New-York tribune., 1909-11-30

lowed the changes in regulations pro-
mgiEateo as result. - . o.. -
TIE pext step taken was 10 appoint .
board known as the Leutze board, 10
which was referred for consideration
and recommendation the question OF the
proper status OF the Bureau OF Steain
Engineering and the metheos OF oaits
fng on the work OF that bureau at navy
yards. this having been point upon
which the Sperry board had not peen
unanimous. The approval or the tePVls
OF that board and the PRONUNCIATION ol
orders putting its reconmendatons INTO
effect while not affecting the prlnclpie
of consolidation OF the NeMberIg
scheme, restored TO the machinery eA-
perts Of the navy the cOntrol OF ma
chinery work which by Mr.. NeNoeIIs
had been given 20 the corps OF nun oe-
ssgners and builders.
Nr Never earlv adopted as a prin-
ciple that the navy yards existed on &C
count of and for tie fleet. ana that INC
military preparedness OF the meet W. W.
the sole reason fOI any admlnlslralloh
which was necessary az the navy Eards.
IL was therefore. ia his opinion, neees-
sary that military direction should con-
tinue in order TO secure the best results
SWIFT BOARDS RECoMMENDA-
.F,r TIONs. t~
The Sperry board and the Leutze
DOdtQ n1Q nttn N1AAfAcSA "a
, REPRESENTING technical branches ana the
practical knowledge and experience
available in the neet Mr.. Meyers next
move was 10 appOin; board composed
of representative officers experienced IN
the Navy Department. navy yard ana
feet management. This board, known
as the Swift board, was directed 20 con-
slider the previous reports and opinions
expressed in this and previous admins
tratiOns, and submit: a report when
should aim 20 reconcile as far as pos
sible the existing differences and 10
make recommendations for changes
which were considered necessary 10 sim
PITY. existing administration and i'm
prove the business methods Of the Navy
Department and the navy yards.
BUREAU DIVISIONS.
The only recommendation made by the
Swift board which calls for a change in
bureaus was for the abolition Of the
Bureau OF Equipment. no changes were
recommended in The other existing bu-
Teaus and Offices OF the Navy Depart
ment except slight changes in duties
Tut the bureaus we're recommended 10
be grouped FOR convenience into logical
divisions Of work. 10 be known as the
division Of operations OF the feet. the
division Of personnel and the division OF
material. A fourth and new division OF
inspections was also recommended:
AIDS TO THE SECRETARY.
The board recommended four aids 20
be detailed TO assist and advise the Sec
retary on the duties coming under these
-FOUR general heads. these officers 10 keep
thoroughly informed Of these branches
az effort and TO advise the Secretary con-
cerning them and keep him generally in
FORMED as TO the work going on. The
aids OF these divisions are TO have no
supervisory OF executive power and their
functions VIII be strictly advisory
Certain duties Of a detached nature
are 10 be performed under the super
vision Of the Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy without being placed under any
division; the Bureau Of Yards and Docks.
the Marine Corps and the solicitor are
thus assigned.
CONSTRUCTION BOARD ABOLISHED
The Board on CONSTRUCTION As 10 be
abolished. Work heretofore accom-
plished by this hoard in connection with
the military features Of snip design will
hereafter be performed by the general
board, i'm conjunction with the aid for
operations Of the feet, and assisted by
expert officers serving with the feet.
The technical details viii. now. rest
wholly with the technical bureaus
NAVY YARD ORGANIZATION.
AT the navy yards Mr.. Meyer has di-
vided the single manufacturing depart
ment established by Mr Newberry into
two divisions. each under a manager-a
machinery division and d hull division
thus according with the general practice
IN Shlpbulldlng eSta abliShnents in this
country and Wit hthe naval dOckyards OF
England and Germany. The advantages
of consolidation are thus carried 70 the
greatest limit which is deemed adVan-
tageOus. All shops of the same class Of
work are placed under the control Of the
same officer, either construction or engi-
neer officer, and all work OF a like nature
IS concentrated.
NEW ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
AR Meyer has also started the gem
eral establishment OF an independent ac-
counting system for the different manu-
featuring departments OF the navy yards.
and intends also 10 adopt the commercial 1
lfacuce, as lar as possible. Of separating
the duties relating 20 purchase and pay
ment, both a. the Navy Department and
throughout the service. The new system
OF cost accounting has been successfully
tried at Boston, and Viii soon be extend
I'd 20 the other navy yards Hitherto
all cost keeping az navy yards has been
carried on by the working departments:
this system rs deemed essentially wrong
ir principle and contrary 10 commercial
practce- The men who do the work
should not, IN the Secretary's opinion. fix
the costs
MODIFICATION FOR EFFICIENCY
The system now "a force al the navy
yards OF single manufacturing depart-
ment, with slight notifications since
was put lntO effect by Secretary New
berry on February ! last. The essential
feature OF the .lewberry plan was con-
tolldauon which, as was 10 be expected,
has proved largely successful Consou-
oauon as Tar as pcssible. must be a
Feature ~ any business organization
Experience has indicated that certain
details of the present navy yard or
EanlZauOn must bc modified for eff
cheney and economy Consolidation as
a priacple cannot be disputed when
applied 10 allied trades in the same To-
cality; but consolidation OF unrelated
uades, even though in Tie same locality.
cannot be expected 10 saCceed
There are TWO large groups Of related
trades al a navy yard. one having 10 DO
with hun construction, the other with
machinery constr action Consolidation
OF all related trades 10 each group is
correct in principle and Is desirable
ANY further attempt az consolidation
viii not leaG 10 eitheg Efficiency or
economy
Much credit Is due Mr. Newberrv for
having inauSurated Tho principle II con
solidaliOn. As 4 distinguished statesman
once said N.ith regard 10 specie paw
ments: 'The best NAY Ia resume il o.
resume" so with consolidation the best
way was 10 consolidate and leave 20 tiflr
and experience the Development Of faults
The new plan starts with the idea that
the consolidation Of related trades ia !,
gram correct III flriTl.fr.Ia III. ,.st