New-York tribune., 1909-07-24
ANOTHER SECRET BOARD
WORKING on NAVAL RE-
ORGANIZATIONS.
Meeting at Boston and Headed by
Rear admiral S7uft ft-Secretary
Meyer's Latest Plan.
From The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. July 23.-AnOther board has been
detailed by Secretary Meyer to assist him III
revising his predecessors attempt to reorgan-
ize the Navy Department This is the fourth
or fifth board which has considered the subject,
and as more or less secrecy has attended the
formation of the boards and no announcement
has been made Of their existence or purpose
the impression naturally prevails among naval
officers that something Of an important Charac-
ter is going
The latest board will meet or is meeting at
the navy yard at Boston. with Rear Admiral
William Swift commandant of the yard there
as its president. Commander J. NJ. Poyer tre-
tired) who has some connection with the naval
general board. is recorder. The board is COM
posed Of Captain Charles E Nreeland who Is
on duty in the office of naval intelligence; Cap
tain Sidney A Staunton. a member of the gen
eral board as well as of the board OF construc-
tion: Captain Frank F. Fletcher, who is in COM
mand Of the battleship Vermont; Commander
Roy c. Smith. who is on duty at the Naval War
College, at Newport, and Lieutenant Commander
L. H. Chandler, who is on duty in the bureau
OF navigation.
All these officers have been more or less ac-
tive in making recommendations concerning
the reorganization or changes in the personnel
law. Those who have been especially prom
inent and conspicuous in that particular are
Rear Admiral Swift Commander Poyer, Com
mander Smith and Lieutenant Commander
Chandler The last named officer is credited
with having had much to do with recent efforts
TO convince Secretary Meyer that ne should de-
part in a radical way from the policy of navy
yard operation and Navy Department admin
istration laid down by Secretary Newberry in
the last days Of the Roosevelt administration. =
The existence of this board. which is so secret
;fa
and non-communicative when approached on
the subject invites all sorts of speculation
garding its object and the result Of its sessions.
There are those who believe that the board will
go into the question OF personnel a well as
that Of administration. The navy personnel is
in 2 bad way account of the large number
Of midshipmen being gra duated and commits
stoned as ensgns. They can be promoted 10
the grade OF lieutenant at the rate Of about
forty a year. taking advantage OF all the facil-
ities permitted by law for such advancement.
This means provision for promotion Of only
about one fourth of those annually commits
stoned, and the time is rapidly approaching
when there will be stagnation in the Junior
grade OF the most demoralizing sort. 1t is
against this that sagacious naval officers be
Iieve they must provide in seeking Iegisla-
tion affecting the personnel. At present officers
who become commanders are younger than has
been the case hitherto. but this cannot be main
tanned indefinitely and is a desirable condition
which may be terminated at any time.
Secretary Meyer, it is learned is not depend
ing entirely on the so-Called secret boards for
information, the bureau chiefs and the
more or less voluntary advisers who are ready
to give him advice and Information in Wash
ingtOn He possesses the means of acquiring
statistics and facts from abroad and at home.
and he is getting this information in the most
direct way not always through official channels
or in a manner which disCloses its source or
character He IS preparing himself gradually
and without ostentatiOn for the inquiry which
the House and Senate Naval committees will
direct on the Newberry system Of navy yard
operation that part of the Newberry plan
which has been permitted TO remain.