New-York tribune., 1909-12-18
MEYER In A FIGHT
LINE And STAFF VAR
BREAKS OUT AGAIN.
Reorganization Plan Bitterly
Opposed By Constructors
Turmoil an Department.
From The Tribune Bureau. !

out with renewed violence and IN way
which has directed a vigorous campaign
against the naval constructors, who be
ieve they are marked for extinction by
the merging of the members of that
corps with the line. Naval officers are
secretly seeking to checkmate Secretary
Meyers plans by influencing members
of Congress- and there are all the ele-
ments Of q highly sensational contest.
The naval constructors believe that MI
Meyers plan of reorganization ignores
them. that it subordinates them in all
ways and in every place TO the line. ana
especially to those line officers who are
or who will be under the Bureau OF
Steam Engineering The Meyer reorgan-
ization. as now fully set forth TO the
House Naval Committee, will, they say
make the naval constructor little better
than a craftsman They say the con-
structor is deprived of all responsibility
and will have little to do except draw
the nav to which he is entitled by law
The discussion now going on In the
Naval Committee as to the wisdom OF
making certain changes in the bin which
will carry out in legal way the plan
approved by Mr.. Meyer is, of course par
taking of the divergent views enter
tanned in the department and the ser
vice That committee is not entirely
satisfied as to the economical advantages
of the Never system. There are some
members who still prefer the Newherry
system. of which they heard most Ia
vorabIv from it's author in the hearings
wear ago. and for which they have
acquired a liking from observation OF us
application at the navy yards at Mare
Island. California and Bremerton, WASH
which were visited by some of the mem
berS last summer
The committee is practically Unani-
nous in favor of abolishing the BureauN
OF Eouipment and the distribution of its
duties TO other bureaus. Opposition TO
legislation which viii give legal endur-
ance and stability and authority TO the
four aids-those for personnel. material
operations and inspections-which have
been appointed by Mr.. Meyer for his
guidance and counsel seems to be in
creasing That looks TO them TOO much
like a general staff. or the beginning or
such a body, TO which Congress is un-
alterably opposed and TO such degree
that if the question came squarely before
either the House or Senate the General
staff Of the army would to-day be wiped
out Of existence.
WANT REPORTS OF BOARDS.
In the mean time the House Naval
Committee is seeking some additional
information from Nj. Meyer, on whom
i. has called for the recommendations
made by the various boards which have
Jeen convened at different times 10 co1-
slider navy reorganization. Reports from
these boards, especially those known as
the Leutze. the Sperry and the Swift
boards. have been regarded as contden-
tiaI at the Navy Department. and no
one has been able to obtain the recon-
mendations from those sources of advice.
The Naval Committee feels that it is
entitled to share with the Secretary of
the Navy the information he gained in
this way. while it is expected that the
publication OF the reports will reveal
some interesting conditions, chiefly, the
staff officers insist, the exclusion of their
branches of the service.
The system Of secrecy and suppression
, has doubtless added to the turmoil
within the Navy Department and
aroused the suspicious OF Congress. Mr..
Meyer has prohibited the bureau chiefs
and other officers from discussing in
public, and especially with Representa-
tives and Senators. the subject of the re-
I organization The bureau chiefs who re-
Gently appeared before the House Naval
Committee We're obliged TO ask to be ex-
I q via ff.,
parting any information on certain sub
jects which Secretary Meyer had de-
cIared confidential" II is even pos
sible that this enforced silence may de
feat the Meyer plan of reorganization
In all this the naval constructors be-
Heve they see purpose to extinguish
their corps. a scheme to that end has.
in fact. been under consideration. and
has been put into written form with the
idea of presenting it to Congress as a
draft OF desira bic legislation. II is pro-
posed TO amalgamate the naval con-
structors with the line, as was done in
the case of the members of the old engi-
ueer corps This would require the naval
constructors, who have been specially
trained-some of them in foreign tech
meal S'lbblS- lbl LlltlI uQLitSt 10 "a kt
up navigation and other line or hghtlng
personnel work and prepare themselves
for duties on shipboard II may be that
a few experts would he retained for the
work Of designing, but the majority of
the seventy-fve officers of the corps. ac-
cording 10 the scheme, are destined to
go into the line.
/ OFFICERS MAY BE DISCIPLINED.
OF course the proposition is received
with marked disfavor by the construct
ors They may be expected to resist any
such absorption, while at the Capitol
those who have To do with naval legis-
lation are equally emphatic in saying
that they will not seriously consider any
plan which will deprive the service of its
highly trained naval constructors II is
appreciated that there will he dissension
and discord just so long as there are a
/ line and STAFF in the naval establish
ment, but this Is not held to justify the
oblterauon Of the constructors corps
This aspect of the case has impaired to
a grievous situation an element which
is highly sensational The feeling on
this subject is intense the service is de-
moraliZed over the situation. and i'm some