New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-18
ROGERS RESIGNS OFFICE
Paynlaster General of Navy in
Conflict with Secretary.
SHAKE-UP I'm PAY CORPS
Bureau Chiefs Retirement Due
to Controversy Over Naval
Supply Fund.
TFrom The Triarne Bureau.

Washington, May Ia. = Paymaster
General Eustace b. Rogers of the navy.
one of the leaders of the staff faction in
the controversy which has extended over
several yea in the department, has
rendered his resignation to Secretary
Meyer, and the resignation has been ac-
cepted. II will not become effective.
however. until later when Secretary
Meyer deems il opportune TO place
new chief in charge of the bureau. The
announcement was made by the Score
taEy to-day in response TO inquiries.
A general shake-up in the paymaster's
corps will probably follow the resigna
ton Of Paymaster General Rogers Pay
master Charles Conrad. whom the Sec
rotary regards as the brains of the bu-
resu and one of the chief recalcitrants,
was ordered TO duty aboard the Ne
hrsska to-day. other changes viii prob
ably follow within short time. Some
% the officers now on duty at Washing
ton viii be assigned to sea duty. The
successor to Admiral Rogers has already
been considered, but no announcement
viii be made until the Office is vacated.
Despite the fact that Admiral Rogers
SIS a staff officer has repeatedly clashed
with Secretary Meyer since the latter
began 10 reorganize the department, il is
said positively that his resignation is
not the result of this activity. The rea
son for it does not date further back
than March ., when the Attorney Gen.
ersl decided that the present naval sup
Sfnne that time
Secretary Meyer has been trying 10 re-
duce il from approximately S12OoO,000
20 its legal limit of S2,7o0,oo0. In doing
this he is said to have encountered OPP
position OF the part of Admiral Rogers,
and what is described as his improper
handling Of the fund is the chief cause
Of the presext incident. BY improper
handling is meant solely the admins
tration OF the fund in conflict with the
statute. In addition J. Mendenhan, an
expert accountant who has been investi-
eating the accounting system OF the
Bureau OF Supplies has reported to Mr.
Never that no double entry system has
been maintained. and that il is impossi-
BILE to take q trial balance. These two
reasons are given as the occasion Tor
Admiral Rogers's resignation
DESPITE the statement that the atu-
tude of Paymaster General Rogers in
criticising Secretary Meyers reorgan-
ization before the Congress committees
has nothing to do with the incident 1t
was assumed some time before the ques-
tion Of the naval supply fund came up
that Admiral Rogers would be displaced
With Admiral Caps, the chief con-
structor of the navy, he assailed the
Never plan unreservedly before the COM
nittees. and was IN turn criticised by
Mr.. Meyer.
Since that time the controversy with
the Bureau Of Construction has not been
apparent. but further disagreements fol-
lowed between Secretary Meyer and Ad-
niraI Rogers when the iIlegality Of the
spresent naval supply fund was passed on
- a,r Attorney General Wickersham. As a
result OF the establishment Of new cost
accounting system at the navy yards it
was discovered that there was some
hitch in the paymaster generals bureau.
An investigation led to the discovery
that the naval supply fund had been in
'ieoSCo ioi 'OsO iN7 iNee'' iiiiiie0- HIS
action. however, had been approved by
previous secretaries. II was only after
Mr. Meyer attempted to bring it back
within its proper limits that the clash
came which has led to the resignation of
Admiral Rogers.
Secretary Meyer is awaiting report
from the expert accountants who are in
Yestigating the bureau before putting
the resignation into effect. He has con-
suited President Taft on every step he
has taken, and his action has executive
approval
Admiral Rogers Will return to his orig
inal rank Of paymaster with the grade Of
captain.