The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-02-15
NAVAL AFFAIRS
IN COMMITTEE
Meyers Bill Carrying Many Vital
Changes, Before House
Committee.
BY Ernest G. Walker.
Mail Special to The Advertiser.

in mahogany furnished quarters, the
house naval affairs committee has been
brooding over serious problems. The
high ranhers Of the commissioned force
have been summoned thither. Expert,
have been asked to clear up obscure
points in the minds of the members
The naval factions have been sending
out their strongest men to enlightel
the committee, Upon the final framing
Of the bill depends the outcome of the
most intense controversy Of the session
1t has virtually all been about Secre
tary Meyer 5 reorganization plan. He
asked for but one specific provision OF
legislation-the abolition OF the bureau
Of equipment. The house naval com
mittee quite a time ago voted to report
favorably a bin which would eliminate
that bureau from the organization of
the department. But it has developed
that that Is only +.zt step and, per
maps. "A MINOR one at that
While the secretary asks for no other
specific legislation at this session, his
reorganization plans call for a very
sweeping Reconsideration Of appropriate
tions, especially for the support OF the
navy yards, Many millions annually
are expended in these yards for repairs
and construction work. 1t mounts up
to big percentage OF the entire annual
appropriations. BY the Newberry plan
for the reorganization of these yards,
the naval constructors, constituting the
most influential OF the staff corps Of
the navy, had supervision over all this
repair and construction work. That
meant the appropriations for paint
shops. draughting offices, mechanics and
materials must be placed to the credit
of the bureau of construction and re
pair.
But the Meyer plan of reorganization
changed this materially. 1t took away
much of the authority of the bureau
of construction and repair and created
two divisions Of effort at every manu-
featuring navy yard. One. having to
do with the huIls of ships. was given
to the bureau of construction and re
pair. while another division having to
do with machinery and with practical
~ all the rest of a ship. apart from
the hull was given over to the bureau
OF steam engineering.
Now if the Meyer reorganization plan
is to 90. congress- on the naval appro-
prlation bill this winter, which becomes
effective July ! next, must assign a
large share Of the appropriations t.r
navy wards to the bureau of steam en-
cheering, Probably the committee will
grant Secretary Meyer S request to that
end, at least that is the indication now,
although no final decision has been
reached In the committee deliberations
over the matter. the ancient warfare
between the staff and the line OF the
navy has broken ont with tremendous
intensity. Its leaders are Admiral W..
l.. Capps, chief of the bureau Of con
~truction-fOr the statf-and Admiral
Hutch Cone. chief of the bureau Of
steam engineering-f the line The
fight on the part of the staff has been
enforced by the cooperation of Admiral
Eustace 3. Rogers chief of the bureau
of supplies and accounts. While he
approves Of the elimination of the bu-
reau Of supplies and accounts. which
would place the purchase of coal with
his bureau. where it probably should
be, he is very much against some Of the
reforms because Of their effect upon
the administration of his bureau-the
BIG business bureau Of the department.
tapps is regarded as one Of the
brightest officers Of the navy. His great
ability has come to be widely recog
nized He Is supported by an influential