The Washington herald., 1909-05-08

That the recent dissensions in the Navy
Department. vividly accentuated in the
speech Of Rear Admiral Melville Thurs
day evening. as reported exclusively in
The Washington Herald yesterday morn
ing. will receive attention in Congress,
was the import Of an address by Repre-
sentative Dawson. OF Iowa. last night at
the banquet OF the Society OF Naval Engi-
neers at Rauscher's-
Coming as the climax Of number Of
addresses made by Rear Admiral sperry
ant. Others. in which the navy and its re-
lstion to naval engineering was discussed
and mutually praised. the remarks Of the
Western Congressman were well received
II had been expected that recognition Of
the czustic criticism BY admiral Melville
would be noted earlier in the evening. and
Mr.. Dawson's unexpected speech was
surprise. Declaring that he admired the
admiraTs frankness in critioising the
present system inaugurated BY Secretary
Newberry, the Representative began his
inpromptu reflections.
Conflict firing
That there IS abundant opportunity for
reorganization in the department. and
tnat Congress and the people OF the
United states are tired OF the constant
conflict between the officers OF the line
and the stan in the navy. was expressed
in succinct terms.
While NJ. Dawson did not commit him
self 10 any particular method for profit
able reform OF the navy. he intimsted
that the creation OF an advisory board.
composed OF officers created BY law %
aarlinister the anaiss OF the navy would
aid s1stsrially r helping the Secretary
Of the xary. conduct the affairs OF his
department
should SuppIant Boards.
"One CT the principal needs Is the sup
planting Of those advisory boards that
are not responsible 10 Congress and the
people he said. The watchword OF the
next Congress. I an led TO believe, VIII
! be economy. and I would advocate tax
ing precautionary steps 10 trim Up the
navy. am not here 10 defend the plan
put in operation in the closing days Of
the last administration, and I an aware
there are some members Of Congress
who are not impressed with the system
whereby there Is so much duplication Of
! departments in the navy yards
Il viii also state that the Inspection Of
/ tne navv Yards made recently by q Con
gressional committee revealed certain
/ ieonditions that were not praised.
The troubles IN this branch O. the
/ American service that have been recently
aired in the press and magazines have
! led the public 10 believe there IS some
thing defective IN the navy. The navy
is still being administered under q system
( that * seventy years old. and I would
suggest thai We leave here tonight de-
/ termlned 10 fulfill the req'iest made BY
/ Admiral Sp5rry that unity Z purpose
aCtuste every department n the navy
/ In this I would urge that the press unite
with Congress in working out this prob
lem
AppIsuded by BRnGUeters.
The applause that greeted Re1ZS sent
ative Dawson az his conclusion was q
feature Of the banquet Another address
that evoked the plaudits Of the engi-
ncers was that OF prof " Hutton. Of
Columbia University His skillfuily yelled
satirical remarks about Secretary New
berry we're evidently appreciated
The onI- other reference 10 Admiral
NelvfUe's statement was contained IN the
speech Of Admiral Wainwright. who said
he was proud ne was a member OF the
personnel board which seems in Cisfavor
with the former chief engineer OF the
navy
The banquet marked the tweaty-frst
anniversary OF the Naval Engineers 50
ciety. and th2 manner in which the men,
bsrs and their guests celebrated the Oeca-
] sion made the feast auspiciOus.
Admiral Sperry in responding TO The
toast The navy" praised the engineers
who made the world cruise possible and
with whose aid the fleet was able to
steam past the Presidents yacht IN
Hampton Roads On February . at 10-5s
O'Clock instead Of Il o'clock, as per sched-
Cie"
He urged more unanimity in the right
# arm Of the American service, and pre-
dictcd that the future Of the navy was
so brilliant that II would rank first among
the world powers
Toast to the President.
Senator Clapp answered the toast 20
the President. and said that Office was
not only the greatest gift in the hands OF
the people. bat that 1t was pre-emIaently
the highest honor TO be offered in tha
world. He incidentally eulogized William
Howard Taft as one Of calm. judicial
temperament who viii httingly al tha
Office made famous by his predecessors. "
As a member OF the House Naval A.
fairs Committee Representative II. E
Roberts. OF Massachusetts. told Of the
navy and she people
To-day al are anxious that ve should
have the greatest naval force n ths
world. The limit Of TIE navy rests not
with Congress. advisory boards, OF ever
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