Evening star., 1909-05-22
Secretary Meyer Announces
1911 Naval Program.
ESTIMATE CUT s10,00o,000
Reduction to Be Made Without I'm
pairing Building Policy.
FOLLOW PRESIDENTS ORDERS
Appropriations Asked for to Cover
Actual Needs Of Department to
Save Congressional PAIRING.

Secretary Meyer has succeeded In maxi
ing the deep cut Of 10000, 900 in the esti-
mates Of appropriations for the fiscal
year 1911. and submitted mis- program to
President Taft today. This action of the
Secretary Of the Navy is in accordance
with the definite instructions issued by
the President that there must be . cut
Of $10.OOO,O 600 each in both army and
navy, SO as to reduce appropriations by
the next Congress-
The building program Of the United
States Navy for the fiscal year Of 1911
will call for two battleships Of the most
advanced Dreadnought type and five tor
pedo boat destroyers or one modern re-
pair ship for the feet, Notwithstanding
the ten-million-dollar decrease.
Secretary Meyer has consulted the gen.
eral board Of the navy on its program for
1911. which was practically the same as
1t recommended for 1910. when four bat
tleships. four scout cruisers, ten Destroy
ers, four submarines. three colliers. one
repair ship and one ammunition ship were
provided for. That program was cut in
half by Congress, and contemplating
like cut in the boards recommendations
for next year Secretary Meyer and the
board included in the new estimates only
half Of the original program.
Battleship Program to Stand.
The appropriations Of the last Congress
for the fiscal year 1910 were $13s.OOO,OO
Secretary Meyers endeavor was to aid
Congress In reducing the appropriations
for his department for the year 1911 to
$10.O00.OOO below this figure. an unheard
Of fact in these days of constantly in
creasing demands and appropriations The
object Of the Secretary was to secure the
reduction. too, without giving up the pol
Icy OF two Of the most modern battleships
in the fiscal year 1911, and when the es-
Inmates are submitted to the next Con-
gress provision will be asked for two of
the biggest and best ships that can be
built.
The proposed reduction of expenditures
| Is In all departments of the navy, but
Secretary Meyer has informed the Presi
dent he believes 1t can be made without
impairing the efficiency of the sea-fght-
Ing department OF the government. Sec
| retary Meyer has gone into great detail
with the chiefs Of bureaus as to the best
methods of bringing about the cut and is
satisfied that anything less than the
amount to be asked for would really mean
a backward step in the progress of build
ing up the navy.
No Room for PAIRING.
The estimates to be submitted. about
$128, 100000. will represent just the ac-
tual amount of money the navy needs.
Heretofore many millions have been asked
for that were probably not necessary. and
Congress has been left to do the pairing.
Under the definite instructions issued
by President Taft to all his cabinet Of
ficers, the executive branch of the gov
ernment will begin the pairing in advance
of Congress. and cut everything to the
lowest point, making ii unnecessary for
Congress to do any material looping
off.
Secretary Dickinson, who is on his way
back to Washington from Panama, will
consult with his chiefs upon his return
and lay before the President. who is
personally familiar with conditions in
the War Department. the estimates of his
department, which is expected to save
s1O.OOo,OOO. All along the line in the
executive departments the President is
looking for business administration of
affairs and reduction of expenditures so
that deficits In future fiscal years may
not be incurred.
Where the Cut Will Fall.
The impression has gone forth. accord
ing to Secretary Meyer, that the $40, ,OOO. 900
reduction in the 1911 estimates for appro-
priations would reduce the number of bat
tleships TO be provided for from two to
one. That idea, the Secretary declares, is
erroneous. The desired reduction had
been effected after careful consideration
and consultation with the general board,
the chiefs Of all the bureaus. collectively
and individually. and the commandants
of the navy yards on the Atlantic sea-
board.
The resductions made come principally
from the estimates for appropriations for
the various bureaus and navy yards. They
have been made, however. with due de-
liberation, so as not to affect the eff
cheney of the fleet or the navy yards.
The two battleships are to be of the
heavy single caliber, all big gun type, of
which six already are provided for in the
North Dakota, Delaware, Florida, Utah.
Arkansas and Wyoming. 1t Is the plan
of the general board to have a squadron
of eight ships of that type. all having the