Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-12-20
GREAT Change
IN navy DEPT
Secretarv Meyer to Abolish Several
Bure.us-0ffieer to Be Advis-
ers.

Needing the cry for reform In ma
val affairs. Secretary Meyer on We'd
hcsday will inaugurate the most
sweeping changes in the Navy de-
partment since the establishment OF
the bureau system in 1872. Him
self director of banks and manu-
featuring companies in New England
in times past, he hopes to put the
department on business basis be-
yond the dreams of predecessors The
keynote of his reforms Is the sub
ordination of the bureau chief of the
rast.
Summarized. the essential changes
In the Meyer plan are: THE selec-
ton of four responsible advisers on
subjects within the four groups into
which duties of the department fall,
to be known as the aide for mate
rial, the aide for personnel, the aide
! for operations of the fleet and the
aide for inspections.
The grouping of the bureaus into
sonnet, according to the nature OF
their duties.
The establishment of division OF
operations of the fleet.
The establishment of modern
/ and efficient cost keeping system in
the Navy Department and at navy
yards.
The separation of navy-yard work
into divisions of hulls and machin-
cry.
The adjustment of the board of
construction.
The adjustment of the bureau OF
equipment.
Henceforth, 1t is announced, the
officers who fight the ships are to
have more influence in the Navy de-
rartment.
Chosen men from among them are
to be the official eyes and ears OF
the secretary, laden with full res
possibility for their reports. The
secretary. however. will retain his |
administrative and executive power
for his own exercise and that of the /
assistant secretary of the navy. All !
the reforms go into effect Dec. /, |
except the abolishing OF the Bureau
of Equipment, which Congress alone
can do.
The aide for operations of the
fleet will be Rear Admiral Richard
wainwright. commander of the third !,
division of the Atlantic fleet.
The aide for personnel will be
Rear Admiral VIM. Swift, command
ant of the Boston navy yard.
The aide for inspection will he
capt. Aaron Ward, recently super
visor of the New York harbor, who
VIII become a rear admiral on Jan.
..
Reginald +. Nickerson, q member
OF the board OF inspection and sur
Vey' viii be made chief of the bu.
reau of navigation, vice Potter.
When Mr.. Meyer assumed Office
he found some confusion in the de-
partment and in the navy yards, due
to changes instituted by Sec. New
berry few weeks before the close
OF his administration. Steps were
taken TO ascertain hcw far it was
desirable to follow the reforms Law
Sec. Newberry.
The Sperry board was created to
report how the various conflicting
orders and regulations could best be
feconciled. Then came the Leutz
board, which were asked to make
recommendations concerning the con-
OF the bureau of steam en-
with other bureaus, a step
undertaken by Sec. Newberry. Fin
any Sec. Meyer appointed the Swift
BOARD to consider the reports of the
o'her boards and to make recommen-
oations for the improvement of the
,,, methods of the department.
win these reports as a basis. Sec
meyer has evolved his plan of re-
form. VI
ne secretary found that the bu-
'eaus or the department were ipde-
pendent of one another ana thai be
must decide all differences between
'hem, The aides are to advise him
on these points.
'he secretary, seeks advice
from individual officers" said Mr.
'eSer Monday, in explaining his re.
FORMS he gets advice which NAV
De good but which is not resnon.
s'oie' such recourse to individuals
moreover gives no assurances or
con annuity of policy or resnonsihn
ity." ''spohsiDil-
according to the Meyer plan, the
BOARD of construction becomes rsa
less and therefore is abolished, This
' was created principal VITO su.
pervise ship designing and to DECIDE
In dispute between the Inn.
reaus. '"' ou-
~ Under the Meyer plan the operat-
lug branch /hich deals directly with
" "u "'ii'ary use of the fleet will Or !,
a ...tI