Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-30
Sweeping Changes Will Be
Inaugurated
BUREAU CHIEF SOON TO BE
SUBORDINATED
REVOLUTION IN SYSTEM DREAM
OF SECRETARY MYER
Four Responsible Advisers to Be Des-
ignated for Departments and
Other Innovations Planned
by Federal Head
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-
M Heedino the cry for reform

! SAhl4lAN ~ O4N3 4NON' S9s--
w Needing the cry for reform
" in naval affairs, Secretary
Myer on Wednesday will in
augurate the most sweeping
changes in the navy department
since the establishment of the
bureau system in 1841.
Himself a former director of
banks and manufacturing COM
panies, he hopes to put the de-
partment on a business basis be-
yond the dream of his predeces-
sors.
The keynote of his reforms is
he subordination of the bureau
chief.
Summarized, essential changes in the
Myer plan are:
The selection of four RESPONSE
BILE advisers on subjects within
the four groups into which du-
ties of the department fall, to be
known as the aid for material,
the aid for personnel the aid
for operations of the fleet and the
aid for inspections.
The grouping of the bureaus
into two divisions of material and
personnel, according to the ma
ture of their duties.
The establishment of division
of operations of the fleet.
hensiVe inspection system.
The establishment of a modern
efficient bookkeeping system in
the navy department and at navy
yards.
The separation of navy yard
work into two divisions of hulls
and machinery.
The abolition of the bureau of
construction.
The abolition of the bureau of
equipment.
To Have More Power
Henceforth the officers who fight on
the ships are to have more influence in
the navy department. Chosen men from
among them are to be {, e official eyes
and ears of the secretary, laden with
full responsibility for their reports, but
are not to be hands.
The secretary will retain his admin
istratiVe and executive power for his
own exercise and that of the assistant
secretary of the navy.
All reforms go into effect December
1, except the abolition of the bureau
Of 1Erbiph oil
can do.
The aid for operations of the fleet
will be Rear Admiral Richard VAIN
wright, commander of the third di-
vision of the Atlantic fleet.
The aid for personnel will be Rear
Admiral w. P. Potter now chief Of
the bureau of navigation.
The aid for material will be Rear
Admiral William Swift, commander Of
the Boston navy yard.
The aid for inspection will be Captain
Aaron Ward, recently supervisor of the
New York harbor, who will become a
rear admiral
Captain Reginald F. Nicholson. n
member of the board of inspection and
survey, will be made chief of the bu
reau of navigation, vice Potter.
When Mr.. Myer assumed Office he
found some confusion in the depart
ment and in the navy yards, due to
changes instituted by Secretary New
berry a few weeks before the close Of
his administration.
Steps were taken to ascertain how far
it was desirable to follow these re-
forms.
Object of sperry Board
The Sperry board was created to re-
port how the various conflicting orders
and regulations could best be recon-
ciled.
Then came the Leutze board. which
was asked to make recommendations
concerning the consolidation of the
bureau of steam engineering with other
bureaus, step undertaken by Secre-
tary Newberry.
Finally Secretary Myer appointed the
Swift board to consider reports of the
other board, and to make recommenda-
tions for the Improvement Of business
methods Of the department.
With these reports as a basis Secre-
tary Myer has evolved his plan of
reform.
The secretary found the bureaus of
the department were independent of
one another and that he must decide
all differences between them
The aids are to advise him on these
points.
IF the secretary seeks advice from
individual officers in whom he has con-
| fidence, but who have no definite re-
lation to the organization of the navy
department" said Mr.. Myer today in
explaining his reforms, "he gets advice
that may be good, but which is not
responsible. Such recourse to individ-
uals, moreover, gives no assurance OF
continuity of policy nor of response
bility."
According to the Myer plan. the
board of construction becomes useless.
and. therefore, will be abolished. This
board was created principally to super
wise ship designing and to decide ques-
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