Evening star., 1915-01-17

ances of these approximations VIII
| amount to more than s1,s0o,000.
| The million dollars herein recon-
Inended is to be expended under the di :
rection of the Secretary of the Navy
and the provision gives to nm orodo
authority for the development or ava
| tion for naval purposes. THIS appro-
priation is placed under the Secretary
of the Navy in lump sum, tnerep!
changing the method of appropriating
| for aeronautics as heretofore has been
| the Practice.
| THE various bureaus of the Navy
| Department have had the authority TO
eXpend such sums as the secretary OF
the Navy may direct from< lump-sunl
appropriations which were provided TO
carry on the work of the various bu-
| rea'iS. 1t is thought by the committee
that this method of appropriating for
laeronautics did not tend to the devel-
| opment of air craft as rapidly as
thought to be necessary The appro-
priations in which aeronautics were
heretofore provided have been reduced
and the sum of S1,000.000 is recon-
mended. The amount recommended by
the officer in charge of aeronautfcs in
the Navy Department was S1,1S7.6O0.'
The report states that the transfer
of the naval militia equipment appro-
prlationS from the bureau of ordnance
| ~ tHe once pTOOdDly VIII
result in greater efficiency for the mil
ita.
More Wages for Mechanics.
OF special interest to Washington is
the committee comment on the increase
of wages for the employees at Indian
Head, Md, and the Washington navy
yard. The bill carries large sums for
this purpose and the report says:
1T has recently been called to the at
tention of this committee that no part
of said sums was used to pay any in
crease of wages at naval proving
ground. Indian Head. Md, but was used
solely for the benefit OF increase of
wages at Washington navy yard. 1t
appears that the workmen at Indian
Head had no representatives On the
JOINT committee which reconme nded
an increase of pay. The Washington
navy yard did have representatives on
said committee
THE aforesaid amounts are continued
in the present bill for the purpose of
paying to the employees of both Indian
Head and Washington navy yard such
wages as. under the law, may be de-
term1ned by the wage board, upon the
approval of the Secretary of the Navy,
for each place"
Economies of Secretary Daniels.
Speaking of the economies effected by
Secretary Daniels. the report says:
The committee desires to invite at
tcntion TO the economical administration
of the department. The lump sum work
ing appropriations under the various
bureaus have been substantially reduced
without impairins the efficiency OF the
naval establishment atioat on shore.
This has been accomplished. notwith-
standing the fact that the navy is con-
stantly growing larger and its activities
greatly enlarged.
THE committee has been able to recon-
mend to the House 4 reduction in these
working appropriations under last year
amounting to $1,169,16S. 1t has also
been able to recommend. by the use of
unoblfSated balances heretofore appro-
prlated, enough money to authorize an
increased number of submarines and d
large appropriation for aeronautics, both
OF which materially increase the mill
tary efhclency, of the navy.
Chief of Operations.
The new policy of giving the respon-
sibility for the preparedness of the fleet
TO the new 'chief of operations is thus
explained for the first time officially by
the naval affairs committee, and marks
a departure in naval policy in America.
Says the report:
This office is to be filled by an officer
of the navy on the active list not be-
low the grade of rear admiral and ap-
pointed for term of four years by
the President by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate. This officer.
under the Secretary of the Navy, is to
be held responsible for readiness of the
navy for war and charged with it's gem
eral direction.
He is to perform only such duties
as shall be assigned to him, by the
Secretary of the Navy and such duties
shall be performed under the authority
of the Secretary of the Navy. He is
given the same authority regarding
orders issued by him as is now given
under existing law to the chiefs of
bureaus of the Navy Department
ITO assist this officer in preparing
general and detail plans of war, fifteen
officers of and above the rank of lieu
tenant commander of the navy or ma jor
of the Marine Corps are to be as
signed for this exclusive duty. 1t is
the opinion of the committee, after
most thorough investigation and ma
ture deliberation, that the necessity for
such an office exists in the naval estab-
lishment
AT present there exists a general
board and the Naval var College, nei-
ther of which seems to be equipped for
adequately performing this duty, nor
have they sufficient officers under their
jurisdiction to do this funda mental
work of preparation of plans of war.
The demands upon the staff of the War
College and the members of the gen
eral board for other questions involv-
ing the efficiency of the personnel and
materiel of the navy are such that
they have not had time and opportun-
ity to fully prepare and perfect this
work and 1T is therefore recommended
by the committee that the proposed
provision be enacted into law.
1T will be noted that the Secretary
of the Navy retains absolute control
over the Office and the cnief of opera
tions performs only such duties as
are assigned by the Secretary. and all
orders are issued under the authority
of the Secretary of the Navy. The prin-
ciple Of civilian control of the Navy
Department is in no way affected by
the provision recommended
Proposed Naval Reserve.
The report explains the working OF the