New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-06
FavOrs Doubling Present
Plant or Creating An
other Academy.
SEEKS CONSISTENT
NAVY DEVELOPMENT
Secretary at Work on Plans
Nav Raise Revenue by War
Tax Bill and Sugar Duty.
Prom Tbs Tribune Bureau ]

tically agreed on by PRESIDENT "Hsoh
and Secretary Daniels yesterday and
outlined exclusively in The Tribune
this morning. officers at the Navy De-
partment said the programme was the
soundest that had been proposed by
the Navy Department in many years
and that Its acceptance by Congress
would go far TO redeem the inadequa-
cies Of the programmes adopted at pre-
vious sessions.
Officers of the general board Of the
navy. while they would not venture
any public expression, were grained
TO learn that their recommendations,
which hitherto have been consistently
ignored, would be needed this year.
This is not all We could ask" said
prominent officer to-day, discussing
The Tribune's outline. "but it is much
more than we expected. If Congress
agrees to- i and will appropriate SIM
liar sums next year and yearly there
after the American navy will be some
thing to he proud Of"
Wants Steady Naval Development.
II was learned to-day that Secretary
Daniels favors the adoption of a con-
tinuing programme which would pro-
vide for consistent naval develop
ment. and has conferred with the Presi-
dent on the subject. He is at work
on plans with this end in view, but
has not yet put them in definite shape.
While there Is no way OF binding
conditions to follow such programme.
once it IS adopted the Secretary be-
lieves hat it would be Endorsed by the
country at large and by naval authori-
ties. and that these Endorsements,
coupled with the fact that waste would
result If departures were made from
the programme in succeeding years,
would be sufficient to insure its being
followed 1t is expected. therefore.
that before Congress meets Secretary
Daniels will have completed his plans
tor a programme extending over a
reriod Of years. with a more or less
fixed annual appropriation.
Small Increase in Personnel.
The only feature of the Secretary's
programme for this year that is strik-
ingly inadequate. as naval men see it.
is the provision for additional person
mel. Secretary Daniels will recon-
mend an increase Of 5000 men and
$500 apprentices. 0ne-ffth of the ex-
ira men will go to the marine corps.
Naval experts say a minimum of 49,
600 more men should be provided TO
take care of the ships now under con-
struction and to man the present ves-
sells of the navy adequately.
Mr.. Daniels. however, is not blind ~
this deficiency. AS he sees the prob
lem it is one rather of officers than OF
enlisted personnel. An increase of IS, ..
600 men without a corresponding in
crease in the number Of officers would
in his opinion, be impracticable.
To remedy this situation he will rec
cmmend that the Naval Academy ia
cilties be gradually increased during
the next four years to twice their pres
ent accommodation. This will be done
either by charging the present plant
at Annapolis or by building a new
SC0OOi pl tVudl size OH tHe aCHlC
Coast. The Secretary favorS the lat
ter alternative.
Would Fill Up Annapolis.
The first step will be the recommen-
dation TO Congress, as part of the gen
eral naval programme, that the Annap-
oils Academy be utilized to full capac-
ity at once. At present there is room
for at least 200 midshipmen, while the
enrolment is only slightly over 900.
Secretary Daniels will ask that pro-
vision be made for an entering class of
roughly 600 men in 1915. instead of the
usual 800.
In order to keep the entering classes
at a uniform size, or about 600 men,
the Secretary will recommend that the
accommodations at Annapolis be tenn
porarily increased in 1917 to take care
Of 800 men pending permanent add
tons or the construction Of Pacific
Coast academy.
In this way the annual output of
naval officers will be doubled within
four years, with both schools operat-
ing at only about 70 per cent of their
capacity, leaving room for further ex-
pansion to meet future needs. After
four years. therefore, the problem of
officers will be solved in large meas
ure, and a large increase in the en-
listed personnel will be possible.
Naval Budget Chief Topic.
The political significance of a naval
budget carving almost S240,000,000
was one Of the chief topics Of CONVEX
sation among politicians to-day. Al
first there was utter astonishment that
the President and Secretary Daniels
had even tentatively discussed such
big building programme, but early in
the day the word spread that the Sec
rotary had been gu STONED about the
details Of the programme outlined IN
The Tribune, and his only comment
was that there were some slight mac
curacies."
The feature Of the programme which
stood opt in the minds of the politi-
clans was the fact that the appropria-
tions for the navy, were this pro-
gramme carried out, would exceed those
OF last year by over S90,0O0,0OO. How
is the revenue 10 be raised? 2" was the
question each Representative asked.
Would Re-enact War Tax Bill.
1t has been generally conceded for
some time. not only by Congressman.
but by Secretary of the Treasury Nc
Adoo, that the war revenue TAX Dill
would have to be re<nacted immediate
ly on the converting of Congress. II
has been proposed by several Demo
cratic Senator'S and Representatives.
and also by some high officials Of the
Treasury Department. that the present
duty on sugar would have to be re-
tanned. At present the duty on sugar
is producing revenue at about the rate
~ S32. 600, 900 year. II produced
about sec, O0O. 900 under the schedule in
IN, Payne-Aldrich bill. Even with this