Evening star., 1909-02-27

Secretary, to be flag officer; to be with
out administrative functions, DuI to be the
ex otlcio head OF the general board and
the board on -constructfon;. to supervise
war plans. naval policy. the War College,
the office of naval intelligence. and KIN
dred subjects.
Personnel-Third division: The chief of
the division Of personnel; to be flag
officer; to be charged ex-oflcio with the
business Of the bureau of navigation; all
educational institutions except the Naval
War College; the Marine Corps. Dis
'cipiine: The office Of the judge advocate
general; the naval observatory and kim
dred subjects.
Inspection-Fourth division: The chief
of the division Of inspection; to be flag
officer; to be charged with the duties per-
tanning to the trials of ships; TO the in
spection of fleets. squadrons and ships:
of naval yards and stations; of sites Tor
naval stations, and kindred subjects
Material-Fifth Division (the technical
division): The chief of the technical di-
vision; to be flag officer. naval con-
structor or a civilian with a technical
training: to be in supervisory charge of
the business Of the four technical ou-
reaus Of constructions, ordnance; eng1-
neering and equipment.
The Councils.-The chiefs Of the five
grand divisions to form the Secretary 8
general council. The chiefs OF the second,
third and fourth divisions Operations,
personnel and inspectioD to form the sec
retary's military council. but OF these the
chief of naval operations is the sole re-
sponsible adviser. No chief OF bureau
while acting as SUCH to act as CHIEF OF
division.
The military members OF the generai
council to be appointed by the President
with the advice and consent OF the SEN
the exception Of the chief OF the division
of naval operations. to be Ineligible TOT
reappontment except after an interVen-
ing period of three years.
Enumeration of Duties.
We respectfully suggest attention to the
following enumeration of the duties Of the
bureau Of supplies and accounts:
1. Provisions.
2. Clothing. 49,.
3. Small stores.
f. Purchase of it's own supplies.
5. Purchases of all other bureaus
e. Its own accounts.
Z. Accounts of all bureaus.
s. Purchase of general supplies for the
navy
g. Storage and distribution Of the sup
plies at navy yards.
10. Pay of navy.
The bureau of supplies and accounts
should be divided. 1t is bad business
practice to have the purchase and care
of supplies under the management of
those charged with the duty of keeping
the accounts or paying the bills.
There should be a purchasing and sup
ply. department. as well as an accounting
department. Inventories of supplies on
hand should be made to and checked by
the accounting department, but 1t is a
poor system where the same bureau is
charged with doing both.
We recognize. in order to make these
recommendations effective. it will be nee
~essary that earnest consideration and
careful study be given existing laws, and
we suggest that the law (section 42O, Re-
vised Statutes) which gives a bureau
chief equal authority with the Secretary,
in his absence. be repealed.
We have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM H. MOODY.
ALLSTON G. DAYTON,
PAUL MORTON,
8. b. LUCE,
Rear Admiral, U.S.N, Retired.
A. r. MAHAN,
Rear Admiral, U.S.N.. Retired.
WILLIAM NJ. FOLGER,
Rear Admiral. T.S.N., Retired.
WILLIAM s. COWLES,
Rear Admiral, U.S.N.. Retired.
WILLIAM F. FULLAM,
Commander. U.S.N., Secretary.