The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-02-15

| only at navy yards but in numerous
| private yards where warships are be
| ING built for the government. They
| have already been taken off the bat
tIeships and given this class of shore
duty, .hus displacing, in many in
stances. naval constructors.
OF course, if the Meyer plan should
not be approved by the Reconsideration
of appropriations, the construction bu-
reau would be in a position to hamper
the operations of the bureau of steam
engineering Many of the line officers,
now serving as inspectors-a duty that
they regard as very desrable-wilI
have to be ordered away, perhaps back
to their ships
Consequently first and Iast-and the
last of it is not vet-there has been
a tremendous display Of i'll feeling. Not
only are very MANY naval officers af-
fected in their future activities. but
policies Of moment in the administra-
ton of the navy department are at
stake.
Even after the house committee has
disposed Of the bill and gotten it en-
acted by the house, II passes to the
senate, where the opposition to the
Meyer reorganization is particularly
strong. If the secretary wins with the
house he probably viii have big bat
tie to hold his advantage with the sen
ate. This means. not only long deIibera
tions in committee. but extended de
bates i'll senate and house.
Other features of the navy bill. now
come TO be one of the leading appro-
priation bills in popular interest, are
yet in allowance. \ prominent matter
is the authorization of new ships, which
alone generally causes a big fight an
nuallv. The outcome viii likely be
the authorization Of two new ships, but
there will be strong influences for the
authorization Of but one and even of
none at all This viii have a bearing
upon the policy of economy which the
senate and house leaders are very in
sistcnt upon and which they have al
ready enforced with some success in
connection with other appropriation
bills All in all high old time is in
prospect before the naval bill for 1910
II reaches President Taft for his sig
nature.
There is soon to be a vacancy in the
office Of surgeon general of the navy.
The fact has been vigorously impress
ed upon the President 5 mind in re
cent days. The friends of applicants
have been thronging across his
Threshold some Of them very influential
friends, and emphasizing the necessity
for the welfare of the service that this
medical officer or that medical officer
be nominated to the Job.
For medical officer Of the navy. it
is a very desirable .loh. indeed. The
lay Is that Of a rear admiral and the
relative rank of a rear admiral-S5500
and sufficient perquisites to make
about $4,000 mortgages with the pay.
There is opportunity for performing
valuable service to the government,
but there are also great social oppor-
tunities in Washington. The surgeon
general of the navy in recent wears
has been very much I'm it = as far a
Washington society is concerned. The
detail Is for four years. with a pretty
good prospect for a denomination
/ which means eight years Of easy
pleasant duty. In recent times. the
surgeon general of the navy has been
| the family physician Of the President
| He performs that service. of course
| gratis. bat it gives him great vogue
| Other big officials call him in when
they are i'll, and there is more or less
| of a scramble among important folk
| whether in the navy or not. TO he able
| to have notices of their Illness sup
! plemcnted with the tltilIating bit OF
information that Surgeon General Blank
| is attending him.
President Taft apparently intends t