Evening star., 1909-02-25
CONGRESS IS TOLD
OF NAW'S NEEDS
President Sends Message on
Reorganization Plan.
JOINT WORK WITH ARMY
Importance of Cooperation Urged
in Time of War.
ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY
Navy officer to Be Chosen Without
Regard to Seniority-Reports
of Joint Commission.
ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY


President Roosevelt sent to Congress
today long message regarding the re-
organization of the navy and joint work
of the army and navy. 1t includes re-
ports he has received from the navy COM
mission appointed by him.
After quoting the letter he addressed in
January to Justice William II. Moody.
Representative Dayton. Paul Morton.
Rear Admiral S. b. Luce, retired: Rear
Admiral A. T. Mahan, retired; Rear Ad-
miral Robley D. Evans. retired; Rear Ad-
miral William NJ. Folger, retired; Rear
Admiral William S. Cowles. retired. and
which has already been made public, the
President says:
The Presidents Message.
This commission has just submitted to
me the following preliminary reports, the
first dealing with the general principles
governing naval organization. and the
second suggesting the creation of joint
commission for the purposes therein set
forth:
Washington, D. c.
February 20 1909.
General principles governing naval or
ganization:
1. The office of the Secretary of the
Navy being executive in character moth
ing should be admitted into an organiza-
ton Of the department which would quail
ify his authority or diminish his ulti-
mate responsibility. He has been in the
past, and in the future should be, civil
Ian. He Is the representative of the Pres
ident, the constitutional commanderin-
chief of the army and navy, under whose
direction his authority is exercised.
- The duties in charge of the Secre-
tary divide under two principal heads.
closely related, but generally distinct;
civil and military The civil duties en-
brace the provision OF preparation of all
the material Of war. This is the function
of the present bureau.
The military duties concern the use of
that material. whether In war or In such
exercises as conduce 10 fitness for opera
tions Of war. For the direction OF these
military duties, no subordinate provision
corresponding to the bureaus on the civil
side exists in the present organization es-
tabiished by statute
3. The discharge OF both these classes
Of duty involves a multitude of activities,
quite beyond the immediate personal
knowledge and supervision of a single
man. This necesSitateS subdivision of
the duties by which means the supervis-
ion OF the secretary Is exerted through
the medium of responsible subordnates.
In this subdivision the principle of undi-
vided responsibility. within the appointed
field Of subordinate supervision. should
obtain. as 1t does in the superior office of
the secretary.
The bureau system, as now established
by law for the civil activities of the de-
partment. lnsures for each bureau this
undivided responsibility qualified only by
the authority of the Secretary. which, if
exerted, does not divide the responsibility,
but transfers il to the Secretary himself.
Independent authority, with undivided re-
sponSibillty, though in principle proper,
suffers historically from intrinsic inability
to cooperate where Il number of such in-
dependent units are present. The mar
shas OF the first Napoeon-cspeciaIly in
Spd.n-ln the absence of the emperor, Of
fer d familiar illustration. The bureau
system. present constituted by law
contains no remedy foF this inherent de-
feet.
Lack CT Personal Familiarity.
4 The co-ordinating power is in he
Secretary's authority, but owing to the
shortness of tenure in office and 10 the
Inevitable unfamiliarity with naval con-
dltions with which an incumbenl begins,
authority, though adequate in principle.
Is not SO in effect. This inadequacy
consists in lack of personal familiarity
with the subjects before him. not mere
ly severally. but in their collective rela-
tions; in short, lack of specific knowl-
edge and experience. The organization
should provide him with such knowledge
and experience, dlgeSted formally, so as
In short, AN advisory body. equipped
not with advice merely. but with reasons
I'm order to avoid the interruption of con-
Gnuity attending each new administra-
don. entailing the recurrent temporary
unfamiliarity of each new Secretary, it
is expedient that this advisory body be
composed Of several persons. but, while
this provision would insure the continu-
lty which inheres In a corporate body Din
This case continuity of knowledge and OF
progress), the principle of undivided re-
sponsibility would dictate that one only
Of them should be responsible for the ad
vice given to the common superior-the
Secretary.
5. AS regards the composition of the ad.
Fisory body, the principles to be regarded
are two: A, the end dictates the means
B, the responsibility must be individual
In advice well as in executive action
A. The end Is efficiency for war The
agents in war are the military naval Off
GERS Their profession qualities them best
10 pronounce upon the character of The
preparations for war of every kind in
siuding not only schemes of campaign anC
tactical systems, but the classes sizes
qualities and armaments of ships of war
What the Secretary needs. specifically
and above all. Is clear understanding
and firm grasp of leading military con
Siderdtons. Possessed OF these he may
Without great difficulty weigh the recon-.
nendations of his technical assistants de.
eide for himself and depend upon then
Tor technical execution of that which he
approves.
However constituted in detail the ad
TiSOry body should be taken entirely from
the class TO which belongs the conduct o.
VAR, and upon them will fall, in war the
responsibility for the use of the instru
ments and for the results OF the measure:
Which they recommend.
Responsible Adviser.
B. AS regards individual responsibilit,
FOR advice. ii Is suggested that the Secre
tary of the Navy nominate to the Presi
dent the officer whom he deems best fitte,
20 command the great fleet in case of wa
arising; and that this officer. irrespectiv,
Of his seniority, should be head of the ad
risory body. He alone should be tn,
responsible adviser of the Secretary
The provision of a responsible advise
Hoes not compel the Secretary to accep
MS advice, nor prevent his consul.in:
whomsoever else lie will
The provision suggested does no