New-York tribune., 1909-11-30
NAVAL REFORMS.

Reforming the defective administra-
tive methods OF the Navy Department,
inherited from a period when naval
warfare was far simpler than IL is to-
day. is no brief or easy task. Every ef-
fort 10 cut loose from the past encoun-
tiers the opposition Of those in the ser
vice whose interests would be adversely
affected by the change. There is always
a disposition 10 argue that vested rights
would be invaded If plans for moderniza-
tion were carried through. Nowhere do
traditions die harder than on the salt
water for in spite OF the revolution In
the vocation and character Of the sailor
caused by the substitution of intricate
floating fortresses. controlled by ma
chinery. for the old wooden ships. pro-
PEELED by sail, there are many who still
think that the men aboard a modern
man-Of-war are so little different from
the impressed sailormen OF century
ago as 10 require day and night watch
ing in the performance of their duties
by special policemen or marines. IL Is
hard TO fight against that spirit. which
has its powerful sympathizers I'm both
houses of Congress. Reform must be
gradual. and il is one Of the substantial
merits of Secretary Meyers new plan.
based on the admirable report made after
a long and painstaking investigation by
the board Of which Rear Admiral Swift
was the head. that by not attempting too
much IL will not greatly antagonize in
terests in the service accustomed 10 de-
fend themselves resourcefully against
what they consider an abridgment OF
their prerogatiyes.
The great fault of our naval admins
tratiOn in the past has been the over
tapping OF the department bureaus and
the lack of a logical distribution Of au-
thOrity. The Secretary has been in the
main merely a buffer or mediator be
tween warning administrative factions,
each bent on controlling him rather than
on helping him 10 control the depart
ment. He is now trying to take himself
out Of those factiOnal quarrels by col
lecting about him disinterested advisers
not connected with the bureaus. The
appointment of four personal aids will
put him in a much more independent
position and relieve him of the strain
Of bureau frictiOns. second fault of
the old system was its failure 10 attach
enough importance 10 the military side
Of naval administration. Ships were
built and manned. but not enough at
tention was given 10 getting out Of them
the utmost military effectiveness. The
Secretary's plan emphasizes the navy's
military functions. IL provides Cor n
81
cerned with the operation of the fleet
and its preparation 10 meet all strategic
contingencies. and il also creates an in
dependent inspection division, charged
with keeping both ships and personnel
up 10 the proper mark. Heretofore in
spection has fallen 10 boards having lit
lie personal or professional incentive TO
criticise heir own work or the work of
their associates.
The navy can best be put on mod
ern basis by simplifying It's organization.
one important step in that direction is
now taken IN recommending the aboli-
ti0n Of the Bureau of Equipment In
course Of time there will probably be
only four departmental divisions, one
dealing with the material. another with
the personnel. third with the develop
ment Of a thorough policy Of defence
and offence and a fourth charged with
the duties Of inspection. The chief
source Of extravaganza in administration
is in the management of the navy yards.
Mr.. Meyer is going To apply business
methods in determining just where that
waste originates and how il can be
stopped. He has made n good start and
is entitled 10 public support for the
courageous manner in which he has set
about amending the faults of a system
which has not heretofore easily yielded
10 curative treatment