New-York tribune., 1909-07-28
NAVY REORGANIZATION
WORK OF SECRET BOARD.
DIR. Meyer Explains It's Duties
Continuity Of Policy.
THE WRIGHT BIPLANE-
TFrom The Tribune Bursau.I

from The Tribune Bureau.I
Washington. July 1.-The Secretary Of the Navy
consented to-day to talk Of the secret board which
under the chairmanship of Rear Admiral Swift is
meeting at the navy yard in Boston. and TO give
some Indications of the highly important duties
which have been intrusted to this board. Every
effort was made TO keep the very existence of the
board secret. but its entire personnel, and to
considerable extent its purposes. having been made
public IN The Tribune of July q, Secretary Meyer
decided to-day TO acknowledge its existence and to
give at least partial explanation Of its reason
for being.
The board IS charged with no less important a
duty than the preparation OF a comprehensive
plan for the entire reorganization Of the Navy De-
partment including the various navy yards. and
the formulation OF feasible plan for creating
sort of naval cabinet, IN which all the more i'm
portant bureaus will be represented. such a board
ct in advisory capacity to the Secretary OF
the Navy.
To this end Mr. Meyer has submitted to the
Swift board the reports of his two previous boards
that headed by Admiral Sperry. 10 which was
delegated the duty OF reconciling discrepancies in
the naval regulations growing out Of the issue OF
the midnight ORDERS and that headed by Ad-
mral Leutze. which considered particularly navy
yard administration 1t related TO the bureau of
steam engineering.
The paramount idea will be the continuity Of
naval policy. This is to be obtained by the estab
lishment OF an authority which will be superior
to the bureaus and will coordinate their work. in
stead OF compelling each incoming Secretary 10 get
in touch with the department by dealing with each
OF the bureau heads I'm turn This has been one
OF the difficulties OF the department In the last
nine years there have been seven Secretaries or
the Navy, and each had to go through the same
abOriOus process OF getting IN touch with the ar
fairs of the department.
Another important feature will be the domination
Of the military policy. This is in contrast to Sec
retary Newberry's ideas He held that the navy
yards should be managed large business in
sttutions the kind managed Here
after also. all questions OF a military character
involving the army will be considered by joint
board OF army and navy officers and greater har-
mony between the army and navy in such ques-
lions as the location OF naval bases and fortihes
tons will be sought
Secretary Meyer also intimated that questions
such as the consolidation OF bureaus the abol-
ishing Of navy yards would also be likely TO arise
Before many Of the questions can bs adjusted
legislation viii be required by Congress. so that
the whole scheme is expected be made the basis
of extensive recommendations at the next session
To what NIr Meyer impaired may be added the
fact that the plan OF reorganization which Is re-
ceivnR serious consideration from the Swift board
corteu1plates the assembling Of correlated burea
IN the Navy Department into offices" each 10 be
commanded by a flag officer; for instance.
dealing with the feet and personnel. one with
operatlons another with ships and materials.
other conducting all inspections. and probably still
another composed entirely Of admirals. who by
reason Of their ability and experience. would be
in a position 10 give expert advice to each civilian
Secretary who may succeed to that office. and also
to the various chiefs of office The plan is. OF
rourse merely tentative, hut IL affords the ground
work for comprehensive plan Of reorganization
The changes of the heads of the Navy Depart
rent have been, perhaps, exceptionally frequent IN
the past. but no observe at close range the
perpexities Of civilian Secretary WREN confronted
bv conflicting advice from officers. each of whom
should he competent to advise. without realizing
the advantages which would be derived from an
advisory board of the type suggested, a board
which would be practically continuous, vacancies
being filled as fast they occurred, and which
would preserve a continuity of policy which could
not but he highly beneficial TO the navy not only
ashore. but afoat. There is general assumption
that the board will be inimical to the New
berry plans. but while IL seems likely that Secre-
tary Newberrys plans may be subjected to some
material notifications. the general purpose OF the
board is known be in line with the views OF the
former Secretary although under Mr.. Meyers ad-
rninistration the efficiency and welfare of the fleet
will be ever uppermost in all plans for reorganiza
ton even those which at first sight might seem 10
deal almost exclusively with the organization
ashore.