Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-02-09
THE TROUBLE WITH THE NAVY

Governmental competency appears in a strange light when we consider the facts concerning our naval administra- ton. These have been a matter of more or less public dissension for more than a dozen years; they have been consid- cred in technical papers by snaval of fcers; they have been the subject of recommendations in the reports of sec retaries of the navy and in presiden- tial messages; but only within the past two or three years has anything worth speaking of in the way of reform been accomplished. MT. Roosevelt has wit messed great improvement in the navy from the standpoint of military efici- ency. and MT. Newberry, first as assist ant secretary, then as head of the navy department, has wrestled valiantly with the tough problem of internal organiz- ation.
 But the trouble with the navy is not wholly departmental. Wasteful and un- systematic as is the bureau system, it might possibly be made workable by such an official as MT. Newberry, yet the system itself. is not only sustained by congress, but that body adds to the waste and inefficiency entirely of its own making. This aspect of the naval problem has been fully and accurately presented during the past debates on the naval appropriation bill. notably by Representatives George L. Lilley and Albert F. Dawson, on April II last, both of whom offered plans for dealing with the navy department situation. It is interesting to recall, in view of MT. Lilley's repudiation by the house, that his plan, that of commission of in quiry, has been adopted by the presi- dent without awaiting congressional action.
 Recently the facts narrated by these two men, together with others of like nature, have been published in a strik- ing way by. George Kibbe Turner in McClure's Magazine. MT Turner's ar ticle gives a picture of appalling waste in naval expenditure, due largely to bureaucratic methods, but largely to political manipulation of naval funds for the benefit of particular sections and communities. He shows that eight out of ten members Of the senate naval committee in the last congress came from states where there are navy yards, which were tenderly cared for in the naval appropriation bill. This year nine out of the eleven members of the same committee have naval establish Inents of some sort in their states MT. Turner says that Speaker Cannon has observed the policy of not appointing to the naval affairs committee of the house members who had navy yards in their district, but there are half a dozen men on the present committee from states having navy yards. MT. Turner adds an incident to show the control of few men over appropria- tions for the navy. He tells how the conference committee which determines differences between the two houses has been made up of six men, "a majority of whom have yards or stations in their districts all of which ought to be abandoned.
 The result of packing the senate and conference committee with members personally interested in particular naval projects has been in the highest degree prejudicial to the naval establishment It has led to the creation and main. tenance of useless shore stations, most of which are inaccessible to battle ships