The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-28
MESSAGE SENT
TO CONGRESS
This Time the President For
WarGS Report of Naval
Commission.
COMMENTS MADE THEREON
SOUND AND CONSERVATIVE pol
ICY, SAYS ROOSEVELT.
COMM ENTS MADE THEREON

Washington, Feb. %. President
Rooseveit's commission on naval reor-
eanization, whose final report went to
congress today outlines a new depart
mental system which the president de-
clares is sound and conservative, and in
full accord with American policy.
1t contemplates for the secretary
general council, military council and
the redistribution of the duties of the
present bureaus in five divisions, the
chiefs of which are to compose the
grand council, who are to be the assist
ant secretary. three flag officers and an
other flag officer, naval constructor or
civilian with technical training.
Presidents Message.
In submitting the plan, the president
says:
Nothing drastic is recommended as
to- the bureaus or other agencies by
means of which the purely business af-
fairs of the navy department are now
administered The plan outlined does
not imply any greater expenditure of
money than at present. It provides
merely that the money should be spent
wisely instead of as at present spending
IT so that certain proportion is wasted
in useless work"
To supplement and finish the work of
this commission, the president saws
another commission must eventually be
designated, to take up the proposed plan
and complete it as to details; but no
plan can be satisfactory if there is de-
Walton from the essential military pTin-
ciples specified i'm this report
The bureau system in its entirety has
been retained, but with additional per-
sonnet. The commissions scheme is
merely an illustration of principles, and
not a digested plan.
A Man of Affairs.
II Contemplates that the assistant |
secretary shall be a civilian; a man of |
affairs" who shall be the chief officer |
of the first division, and shall have
charge of the business of the bureau of |
yards and docks. the bureau of supplies |
and the bureau of medicine and surg /
cry; the employment of civilians and /
kindred subjects.
The second, or division of naval oper-
ation- whose chief shall be a flag Off /
Ger, the principal military adviser to
the secretary. to be without admins
tratiVe functions, but to be ex-oficio
head OF the general board and the board
of cOnstruction-is to supervise war
plans and the general policy, and have
finder his control the naval war college,
the office of naval intelligence and kim
cred subjects.
The third, or division of personnel
whose chief shall be flag officer, to
Toe charged ,ex-ofiiciO with the business
or the bureau of navigation, all educa-
uonai institutions except the naval war
college. the marine corps. the discipline
of the navy, the office Of judge advocate
general the naval observatory and kin
dTed subjects.
Inspection Division.
r The fourth, or division of inspection.
whose CHIEF shall be a flag officer. shall
be charged with the duties pertaining
to the trials of ships; the inspection of ,
fleets, squadrons and ships of navy ;
yards and stations, of sites for naval :
stations, and kindred subjects !
The fifth, or technical division. whose !
chief shall be a flag officer, a naval con-
s-ructOr or a civilian, with technical f,
training, shall be a supervisory charge
of the business of the four technical ,
bureaus of construction, ordnance, en-
cheering and equipment
No chief of a bureau, while acting as
such, shall act as chief of division. ;
The military members of the general I
council to be appointed by the president.
with the advice and consent of the SEN
ate. for three years. and, with the ex- :
ception of the chief of the division of !
naval operations. to be ineligible for re- :
except after an interven-
ing period of three years.
The commission declares that the bu :
reau Of supplies and accounts should he
divided.
I'VE recognize" says the report .'in
order 10 make these recommendations y
it viii be necessary that earn,
est consideration and careful study h6 0
given existing laws, and we suggest 3
that the law (sectiOn 422, Revised Stat
utes), which gives bureau chief equal Y
authority with the secretary, in his all '
sence, be repealed" d
c