Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-01-19

bIhte AnelF usefulness, II would 90 ]
difficult nov 10 administer the Affairs
Of the navy without the expert eoun.
sci and advice OF these aids, and re-
new the Recommendation which |
made last year, that the aids be rec
ognized by statute
II is certain that the navy, with |
its present size, should have admirals |
In active command higher than rear
admirals.
Like the treasury department and |
the war department. the navy de
partment has given much attention to
economy In administration, and has
cut down a number Of unnecessary
expenses and reduced tie estimates
except for construction and the in
crease that that involves.
urge upon congress the necessity
for an immediate increase Of 1000 |
men In 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 1880 enlisted men of all rat
ings
Careful computation shows that in
April. 1912, 1916 men will be re-
quired for vessels In commission, and
5000 apprentice seamen should be
kept under training at all times,
Abolition Of Navy Yards.
The secretary Of the navy has rec
commended the abolition of certSin Of
the smaller and unnecessary navy
yards. and in order to furnish a com.
plete and comprehensive report has
referred the question Of all navy
yards to the Joint board Of the army
and navy. This board viii shortly
make Its report and the secretary OF
the navy advises me that his recon-
mendations on the subject will ba
presented early in the coming year
The measure Of economy contained
in proper handling of this subject
is so great and so important to the
interests of the nation that shall
present It to congress as a separate
subject apart from my annual mes
sage.
Council Of National Defense.
urge again upon congress the do
STABILITY of establishing the council
of national defense The bill TO estab
fish this council was before congress
last winter, and It Is hoped that this
legislation will pass during the pres
ent session. The purpose of the coun
ell is to determine the general policy
of national defense and to recommend
to congress and to the president sueh
measures relating TO 1t as It shall
deem necessary and expedient.
No such machinery is now provided
by which the readiness of the army
and navy may be improved and the
programs of military and naval re
quirements shall be co-ordinated and
properly scrutinized with view to
the necessities of the whole nation
rather than of separate departments
Departments Of Agriculture and Com
meres 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
merce and labor / refer to the very
excellent reports of the secretaries OF
those Departments. shall not be
able to submit to congress until at
er the Christmas holidays the qucs
ton of conservation Of our resources
arising in Alaska and the west and
the question of the rate for secoRt
class mail matter in the post Office
department.
Civil Retirement and contrlbutcy
Pension System.
have already advocated, in my
last annual message, the adoption Of
civil service retirement system.
with a contributory feature to II &C
as to reduce to a minimum the cost
to the government Of the pensions 10
be paid After considerable rehee'
ton, | am very much opposed to a
pension system that involves no con
tribution from the employees I think
the experience Of cher governments
justifles this view; but the CRYING
necessity for some such contributory
system, with possibly preliminary
governmental outlay. IN order to GOV
/ er the initial cost and to set the sys
tenn going at once while the contrt
buttons are accumulating is manifest
on every side. Nothing will so much
promote the economy and efficiency
of the government as such system
/ Elimination Of All Local Offices From
Politics.
wish to renew again my recon-
mendation that all the local Office;
throughout the country including col
lectors Of internal revenue, collectors
of customs, postmasters Of all foul
classes, immigration commissioner;
and marshals, should be by law GOV
cred into the classified service, the
necessity for confirmation by the sen
ate be removed, and the presiden'
and the others whose time IS nov
! taken up III ulsulDutlhS Nhib Fauou
age under the custom that has nre
vailed since the beginning Of the gov
eminent in accordance Win th'
recommendation Of the senators enc
congressman Of the majority nsrty
should be relieved from this burden
am confident that such chang
would greatly reduce the cost Of ad
ministering the government, end tina
It would add greatly to its efficiency
It would take away the power 10 U.s.
The natrnnara Of the rnverr rnelnf fn