New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
NJ R. MEYER HEARD
On REPRESENTATIONS.
House Committee May Favor
Most of His Suggestions.
TFron The Tribune Bureau.I ]


Washington. Jan. s.-The Naval Affairs
Committee, after listening for two hours TO
q supplemental explanation OF the naval
r. organization plan by Secretary Meyer to-
Day, practically decided to adopt his recon-
r,endation that all navy yard construction
relating TO buildings and operating plants
should be under the supervision OF the Bu-
rezu of Yards and Docks. The committee
is Of the opinion that civil engineers should
have control Of this work. AS the commit
tee IS already almost agreed that the Bu-
rcsu Of Equipment should be abolished
there is every prospect that great part at
least of Mr.. Meyers scheme will be favor
ably acted on.
There are a number OF questions, now
ever. concerning the Meyer plan. which the
committee still desires TO submit TO the Sec
retar,. Chief among these is the disposition
OF the control over machinery. Secretary
Never believes that all machinery-pneu-
matte. steam hydraulic and electric-should
h placed under the Bureau of Steam En-
gineering which is controlled by the line.
Secretary Newberrv. on the other hand,
held that IL should be operated by the Bu-
reau Of Construction and Repair, which IS
p staff organization. Secretary Meyer
would confne the duties Of the Bureau or
Construction and Repair TO the hulls of Ne
shiIs and their design, manufacture and re-
Tair The present disposition OF the COM
ruittec IS to follow the Newberry plan. but
4; is understood that Secretary Meyer in
tends 10 furnish some additional inforTna-
ton which may serve TO change this view.
Several members OF the committee, In
Guiding Representatives Dawson. OF Iowa.
end Loudenslager, OF New Jersey advocate
: man 10 place a civilian In charge Of the
entire navy yard administration, but so
much opposition has been shown this sug-
eestion al the Navy Department that there
Is small prospect of its being adopted.
The differences between the committee
and Secretary Meyer are, In fact, based on
tie premises that the Secretary desires to
make the navy yards military stations.
under military organization. while ma
jority OF the committee members feel that
these yards should be more in the nature
o. Industrial plants.
Tr Meyer has excellent reasons, how
ever. for his position in regard to the mill
tsry organization of the yards, and he has
practically convinced the committee that
the committee that in his mind the navy
yard is not d manufacturing plant. but a
repair plant, which exists solely for the
needs and requirements of the feet. He
holds that il Is not just TO compare a navy
yard 10 manufacturing plant or a mod
crn shpbuilding company. because it IS
only an exceptional case when the govern
Inent builds a ship The work done by
the government is almost invariably repair
work. The shipbuilding plants are sys-
fematized 50 that they know exactly what
IS To be expected OF them. and they usu-
ally repeat work that has been done be
fore while tho navy yards are rarely
called on 10 make the same repairs twice
The committee will probably call on some
- the bureau chiefs in the Navy Depart
rlent for information before making de-
Cieion a. 10 how much OF the Meyer plan
shall he adopted. Chairman Foss does not
expect that the bill can he reported much
tefore the end Of February