The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-15
Gardner Still Active

Representative Gardner of Massa-
chusetts, continued his efforts during the
day to get hearings on his proposed COM
mission investigation of the nations pre-
paredness for war. He addressed letters
to Representative Padgett, chairman of
the naval committee, and Representative
Hay, chairman of the military committee,
asking them to summon war and navy
department officials, certain retired army
and navy officers and former cabinet
members. Mr.. Padgett declined to sum-
mon former officers or officials, saying
that the committee preferred to hear the
men now in charge of the government S
work.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt of the
navy department and Captain Stirling
commanding the Atlantic submarine flo
tilla will be before the House naval com
mittee tomorrow.
Three recommendations were made
by Secretary Daniels at the afternoon
session. They were:
Appointment of all second lieutena nts
in the navy hereafter as acting second
Iieutenants," so that those who do not
measure up to requirements after ap-
pointment may be dropped.
Graduated system for retired pay OF
naval officers on the basis of their
length of naval service and the extent
of their disabilities.
Authority for using part of a $4,000
contingent fund to protect the navy
rights of and property on it's oil land
reserves.
ing to put its yards on a business basis
with industrial managers, trying this
plan at New York, Norfolk and perhaps
some other plants.
"The Philadelphia navy yard is in
excellent shape he added, land hasn't
as many eviIs-card systems and other
paper work-as they have in some OF
a construction officer in charge at the
Norfolk yard
Asked as to his policy regarding of
ficers trained by the government at
great expense, going out of the navy
to accept private employment, Mr. DAN
iels replied that now and then 1t was
better to allow designations of some
Indifferent officers, but that it was
harder for a first class valuable man
to resign than FOR camel to go
through a needles eye.'
Declaring the navy had too many
officers ashore, the secretary said: 'We
abolish the office of captain of every
yard. Every office we can spare should
be abolished
Representative Lee of Pennsylva ala
brought up the proposed new naval dry
n
BILE with the site selected at Norfolk
1t would be better to build dock at
Philadelphia, where the bottom is safe
and sure"
1.-The reason / recommended the
building of a dry dock at Norfolk" re-
piled Secretary Daniels. "is because
that yard has more docking. more ar
rivals and departures than any other
yard. 1 recommended the location al
Norfolk. 1t is for Congress to deter
mine what should be done. The chief
docking need Of the navy is at Nor
folk" :
Secretary Daniels was asked If the
general board of the navy agreed with
him as to the location of the dock. "We
don't always agree" said the secre-
tary smilingly IF the committee de-
sires to place at Philadelphia the large
double dry dock-two docks--at the
same cost as the one 1000-yard dock at
Norfolk. you wouldn't object?" asked
Mr.. Lee.
"Whatever the bill says is our duty
to carry out" was the reply.
Did Captain Grant turn the battle
ship Texas around In front of the navy
yard in the Elizabeth river at the Nor
folk navy yard?''
"Yes. he did," was the reply. Mr.. Les
was little skeptical about the Texas
turning around In e channel 400 feet
wide and s5 feet deep and suggestet
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