New-York tribune., 1909-11-30
MEYERS GREAT
NAVY REFORMS
THEY GO INTO EFFECT
TOMORROW.
-Four Flag Officers to 4dJise
Secreta3EBureau and Yard
Reorganization.
IFrOm The tribune Bureau. !

"dShihStOh. NOV. z3.-lnc secretary
of the Navy to-day promulgated the plan
of reorganization Of the Navy Depart
ment and the navy yards which he has
adopted in accordance with the recon-
mendations Of the Swift report. IL viii
go into effect on December l.
This plan provides for redistribution
of the duties OF the bureaus Of the de-
partment. so that hereafter they viii be
divided into grand divisions dealing. re-
spective!y. with material. personnel.
management Of the feet and inspections
An advisory board to consist Of four
fiag officers is created as a sort of cabi-
net for the Secretary of the Navy.
The aid for operations Of the fleet win
be Rear Admiral Richard Wainwright.
commander of the third division of the
Atlantic fleet
The aid for personnel will be Rear Adj
miral w. p. Potter. now chief Of the Bu-
reau of Navigation.
The aid for material viii be Rear Ad-
miral William Swift commandant of tbs
Boston navy yard.
The aid for inspection viii be Captain
Aaron Ward. recently supervisor Of New
York Harbor. who will become a rear
admiral on January g.
Captain Reginald F. Nicholson. a men,
Der Of the board of inspection and sur-
vey. will be made chief of the Bureau OF
Navigation 10 succeed Rear Admiral Pot
ter.
The cOmmandant of each navy yard. a
line officer. will have full control over
the yard. He viii be known as the gen.
eral manager. Under the general man
aser will be a line officer. who will be
captain of the yard and executive officer.
or aid. to the cOmmandant, while the
work of the yard will be separated into
two divisions. that dealing with hulls
and that dealing with machinery. In
each yard there will also be a subOrdi-
nate branch in charge of civil engineer
and dealing with public works.
The plan abolishes the board on con-
structIon and cOntemplates the abolition
of the bureau of equipment when lesis-
lation to that end can be obtained.
This plan Of reorganization. which has
been formulated by Rear Admiral Swift
and his associates, and contains SOME
features suggested by the long business
experience of Mr.. Meyer himself. COM
mands the admiration of all officers who
have had an opportunity to examine u.
and is expected greatly to promote the
efficiency of the Navy Department. TO
make for increased efficiency of the fleet
ard To remedy certain evils of organiza-
tion which have been experienced in the
department almost ever since its crea-
ticn.
HELPS THE SECRETARY.
The board of advisory flag officers is
re egarded as a peculiarly advantageous
feature. and IL is remarked that the Sec
retary has not failed to give abundant
heed TO the necessity of operating the
ravy yards as an adjunct and assistance
to the fleet. instead of as distinct manu-
featuring plants.
The Secretary found that the bureaus
of the department were independent Of
one another and that he must decide all
differences between them. The aids are
to advise him on these points.
IF the Secretary seeks advice from in
dividuaI officers i'm whom he has conf
dence. but who have no definite relation
10 the organization OF the Navy Depart
ment." said MIR Meyer to-day in explain
ing his reforms. "he gets advice which
may be good but which is not response
bIe. Such recourse 10 individuals. more
over. gives no assurances of continuity
of policy. nor responsibility
The operating branch. which deals d.
rectly with the military use Of the fleet.
will originate the military features of
new construction in consultation with
the General Board, Of which the new aid
for operations win be a member.
other officers will also oe called in for
advice and criticism. both before and
after the sketch plans have been pre-
pared by the technical bureaus These
officers will be selected because Of sue
cess in ordnance. engineering or tor
pedO practical work. The bureaus viii
be called upon finally to prepare the
actual plans. and viii be responsible for
their correctness.
With the growth of the business Of the
department Secretary Meyer found that
duties similar 10 those of the Equipment
Bureau were performed by the bureaus
of Supplies and Accounts. Construction
and Repair. and Steam Engineering.
Rear Admiral W. : Cowles. brOther-in-
law of ex-President Roosevelt. is now
the head of the bureau
DETAILS OF REPORT.
The following statement in relation 70
the naval reorganization. which is % so
into effect on December 1. by order OF the
Secretary of the Navy. embOdies all the
substantial parts ,'f the report Of the
board % investigation of which Admiral
swift was the head. and which has been
engaged for several months In studying
the conditions and needs of the Navy
Department:
Secretary Meyer. on assuming Office.
found the affairs OF the Navy Depart-
ment and the navy yards in some con-
fusion due 20 the changes instituted by
weeks before the cl.,Se of his administra-
tion. Mr.. Meyers first move was TO con-
vrne y ard known as the Sperry
board Co consider and report how tha
various conflicting orders and regula-
tiuns could best be recOnciled: 50 that
Mr. New berry's plan OF consolidation
could be systematically carried out and
what necessary ~hanGcs from the gen.
eral scheme could be made for the best
interests OF the navy This board was