The Washington times., 1909-04-08
Investigation on Foot Now
to Formulate Plan
of Action.
PRESIDENT SEEKS
TO SAVE MONEY
Taft Believes Economy Can Be OBJ
tained in Effort as
Well as Cash.
BY JAMES HAY, II.

That the United States navy is TO be
~eorganized by Secretary of the Navy
Meyer, Is the report today among those
familiar with the affairs of the service.
According to this report, Beekman
Winthrop. Assistant Secretary of the
department. is now engaged in an ex-
haustive study Of all She details by
which the proposed reorganization can
promote efficiency in the service and
economy in the expenditure of the Gov
ernment's money. The main effort OF
the plan Will be directed toward COM
bining and concentrating the numerous
boards and bureaus, whose duties now
UverIap and result in great repetition
OF work
The investigation is keing made by
Mr.. Meyer and other officials Of the de-
partment with a view to being able to
advise the President fully in regard to
IT before he sends his message TO the
next session OF congress.
That such a reform could accomplish
beneficial results is claimed by the ad-
Nocates of it. who point to the list of
bureaus and boards Of the department
Bg evidence c9 their argument.
Some of the Boards.
Some OF the boards and bureaus are:
The Bureau of Yards and Docks,
bureau of Equipment. Bureau of Navi-
cation, Bureau CT Ordnance. Bureau Of
Construction and Repair, Bureau of
Steam Engineering. Bureau OF Sup
piles and Accounts, Bureau OF Medicine
ana Surgery, Board of Inspection and
Survey. Naval Examining Board. Naval
Retiring Board. Board OF MEDICAL Ex-
RJniners.
Such a reform is exactly in line with
the policy OF Mr.. Taft. who has already
come out in favor Of consolidating all
the agencies for the control of corpor-
ations by the Government and aH the
bureaus and other agencies of the
Federal Government for the preserva-
sion OF the public health.
IL has been accepted as fact that Mr.
pJeyer Will be one OF the subcommittee
- three Of the Cabinet which the
President will name TO suggest methods
1or economizing In the expenditure OF
Fnoney by the Government. This will
pe done because OF the general impress
havy offers fruitful field for economy.
May Combine Functions.
This can be promoted by combining
the functions Of some of the bureaus
md boards and by outlining their duties
80 that they shall not overlap or du-
pIicate each others labors. According
~ NAtS htcSAP So1dtf AAt pidn VIII prOD-
ably follow all, or most, of the essen
fial features outlined by former Secre-
<sary of the Navy Newberry.
III has been up to this time matter
OF doubt as to whether this Admins
fration would take up the work sug-
gested by Mr. Newberry. but the pres
ent activity in the department looking
toward such reform settles the ques-
ton beyond doubt.
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer today
received from the Attorney General an
opinion that Congress acted within It's
rights In providing that, In contradiC-
Hon OF the executive order OF Mr.
Roosevelt, the marines shall be restored
20 duty on the ships of the navy Mr..
Meyer had already ordered the marines
back TO the ships
WiekeVsham's Opinion.
The opinion OF Mr. Wickersham-
which upholds Mr.. Meyers action. saws
IN part:
"Inasmuch as Congress has power 10
oFaete or not TO create, as II shall
deem expedient, a marine CORDS. IL has
power 70 create a marine corps. make
appropriation for its pay. but provide
that such appropriation shall not be
available unless the marine corps be
employed IN some designated way and
] therefore am Of opinion that the
provision Of the statute 10 which you
direct my attention Is constitutional" ="