The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-22
REORGAN|zAT|0NOF UNITED STATES NAVY Secretary VOn Meyer Finds
 Immense Deficiency USE ENGLISH SYSTEM Complete Inventory of System Shows That Much Material Cannot Be
 Accounted FOr-A High
 Official Removed

Wa hi nj g t n. October 21.--(speciaD Spurred by the recent discovery of . deficiency of three and a quarter million dollars worth of ordnance supplies at the Washington navy yard, Secretary of the Navy George von l.. Meyer intends to reorganize the navy from top to bot tom and place it upon basis which will compare favorably with that of any other navy of the world.
 As a result of sweeping inventory, which was taken at the direct order of Secretary Meyer, and which was. taken few days ago, it was discovered that the government had nothing on it's books to account for the disappearance of an enormous amount of material from the Washington navy yard. The last com- plete inventory was taken before the Spanish-American war. and while it is believed the supplies were removed hur- riedly duripg the war without accounting being taken. and therefore being a loss due to loose bookkeeping, nevertheless Secretary Meyer Is fearful that similar shortages have occurred at other yards. and is determined to improve the general system.
 The Secretary will cast aside all sci, entifc systems of navy yard manage nnent advocated in this country because lie believes they involve too much detail and required serious changes in the civil service rules of employment, and will import from England the system of man. agement employed by Vickers. Limited. at the Barrow-in- F>urIiess Ship, Engine and Ordnance Works. This was aDnounc- ed at the navy department following the return of Secretary Meyer from his trip of inspection of the chief naval works in Europe. s., That thesystem may be thoroughly in stituted, Captain A. B. Williams and Captain F. Tl1eiss, [. s. N, have been sent to England to study the Vicliers system These officers plan to be away about month, and following their re- turn it is believed that the installa tion of the new system will be begun fin earnest. Secretary Meyers studied the V i c e r system with great care and believes their methods can be profitably applied in American navy yards, and that great benefit will be derived both by the gov ernment and the worsmen from the new system The opposition of the labor in- terests who were particularly interested in defeating the ss-called Taylor system was another important factor considered by Secretary Meyer in rejecting the sys- tems. advocated in this country He also believes that to4 nanch System would increase rather, than decrease the cost of maintenance. The chief recommendation fsr ! r. n4.i'f'' svs'ss,l is that it provides for the centrallzation of work, and en- ables the commandant of yard to know just what is being done on particular job without having to get the informa ton from others who have the work in their charge. It also is expected to ef- feet an enormous curtailment of waste.
 The Washington navy yard is to have
 1,..nl and ndt ing at once, according to Secretary Meyer and it will depend upon the success at- tained by this system in the Washington navy yard whether or not it will be ex- tended to all the wards maintained by the government.
 The Norfolk navy yard will be the first at which the Vickers general system will