The Washington times., 1909-01-15
First Meeting of President
Reorganization Com
mission.
BUREAU SYSTEM
SEEMS DOOMED
. Newberry Hurt Over Failure of His
Reform Plan, and May
Quit After March 4.
By JOHN SNURE

system in the Navy Department, and
after one Secretary after another has
Iruiuessly recommended changes in the
direction OF a more efficient and more
businesslike administration, II appears
that a start has been made toward a
real reorganization. The reorganizatiln
committee named by President Roose-
veit IS in conference today and is ex-
peoted 10 soon set forth a detailed and
specific plan for substantial changes IN
the present system
The company of naval experts met at
10 O'Clock this morning in the office
OF the Secretary Of the Navy with Mr.
Newberry as chairman.
For an hour the general subject Of
the military and business conditions
OF the navy was discussed. All the gen
tIemen who were summoned for this
conference with the exception Of Rear
Admiral Evans, were present.
Many Are Present.
These were Associate Justice William
II. Moody. Of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and Paul Morton. former
Secretary Of the Navy: Herbert l. Sat
terlee, Assistant Secretary Of the Navy;
Judge A. G. Dayton. of the Federal
district court of West Virginia, former
chairman of the House Committee on
Naval Affairs; Rear Admirals Stephen
3. Luce Alfred r.. Mahan. William
Folger. and William s. Cowles, chief OF
the Bureau Of Equipment, with Com
mander William T. Fullam, recorder,
At II o'clock Secretary NeWberry went
10 the Cabinet meeting, and the con-
ference was adjourned &c the Secre-
1ary's reception room, where It was
continued. Secretary NeWbeTTy. upon
leaving the meeting. said that nothing
had been accomplished so far, and thai
IN fact he knew nothing about what
was expected from the conference, say
ing that he had nothing TO do with It.
Progress has at last been made
in the face OF the most strenuous oppo-
sitiou from the disciples of the ola bu-
reaucratic system which has persist
entity set its face Against any departure
from the present ways of conducting
the department
Pull of Bureaucracy.
Those who have had experience with
this naval bureaucracy and who have
come 10 learn OF rs powerful pull"
with Congress and with most Admins
trations, say that there is nothing in
show anywhere near its strength It's
social influence. for one thing, is en-
ormous. Its members hail from every
section Of the land. from every State
in the Union. and the Bureaucracy as
q whole Is able to reach out and exert
powerful influence with many Senators
and Representative.
Some Secretaries Of the Navy have
been little more than puppets in the
hands Of the bureaUcrats. RecOmmen-
datiOus for reforms have been pigeon
holed through the efforts OF friends
OF the old regime in Congress. Recon-
mendstions Of competent officers as 10
construction and other matters which
have not agreed with the ideas OF the
powers that be at the department have
been received with contempt: even with
hostility. Il has been about as much
as a naval officers official career was
worth 10 attempt to block the wishes
or the CLIQUE.
Realized Difficulties.
Even President Roosevelt, who knows
thoroughly the defects of the system,
has hesitated TO take hold Of this i'm
portaut question. He has realized its
difficulties and understood the opposi-
lion that any step toward effective re-
organization would encounter. In his
annual message NE declared: There
il literally no excuse whatever FOR con-
tinuing the present bureau organization
Of the navy
1T might be expected that iu view OF
the aroused state of public sentiment
Oh this subject. Congress would hasten
20 act. 10 IS known that nearly an the
members OF the House Naval Affairs
Committee are iu favor OF remedial
legislation. They are convinced the
present system is uubusinessIIke, that
1t IS eztravagant that in case Of war
with a great power 81 would break
down But they do not seek to force
reforms through Congress for the rea-
son that Chairman F0ss is either luke
warm or WeIi-disp0sed toward the old
system and Senator Hale. chairman OF
the Senate Naval Committee. shows no
disposition 10 grapple with the situation.
Weight With Congress.
President Roosevelt wants the oorr-
mission 10 prepare and set before the
public and before Congress, through the
White House, a comprehensive plan for
revising this autiquated and ineffective
system For this there are several .res-
sons. one is that. if such a plan is de-
bl-FG DL DlLAI1rleAl- men, al VIII have
weight with Congress and with the
public. To viii also be difficult for auv
follower of the Old bureaucratic organ
izati0n 20 get up before committee OF
Congress and say the men who devised
the reorganization did not know VIVA
they were talking bout
While III ls impossible 10 sa- ruIIv
what plan The commission will favor
there ls reason To believe thar fha
President has definite ideas as 10 what
ne would Ike 10 see evolved, and there
IS also reason 10 believe the naval on
GERS who are inclined 10 reforms have
these same ideas also
il seems likely that the plan favored
viii be for sort or navy general stan,
which Will be advisory TO the Secre-
taTy OF the Navy il may be termed q
general STAFF or IT, may be termed an
advisory board. Do viii bc made up. as
proposed, OF line and stah officers.
Those in favor of constituting such q
body say 81 should Zoe advisory only. and
should have 40 administra tive authority
Dc would be an expert jury that would
give the Secretary advice on which DE
could settle AN questions This body
would be a link between the Secretary
81 the Navy and the bureaus.
Now there are seven coordinate bu-