Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-12-08
SECRETARYS POLICY
Why Nicholson Was Removed
From Navigation Bureau.
TO REDUCE BUREAU POWERS.
The Secretary Win Place lis ReOr-
ganization In The Hands OF A
New Mantle President
Assented.

A protest lodged with President Taft
recently by Representatives Foss, of
Illinois, Weeks, of Massachusetts,, and
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, resulted in
the first statement by Secretary of the
Navy Meyer regarding his reasons for
the removal of Rear Admiral Reginald
F. Nicholson, as head of the Bureau
of Navigation and the selection of
Commander Philip Andrews, personal
aid to the Secretary, as Nicholson $
successor. Admiral Nicholson has
been assigned to command the Asiatic
Squadron, succeeding Rear Admiral
Joseph B. Murdock. The change was
to have taken place in January.
Secretary Meyer made it plain that
Admiral Nicholson was asked to step
out of the Bureau of Navigation and
take sea duty for reasons consistent
with the Meyer policy of reorganiza-
tion in the Department. The Secre-
tary told Admiral Nicholson frankly
that a reorganization of his Bureau,
which would amount to a weakening
of most of its powers, was intended
and he, the Secretary, preferred to
have the changes put into effect by
a new man rather than by one who
had had charge under the old sys-
TEN. The Secretary intends further
to subordinate the Bureau of Naviga-
tion to the system of aids which he
has inugurated and is planning COM
plete change in the personnel of the
bureau.
The assent of President Taft to
these plans, including Commander
Andrews appointment, has been OBJ
tanned by Secretary Meyer. The del
egation of protesting Congress men,
headed by Representative Foss, who
was chairman of the House Commit
tee on Naval Affairs under the Re-
publican rule, told President Taft
that they understood that Admiral
Nicholson had been forced out of the
Bureau of Navigation two years
before the time when he was sup
posed TO take sea duty again. They
wished to know if this was the case
and if so what the reasons were for
the change.
This visit Of the Congressman to
the White House is understood to
have grown out of opposition, voiced
both within and without the naval SER
vice early in the fall, when Secretary
Meyer announced his plans. Friends
of Admiral Nicholson not only made
vigorous objection to his removal, but
denounced the appointment of COM
mander Andrews. They declared that
Andrews was too young for the post
l,a4 he. ha1 haI sl,,A..
in recent years to be properly in touch
with the officers of the fleet. These
objections were answered by state
ments that Commander Andrews had
demonstrated his ability as an execu-
tive, that he had served as executive
officer of the United States ship Kan
sas during the voyage of the fleet
around the world two years ago, and
finally that Secretary Meyer had
adopted the policy of appointing men
of the rank of commander to be heads
of the navy bureaus.
Secretary Meyer conferred with
President Taft soon after the visit of
the Congressman, and later at his
Office said that the facts in the case
were as follows:
Admiral Nicholson was summoned
by the Secretary and told that in a
few months there would be an oppor-
tunity for him to command the Asia
tic squadron, owing to the approach
ing retirement of Rear Admiral Muir
dock. Admiral Nicholson replied that
the position of commander-in-chief
of the Aslatic station was one he had
looked forward to for long time, but
that he would have preferred that
the opportunity be presented to him
at some time many months in the
fuure. Secretary Meyer answered
that opportunity waits for no man
The next day, according to Secre-
tary Meyer, Admiral Nicholson came
to him and asked for permission to
| announce his appointment to the sea
command. This permission was
granted and the announcement made.
The Admiral was told by Secretary
Meyer that he wished to reorganize
the Bureau of Navigation and that he,
the Secretary, thought it had better be
done by new man rather than the in.
cumbent. 1t was explained to Admi-
raj Nicholson that the powers of his
bureau were to be further reduced
that the aid for operations would have
charge of all movements of vessels
and the aid for personnel would be the
man to be chiefly consulted in the as.
signment of men: that the chief OF
the Bureau of Navigation could not
give both these duties the atten.
tion required and that henceforth
that bureau would be of much les:
Importance. Owing to these reduc.
tions in power, therefore, the Sec.
retary said it would be hereafter q
post to be filed by a Commander
or Captain rather than by an off
Ger of the rank of Admiral. The
reduction of the authority of the Bu
reau of Navigation, it should be said
has already been accepted to a con
| siderable degree.