New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-01
NAVY YARD SHAKE-UP
RADICAL CHANGES MADE.
NaUdl Constructor at Head of York
and Bureau Chiefs Now Inspectors.

There begins at the navy yard n Brooklyn this
morning a order Of things which involves a
most radical change in it's administration Rear
Admiral Goodrich. the commandment on Saturday
issued final orders practically abolishing the Cces
OF chiefs of the various bureaus, making tho hold
ers Of these places inspectors of operations In their
various lines and placing the primary control OF
the work OF the construction and repair, steam
engineering ordnance and equipment bureaus ana
yards and docks In the hands of the chief naval
constructor, William ]. Baxter The bureaus
themselves are not abolished, their autonomy Is
provided for by enactment, buc their Importance
and the responsibility Of their various heads have
been mnirnized and the handling Of the allounents
Of money for the different departments has been
taken from the chiefs and centred in the hands Of
the commandment
Il was known early m the week that the order
was coming, as instructions had been issued 10
have all involving executive conrrol OF tne
various divisions Of yard work closed up by the
end OF the week. Saturday afternoon loun1o al
the more important affairs ready for transfer 10
the office Of the naval constructor, VINO VIII assume
charge this morning, OF practically everything IN
the yard except the departments OF supplies ana
accounts, which include the storekeepers and pay
masters. medical and surgical departments and
work in hand which is being done unoer OUTSIDE
contracts. The two bureaus just mentloned VIII
rernein as they have been and the contract work
will be finished under the direction OF the bureau
chiefs who have had 1t in charge
Considerable comment has been caused by the
fact that this change has been made regardless OF
the fact that the President ONLY last week ep-
pointed a special commission to go into the whole
matter OF naval administration. despite Secretary
Newberry's reorganization programme. which pro-
viced for such action Questions Of precedence
between line and staff have been settled In man
ner which is apparently satisfactory TO all con-
cerned Those line officers at the heads Of bu-
reaus who are senior the naval constructor VIII
report directly to the commendant and the Juniors
will not be called TO take orders from the con-
structor unless they are willing to do So Whaf
will happen TO them in they are not willing Is
eft for future settlement Il has been expected
for some time in accordance with sdvices from
Washington that the bureau of equipment and the
bureau of yards and docks would be abolished Al
present It seems as II they would continue busi-
ness for soma time Steam engineering Is another
bureau which II the present plan is not changed
by the incoming administration, Is slated for ao-
sorption. It is not expected that the actual work
Of the ordnance bureau will be removed from the
direct control Of tho Inspector in charge, as II Is
of highly technical character.
DIRECTIONS TO THE PLAN.
So far the chief objections TO the enalgamation
pian seem to have the question Of abol-
ishins the Bureau OF Yards and Docks. The point
was made Saturday afternoon that the erection Of
buildings ard their maintenance and repair. the
paving of streets laying of water mains, building
OF drydocks and their care, the stringing and
supervision OF electric light, power and telephone
lines and the multifarious other duties which fall