New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-27
CONGRESS AND Y4T4L REFORM.


Tho Tribune's Washington dispatches
disclose q considerable opposition in Con
2ress 10 the reforms in naval administra-
ton undertaken by Secretary Meyer on
the recommendation Of the Swift board.
II WAS hardly TO he expected that Con
gress would change overnight its atti-
tude toward naval reorganization. The
influence of the naval committees of the
two houses has been exercised. in the
main. TO minimize departures from the
old order and 10 maintain a status quo
undoubtedly agreeable TO certain inter
estS inside the service but certainly OBJ
structive of the navy's progress toward
greater military efficiency. If the prece-
dents of the past are followed there is
danger that Congress will not only fail
10 cooperate in Carrying out the de-
partment's plans. so far as they require
legislative sanction, but may. even try
10 undo some of the work accomplished
by the Secretary in the limited field
left open TO him under his general grant
of administrative discretion.
II will be unfortunate il Congress de-
dimes 10 interest itself in naval reform
and attempts TO restore in all its license
the old system of divided authority and
chronic warfare among the bureaus.
The Secretary is trying to end factional-
ism and 10 escape the strain Of serving
merely as a buffer between bureaus
seeking TO control him instead of helping
him 10 control the department. He
wants 10 get rid of advisers accustomed
&c consult the welfare of a small faction
of the service rather than the welfare
of the service as a whole. II is his de-
sire TO secure disinterested cOunsellors
who will help him TO unity the navy and
10 simplify its administration. But If
the two houses withhold legislation
transferring duties from one bureau TO
another, cutting red tape and placing
authority in the hands in which il should
rest. the executive order of last month
will only have aggravated an unhappy
situation by creating new frictions and
strengthening the conviction OF the bu-
reaucracy that it can successfully defy
the Secretary by going over his head
10 Congress.
Something like this happened a year
ago. when the President and the Secre-
tary decided that the marines should no
longer be used for policing purposes
aboard the ships The function of the
marine as sea policeman is obsolete.
But Congress was persuaded TO take the
view that the maintenance of the
marine corps. which has many legiti-
mate and important military uses,
hinged entirely upon the preservation Of
an antiQuated tradition, and inserted Il
provision in the naval appropriation act
Tor 1309-'l0 fOrbidding the expenditure
of any of the money appropriated there
in for the marine corps unless all bat
tleShips and armored cruisers should
carry compliments Of marines equal TO
rot less than : per cent of the enlisted
sailors on board. If the imaginary inter
ests of the marine corps could appeal 10
Congress 50 strongly year ago, the
more substantial interests of the bureaus
may be able 10 make Il still stronger APP
peal now. Hitherto the theory of naval
legislation has been TOO much that the
navy should he administered for the
benefit of cliQues within the navy in
stead OF with a view 10 its proper inn
FrOvement as a fighting machine II is
lime for Congress 10 get over the idea
that the old naval order Is good enough
for the nations needs. Confusion should
give place 10 coordination and SEMI
Independent divisions to centralized au-
thority. Secretary Meyers programme
Is logical and helpful. and Congress
Should give il fair chance.