Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-28

lwhile the cost of maintaining ships in
commission tother than receiving
l.ships), and including pay of Officers
and men,, subsistence and incidental
expenses, is s34,l75,9 Upon the
establishment was spent
$50, 1866; upon the fish commission,
SSS0.06, and upon the nayal militia of
the several states $42,S06.
In connection with the subject of,
contracts and purchases, Admiral
Cowie takes occasion to point out the
necessity for the annulment of the
law of June 10, 1896, which made un-
lawful the employment of any officer
Iof the Navy or Marine Corps, active
or retired, by any person or company
furnishing naval supplies or war ma
terial to the government. He cites
numerous examples in support of his
opinion that the employment of Off
GERS by contractors, instead of proving
detrimental. would operate to the I'M
doubted good of the government,
Paymaster General Cowie concludes
his report with warm commenda-
ton of the high character of the work
done by the Navy Pay Corps. He
states that it has been carried on in
the face of trying difficulties, due to.
the pressing shortage of pay officers
and the lack of clerical help afloat
and ashore. -. ..
While the effect of the eight-hour
law on naval construction has not yet
been determined, the annuol report of
r. NJ. Watt, CHEZ constructor of the
United States Navy, shows that the
application of the new law has in
creased the cost of battleship con-
struction by $3S ton. H.. .. ~.
. The three battIeships, Texas, Ne
vada and Oklahoma, now under con-
tract are building under the eight
hour law. The average price per ton
of normal displacement of these three
vessels is $215, according to Construc-
tor Watt, while the average price of
the preceding three battleships built
by contract when the hours of labor
were unrestricted was SIT per ton.
notwithstanding the recent mark
ed increase in Sizes of vessels says
the chief constructor, "the time re-
quired for construction remains prac-
tically unchanged, and the rapidity of
construction in the United States,
both fer battleships and destroyers
recently completed without restric-
ton as to hours of labor, continues
greater than the average rate of con-
strnction in the principal foreign ship
building countries" I
The chief constructor complains
that the clerical work in his bL>eau
is greatly hampered by the large num-
Der of designations and transfers con-
stantly occurring because OF the lack
of any reasonable prospect of advance
ment -A.ss
= THE bureaus losses in its clerical
force through designations and trans
fers during the past four years. says
the report, were more than as per
cent of the force employed. Admins
trative work conducted under sucn
conditions of frequent change is nee
essarily less efficient and less eco
nomical than when greater perman-
ence of employment is assured
Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger.
now aid for inspections at the navy
w poi ISSol
al Hugo Osterhaus Of command of the
heet at. once to southern waters for
! series of maneuvers. During the
winter the feet will visit Colon by
divisions, in order to give the officers
ard enlisted men an opportunity to
see the wonders of the Panama canal.
An order issued at the navy depart
ment today assigns Rear Admiral
Bradley A. Fiske, now commanding
the first division of the Atlantic feet,
to duty at the navy department as aid
for inspections to take effect Jan. 4.
His detachment from the fleet will
result in a shifting of division COM
manders and the placing of Rear Ad-
miral Frank E. Beatty. now command
ant OF the Washington navy yard, in
command of the junior division. AS
announced, Capt. Hilary p
Jones, commanding the battleship
Rhode Island, will succeed Admira!
Beatty as commaRdant Of the Wash
m"I0n navy yard.
AT the annual banquet OF the Ma