New-York tribune., 1910-01-04
MEYER TO EXPLAIN
WILL DEFEND PLAN.
House Committee Hearing ON
Naug Reorganization To-day.
rFrom the Tribune Bureau. /

washington Jan. reconsideration of the
Neyer-Swift plan of naval reorganization
will be resumed tomorrow by the House
Committee Naval Affairs. and Secretary
Meyer viii still further explain the details
Of the system before the committee makes
its report on tie appropriation bill. The
utmost interest attaches 70 tie action Of
the House committee The press of the
country. both daily and periodical, has ex-
ilibited remarkable interest in the proposed
reorganization, and has approved it with
scarcely dissenting voice. The manifest
iy unwarranted fear OF certain branches Of
the naval service resulted in representa-
'ions 20 members Of Congress to the effect
hat great injustice wcUld be worked in
some instances by the MeyeT-Swift plan,
this being notably true Of the constructors.
The House committee, properly. no doubt,
has SHOWN a disposition to make haste
slowly, and its members have taken pains
20 investigate every 'rumor which has
reached them The prospects are. however,
that the appropriation bill will be
framed as TO afford Nr. Meyer ample op-
portunity TO test his plan.
While the committee has held no sessions
IN the holiday recess. its members have
been quietly posting themselves regarding
the facts They have found the represen-
tation Of the constructors that they would
be reduced to little better than drafts
men TO ne without foundation The con-
structors under the new plan will enjoy
greater responsibility, perform more work
and disburse more money than ever before.
EXCEPT IN the brief period when the New
berry reorganization was in force
CONSTRUCTORS STILL HAVE POWER
Confronted by a disorsanized and
anomalous condition in the navy yards-a
condition where, for instance. seven paint
shops were found 10 exist in single yard
Secretary Newberry undertook a simplifica-
ton which eliminated the conditions and
made the naval constructors supreme in
every yard. Experience, many officers say.
demonstrated that while his reform was in
the right direction, il had gone too far. 1t
achieved the acme of economical and SIM
plifed administration, but failed 10 give due
weight to the fast that in the final analysis
the navy yards are not manufacturing
plants, but merely repair stations for the
feet, and that the efficiency of the ships.
including the officers who command them.
must always be paramount. The Meyer
Swift plan separates the administrative
portion OF the navy into two grand di-
visions, one dealing with the hulls OF YES
sels and the other with motive power. The
constructors will have supervision over the
hulls and all that relates thereto. while the
steam engineers will design, build and re-
pair the motive machinery.
Thus the responsibilities, and, indeed, the
disbursements. will be pretty evenly divided,
with the advantage Slightly in favor OF the
constructors. For instance, the estimates
for the coming year call for approximately
ss.00o.0O0 70 be expended by the constructors
and $4,000 by the steam engineers. In
he fsrf-r oT Of flaa
constructors that they will be reduced to
mere craftsmen are groun5less, it is said.
The fact that Mr.. Meyer recently asked
the Attorney General for an opinion re-
garding the legality OF the newly created
naval aids acting as Secretary Of the Navy
in the absence of himself and Mr.. Win
throp has been somewhat unfairly utilized
In an effort 10 create the impression in
Congress that Mr.. Meyer was seeking TO
create a general staff and to clothe his
I technical advisers with unwarranted au-
: taority. Members OF Congress who have
looked into this question say they find
that nothing was further from Mr.. Meyers
purpose. The decision of the Attorney
General that q naval aid could not act as
Secretary conformed entirely to Mr.. Meyers
own view. The necessity for referring this
question TO the Attorney General grew out
Of tie fact that the Navy Department has
solicitor. Congress has provided only
$3.50 as remuneration for a solicitor, and
il is impossible TO obtain the services of a
competent lawyer for that amount Au-
thority to pay $1,000 to solicitor lapsed
with the death OF Judge Hanna
WHAT THE SECRETARY ASKS.
Secretary Meyer has not asked Congress
to assume full responsibility tor the re-
organization he purposes, but only for
authority 10 abolish the Bureau of Equip
ment and 10 make such transfers OF bureau
duties as will enable him TO give the plan
2 fair trial He has appeared several times
before the House committee. where he has
made an excellent impression, convincing
the members that he is not only an earnest
and able advocate OF his cause but that
he has acquired thorough knowledge Of
the vast and complex organization OF which
he is the head; that he is acLuated by com
plete singleness Ct purpose; that his sole
object is the highest possible efficiency Of
the feet, and that he has brought to bear
on the problems which confronted him q
wide business experience and broad grasp
Of the necessities Of the service. Members
Of the House committee are enthusiastic
in their praise OF the Secretary and indi-
cate their purpose 70 do their part in max
ing possible The reorganization MIR. Meyer
so earnestly desires.
TIE indications are that the real struggle
will come when the appropriation bill
reaches the Senate Committee on Naval
Affairs. There il will have to encounter the
opposition OF Senator Hale, who is under
stood 70 be antagonistic 70 the plan chiefly,
II is said. because IL is likely 10 render the
Secretary Of the Navy more Independent of
the Senate committee. Mr.. Hale has so
long been arbiter Of ali things relating to
the navy that he is intolerant, il is assert
ed, OF any step in the direction of making
the Navy Department, and especially the
Secretary. more independent. IT is hoped,
however, by the friends of the Meyer-Swifr
plan that IL will appeal to the good judg-
naent OF the other members OF the COM
mittee and that the opposition OF Mr.. Hale
nay be overcome, at least TO the extent OF
giving the new plan a fair trial