New-York tribune., 1910-07-13
WATT MAY SUCCEED CAPPS
Many Candidates for Chief Con-
StruCtor of Navy.
BUREAU TO BE RE0RGANIZED
Changes Expected to End Line
and Staff Controversy-Sec-
retary Meyers Victory.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau.

Washington, July 12.-There was lively
speculation at the Navy Department TO-
day concerning the successor of Chief Con-
structor ". L. Capps, whose resignation
as chief of the Bureau Of Construction and
Repafr takes effect on October 1. It win be
several days before an appointment Is
made. The chief constructor may under
the law oe either a line officer or mem
Der of the corps of naval constructors He
must at least have the rank of lieutenant
commander and he "a skilful naval con-
structor" which qualification is possessed
by some members of the line as we'll as by
all members of the construction corps. 1t
is expected, however, that the choice Will
be confined to a naval constructor, not
necessarily of the senior grades.
The name most heard to-day in this
connection was that of Naval Constructor
r NJ. Watt, now on duty at the Norfolk
Navy Yard who was appointed to the navy
from PENNSYLVANIA in 1887 This is the Of
ficer of whom Secretary Meyer said. in a
hearing before the House Naval Commit
tee at a discussion of the reorganization
plan: Il have in mind one constructor as
manager who. has shown special ability
and who has had to work until midnight
and then has not been able always to
keep up with his work. That is a young
man named Watt. at Norfolk, who has also
managed to avoid the errors which 50
many others have made. He is at Norfolk,
and the officers there without exception
speak in praise of him.
Naval Constructor Watt was in Wash
ington to-day, and this fact gave support
TO the rumor that Secretary Meyer had
called for him with a view to rendering
him the detail of chief constructor, the
duties of which he might undertake pend
ing his permanent appointment in october,
when Capps's resignation will take effect.
Others who are mentioned as eligible are
Naval Constructors J. H. Linnard and D.
W. Taylor, on nsduty in the Bureau of Con-
struction and Repair: A w Stahl. on duty
at Philadelphia: Robert Stocker, on duty
in Fconnection with the Board of Inspec-
ton and Survey. and W. J. Baxter, who
is IN charge of construction work at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Capps 10 Make Inspection Trip.
The retirement of Rear Admiral Capps
will be followed, according to authoritative
information, by q readjustTnent of the en-
tire Bureau of Construction and Repair,
which Will put an end to the possibility of
hostility to the Meyer plan which has ap-
peared from time to time in that division.
Rear Admiral Capps will make an extensive
inspection trip. going to the Philippines 10
look over the drydock Dewey before he re-
linquishes active service. In the mean time
those who followed his lead in the line and
staff controversy will be shifted about to
other details, so that the new constructor
will have no recalcitrant staff sympathizers
TO contend with in his administration of the
bureau.
When the further changes in the Con-
struction Bureau are made, the line and
staff controversy, which has come up inter
mittently in the department for many years.
will have been throttled unless it appears
in an unforeseen quarter. The Bureau of
Supplies and Accounts. of which Rear Ad-
nliral Rogers was the head, is on new
basis, with a largely new personnel When
the Bureau of Construction and Repair is
arranged the last stronghold of the staff
will have fallen. DR.. Stokes. successor TO
DR.. Rixey as surgeon general. who had
leanings toward the staff, is a Meyer man
and evades the controversy.
The negotiations for the separation. IF
Chief Constructor Capps from his bureau
billet were undertaken a few days ago,
when Admiral Capps went to New England
to see the Secretary of the Navy. He also
abandoned a short inspection trip planned
for this week IN order to have a personal
conference IN Washington with Mr.. Meyer.
In the letter of resignation Admiral capps
explains fully the fact that he does not find
himself in entire accord with some of the
details of the reorganization policy of the
present head of the department.