The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-02-28

Amendment to Keep One
Half of Navy on Pacific
Coast

Washington, Feb. 27.-The senate
today agreed to a partial report or
the conferes on the naval approprla-
tIon bill The amendment authoriZ-
ing the President to divide the navy
so as to keep one-half on the Pacihc
coast Is still In dispute. and the senate
instructed Its conferes TO insist upon
It's retention,
In submitting the plan, the Presi-
dent says,
Nothing drastic Is recommended
Us To the bureaus or other agencies
by means of which the purely business
affairs of the navy department are
now administered The plan outlined
does not imply any greater eXpendi-
ture OF money than at present. 1t
provides merely that the money
should be spent wisely instead oil as
at present, spending it so that a GER
tain proportion Is wasted In useless
work
To supplement and finish the work
of this commission the President
SAYS, another commission must even
tually be designated. 10 take up the
proposed plan and complete it as TO
details; but no plan can be satiSfac-
tory II there is deviating from the
essential military principles specified
in this report,
The bureau has been retained in its
entirety but with additional person
mel The commission scheme Is
merely an illustration of principles
and not a digested plan
1t contemplates that the assistant
secretary shall be a civilian, man
of affairs" who shall be the chief of
ficer of the first division and shall
have charge of the business of the
bureau of yards and docks, the bureau
of supplies and the bureau OF mcdi-
cine and surgery, the employment or
civilians and kindred subjects.
The second, or division OF naval OPP
erations. whose chief shall be flag
officer. the principal military adviser
TO the secretary TO be without admin
istrative functions, but 10 be eX-ot'
ficio head of the general board and
the board of construction-is 10 super
wise war plans and the general policy
and have under his control the naval
war college. the officers of naval in
telligence and kindred subjects.
The third, or division of personnel
whose chief shall be flag officer. 10
be charged eX-officio with the bust
ness of the bureau on navigation all
educational institutions except the
naval war colleges; the marine corps.
the discipline of the navy. the officers
of the judge advocate general: the
naval observatory and kindred sub
jects.
sThe fourth or division OF iDSpec-
iion. whose chief shall he flag Of
Gccr. shall be charged with the duties
pertaining to the trials OF ships: the
inspection of fleets. squadTons and
ships of navy yards and stations, of
sites for naval stations, and kindred
subjects.
The fifth, or technical division.
whose chief shall be a flag officer. Il
naval constructor OF civilian, with
technical training; shall be super
vsory charge OF the business OF the
court technical bureaus OF construc-
tion ordnance. engineering and equip
ment
No chief OF bureau while acting
as such, shall act as chief OF a diyis-
ion.
The military members of the gen.
eral counsel 10 be appointed by the
President. with the advice and con-
sent Of the senate for three years.
and with the exception Of the chief
OF the division of naval operations, TO
be ineligible for reappointment except
after an intervening period of three
years.
The commission declares that the
bureau of supplies and accounts
should be divided.
I'VE recognize" says the report, "in
order to make these recommendations
effective. 1t would necessitate consld'
Grafton and careful study given eX'
listing laws, and we suggest that the
law (Sec. 422 Revised Statutes)
which gives a bureau chief equal au
thority with tho secretary In his alb.
sence be repealed"