Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-22
ign navies. notably the British. Ger


smaller vessels can be built much
more rapidly in case of emergency
than the battleships. and we certainly
ought to continue the policy OF two
battleships a year until after the Fan
anna canal Is finished and until in our
first line and in our reserve line we
can number 10 available vessels Of
proper armament and size
1t is certain that tho navy, with its
present size. should have admiras in
active command higher than rear adj
mirais. The recognized grades in or
der are: Admiral of the feet, admiral,
vice admiral and rear admiral our
great battleship fleet is commended
by a rear admiral. with four other
rear admirals under his orders This is
not as il should be- and when ques-
tions of precedence arise between our
naval officers and those of European
navies, the American rear admiral
though In command of 10 times the
force of a foreign vice admiral, must
Weld precedence 10 the latter Such
an absnrdity ought not Ia prevail, ana
il can be avoided by the creation of
two or three positions of flag rank
above that of rear admiral.
/ urge upon Congress the necessity for
an immediate increase of 200O men i'm the
enlisted strength Of the navy, provided
for in the estimates. Four thousand
more are now needed to man all the
available vessels
There are in the service. today, about
AZ, 80 enlisted men of all ratings.
Careful computation shows that in
April, 1912. ~ 1G6 men will be required
for vessels in commission and 5000 APP
prentice seamen should be kept under
training at all times
Council of National Defense.
The secretary of the navy has recon-
mended the abolition of certain of the
smaller and unnecessary navy yards. and
i'm order to furnish complete and conf
pTehensive report has referred the oues-
ton of all navy Yards to the Joint board
Of the army and navay. This board will
shortly make its report and the score
tary of the navy advises me that his
recommendations on the subject will be
presented early in the coming year. The
measure of economy contained In
proper handling of this subject is so
great and so important 10 the interests
of the nation that shall present it to
Congress as a separate subject apart
from my annual message.
Take Offices From Politics.
urge again upon Congress the desir-
ability of establishing the council of ma
tional defence. The bill to establish this
council was before Congress last winter
and it is hoped that this legislation will
pass during the present session. The
purpose of the council is 10 determine
the general policy of national defence
and 10 recommend to Congress and to the
President such measures relating to it
as it shall deem necessary and expedient.
No such machinery is now provided by
which the readiness of the army ana
navy may be improved and the pro-
grams of military and naval requirements
shall be co-ordinated and properly scru-
tinized with a view to the necessities Of
tho whole nation rather than of sepa-
rate department.
Agriculture, Commerce and Labor.
For the consideration OF matters
which are pending or have been dis
posed Of in the Agricultural depart
ment and in the department of COM
mercc and labor. I refer TO the every
excellent reports Of the secretaries Of
those departments. I shall not be able
to submit to Congress until after the
Christmas holidays the question of
conservation Of our resources arising
in Alaska and the West and the ques-
ton of the rate for second Sass mail
matter in the post Office apartment.
Commission of Efficiency and Econ
on1Y
The law does not require the submits
sion of the reports of the commission
on economy. and efficiency until the
S1st Of December. / shall therefore
not be able to submit report of the
work of that commission until the as
semhling of Congress after the holt
days.
Civil Pension System
/ lave already advocated in my last
annual message, the adoption of a
Civil Service retirement system, with
contributory feature to it so as TO
reduce to a minimum the cost 10 the
government OF the pensions to be paid.
After considerable reflection. 1 am
very much opposed to pension sys-
tenn that involves no contribution from
the employees. / think the experience
Vi Jlilti SONGIilllitilLS JUSlliitS liiisS
view: but the crying necessity for
some such contributory system. with
possibly a preliminary governmental
outlay. in order TO cover the initial
cost and to set the system going at
once while the contributions are ac-
cumulating. is manifest on every side.
Nothing will 20 much promote the
economy and efficiency of the govern
ment as such 4 system.
Abolition of Navy Yards.
/ wish to renew again my recommended
ton that ali the local offices throughout
the country, including collectors of in
ternal revenue, collectors of customs,
postmasters of all four classes, immi-
grafton commissioners and marshals,
should be by law covered into the CLASH
fed service the necessity for confrma-
ton by the Senate he removed and the
President and the others. whose time is
now taken up in distributing this patron
age under the custom that has prevailed
I since the beginning of the government in
accordance with the recommendation Of