New-York tribune., 1910-05-08
IFroni The Tribune Bureau. ]


NAVAL RECOMMENDATIONS Sec
retary Of the Navy has not the slightest
idea of abandoning the reforms he has In
stitUted in the administration of the navy
popularity known as the Meyer reorganiza-
tion plan whether Congress confers on him
authority TO disburse the several sections
of the naval appropriation through such
bureaus of the department as his Judg-
ment may dictate or not Unfortunately,
the contrary has been stated in these dis
patches 10 The Tribune, but that item
was an error into which The Tribune was
led by the unwarranted assertions OF a
member OF the committee with whom, ap-
parently, the wish was father TO the
thought. The meetings of the Naval Com
mittee at which Secretary Meyer has testl-
fed are not open to the press, and 1t is
necessary to rely on the assertions of mem
bers Of the committee for the facts. which
accounts for the error. II may now he
stated. however on the highest authority
that the portion of the reorganiZation-and
it constitutes by far the major portion
which Mr.. Meyer was empowered to inst-
tute under the existing law will continue
in force The statement which Mr.. Meyer
has made to the committees is that I'M
less the desired provision is incorporated
in the law ne will be obliged TO ask the
President to appoint an officer as chief OF
the Bureau of Equipment and 20 restore
TO that bureau the duties assigned TO 1T
by law, the most important of which is the
purchase of coal The staff influence Is so
strong in Washington, an& especially In
Congress. that it seems improbable the Sen
ate committee will grant Mr.. Meyer
power even temporarily and in effect 10
abolish the Bureau of Equipment
THE ACTUAL REORGANIZATION
The aI-important portion of the reorgani-
zation is. however, accomplished fact
The four aids TO the Secretary. for opera
tions, personnel, material and inspections,
respectively. have been appointed and are
rendering such valuable service that 1t Is
the conviction of all in a position 10 judge
that no future Secretary will ever willing
ly dispense with their assistance. That por-
ton of the reorganization which affects the
navy Yards, whereby a line officer is made
superintendent of the yard, with two as
sistants. one an engineer. who supervises
all motive power, and the other a construc-
tor. who supervfses all work on the hulls of
vessels and all that relates thereto, is in
effect and is working to the entire satisfac
ton of the authorities. An effective sys-
TEN OF cost accounting hasfbeen Installed
az The Boston Navy Yard and is in process
Of installation at the New York yard al
though the lack of sufficient funds is MAX
ing the latter installation slow, condition
which will be largely remedied after the
beginning of the next year. It is confident
lv expected that this system will greatly
strengthen the hands of the Secretary when
he again has occasion to urge further re-
forms on the committees Of Congress- as
II will remove questions of production ana
renair from the realm of academic dlscus-
sion To the province of actual fact, ana
will thus rob the staff opponents OF the
Never system of their most valuable ma
terial.
Future REFORMS. - If Secretary
Never finds himself able TO carry out his
present plans he will. before Congress
again meets, institute further plans Whlch
will AT once effect the utmost economy OIL
administration and ar the same time pro-
mote the efficiency of the personnel ahoal.
These plans contemplate the employ 1neIil
of the crews Of ships of war in the MAKING
NJ renairs and general overhauling. When
s7.cb sbirs visit the navy yards for those
,,,rrosee. civilian employees being used only
n c,1nplanen1 the work Of the crews. II Is
,ba conviction of naval officers that Inc