beyond the dreams Of predecessors. The
keynote Of his reform Ia the subordination
Of the bureau chief Of the past
Summarized. the essential changes in
the Meyer plan arei
The selection of four responsible adj
visers on subjects within the four groups
into which duties OF the department fall,
to be known as the aid for material, the
aid for personnel, the aid for operations
Of the feet and tho aid for inspection.
Groupings of the bureaus into two d.
visions Of material and personnel, accord
Ing to the nature Of their duties.
Establishment of a division of opera
tions of the fleet
Establishment of comprehensive in
spection system.
Establishment of a modern and efficient
cost keeping system In the Navy Depart
ment and at the navy yards.
Separation OF navy yard work into two
divisions Of hulls and machinery.
Adjustment Of the board of construc-
tion.
Adjustment of the bureau of equip
ment.
Henceforth the officers who fight the
ships are to have more influence In the
navy department.
Chosen men from among them are to
be the official eyes and ears of the sec
rotary, laden with full responsibility for
their reports but not his hands. The
secretary will retain his administrative
and executive power for his own exer-
else and that of the assistant sec
rotary of the navy.
All the reforms go into effect Deem
mer L except the abolishing of the bu-
reau Of equipment which Congress alone
can do.
The aid for operation Of the fleet will
be Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright,
commander Of the third division OF the
Atlantic fleet; the aid for the personal.
Rear Admiral w. P. Potter now chfef
Of the bureau of navigation; the aid for
material will be Rear Admiral Swift, COM
mandant of the Boston navy yard, and
the aid for inspection will be Capt. Aaron
Ward. recently supervisor of the New
York harbor. who will become a rear
admiral on January 9.
no1d
Der Of the board Of inspection and sur
vey, will be made the chief Of the bu-
reau Of navigation, vice Potter.
The Sperry board was created to re-
port how the various conflicting orders
and regulations Of former Secretary New
berry's uncompleted reforms could be
reconciliated. Then came the Leutz board
which was asked to make recommended
lions concerning the construction of the
bureau Of steam engineering with other
bureaus. step undertaken by Secretary
Newberry. Finally Secretary Meyer ap-
pointed the Swift board to consider the
reports Of the other boards and to make
recommendations for the Improvement of
the business methods Of the department.
With these reports as a basis Secretary
Meyer has evolved his plan for reform.
The secretary found that the bureaus
Of the department were independent of
one another and that he must decide all
the differences between them. The aides
are to advise them on these points
According to the Meyer plan, the board
of construction becomes useless and
therefore may be abolished
TIpdar the Mavar r3au ha 1pora H. =.
branch, which deals directly with the mil
ftary use of the fleet, will originate the
military features of new construction
In consultation with the general board,
of which the new aide for operations
will be member. Other officers will
also be called In for advice and criticism.
both before and after the sketch plans
have been prepared by the technical bu-
reaus. These officers will be selected be-
cause of pronounced success In ordnance.
engineering or general practice work.
TWO MEM eItQaENnEp