The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-12

Washington Lee capps has resigned as
Chief Of the Bureau of Construction Of
the Navy Department. to take effect on
October ], when he will have completed
thirty years of service and viii be eIigi-
bic for retirement with the rank of rear
admiral
The chief constructors downfall is due
to the fact that he is out OF sympathy
with the reorganization scheme Of secre-
tary OF the Navy Meyer, and his resigna-
ton was requested by the Secretary. In
letter announcing his retirement from
the bureau, Mr. Capps admits frankly
that he is not in accord with the secre-
tary, and adds that he would prefer to
resign.
Follows Paymaster Rogers.
Mr. Capps is the second important bu-
reau chief Of the department TO fall be-
fore the Meyer reorganization plan. Sew
eral weeks ago Paymaster General Eus-
taee D. Rogers. Chief Of the Bureau Of
Supplies and Accounts. resigned, after a
controversy with Secretary Meyer The
paymaster had refused to obey the orders
of the Secretary to reduce the total OF
the navyo supply funds, and Mr.. Meyer
practically dismissed him.
The retirement OF these men from the
, navy bureaus marks the elimination Of
the two most important figures IN the op-
position to the Meyer reorganization
plan, which Is the control OF naval af-
fairs by the line instead Of tie stan OH
GERS.
Both Rogers and Capps appeared before
the House Committee on Naval Affairs
last winter and criticised Mr. Meyer. 1t
had been predicted that Secretary Meyer
would rid himself OF these men.
Drops Duties Immediately.
Mr. capps' resignation has been looked
/ for in naval circles for many months.
/ While his resignation will not take ef-
/ feet until next october. he will relinquish
his duties as chief constructor immedi-
ately. He will make a tour OF inspection
TO the navy yards on the Pacific Coast
and may so to the Philippines TO COM
plete inspection work already begun
there.
! Mr. Capps gave in his resignation at g
| personal ginterview with Secretary Meyer
yesterday. Mr. Meyer transmitted the
resignation TO President Taft at Bev-
erly. with the recommendation that Il be
accepted. When word was received here
last night that the President had accept
ed the resignation. the announcement
was made of the change.
When Secretary Meyer entered the
! Navy Department on March I. 1909. at the
/ beginning of the present administration,
/ Mr.. Capps was serving in the double ca
pacity as Chief Of the Bureau OF Con-
struction and Repair and Chief OF the
Bureau Of Steam Engineering. Mr.. Meyer
relieved him of the detail as Chief Of the
Bureau of Steam Engineering.
Capp Quiet During Row.
While the controversy between Secre-
tary Meyer and Mr.. Rogers was on. Mr..
I Capps kept out OF the spotlight When
Mr.. Meyer had succeeded in recognizing
| the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. he
I then turned his attention to the Bureau
of Construction.
During the administrations Of former
Secretaries Metcalf and Newberry, Chief
/ Constructor Capps WIS a predominating
influence in the affairs Of the department.
Mr.. Capps has been chief OF the Bureau
of Construction since October 81. 1903 He
was born in Portsmouth, Va, on January
81, 1864 He was appointed a cadet engi-
neer in the navy on October / 1850. He
was appointed as assistant naval con-
structor on June 6. 1885. From 1856 10
1889 he took a special course in marine
architecture at the University OF Glas-
gov. From 1883 to 1892 he served at the
New York Navy Yard. and later was
detailed to inspect work on naval YES
sells at the Union Iron Works at San
Francisco. From 1901 to 1903 ne was
| serving second term of duty at the
New York Navy Yard. when he was ap-
pointed chief constructor OF the navy
He completed his first four-year detail
as chief constructor on October 81, 1907
He was then reaprointed. and his pres.
ent commission will not expire unit
October 81. 1911.
In a Previous Controversy.
Several years ago Mr. Capps was the
target for a series of attacks made by
several line officers against his bureau
alleging that battle ships designed and
constructed by the department were
faulty. The alleged structural defects
were reported TO the department officially
by Commander Albert L. Key, L. s. n.
who at that time was naval aid to former
President Roosevelt Mr. Roosevelt or
dered a conference Of officers at tn,
Naval War College, at Newport. R. l.
which fully discussed the technica
questions involved and upheld most o.
Commander Keys contentious Mr.
Capps was the principal witness befor.
the Senate Naval Committee. which in
yeSfigated the controversy