New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
Postponing Naval Increase and Re
organization a Shocking Blunder.

The House of Representatives failed lamenta-
blv in its duty when it mutiated the best naVa
concentration bill submitted 10 II IN many years
AZ f. left the Committee on Naval Affairs this
b;ll ropresented very hopeful development OF
naval policy It recognized the Deficiencies N the
service which had been emphasized IN the report
Of the General Board and in the testimony o.
raroI officers of the widest experience and high
est standing.
II went to the root of the evil TO which our
rpnreparedness has been chiefly due by authonz-
inc, the creation Of a Bureau Of Operations in
the Navy Department. This bureau, IN charge
" pperts. was to be responsible for the military
efficiency of the service. There Is now no CEN
traIi.od body with authority to frame a broad
poljcv for the navy and to keep 1t IN an up-to-
date condition as a fighting force. The General
BOARD does what it can in the way Of supplying
ideas. but those have been pretty regularly dis
rcqardcd by the civilian Secretary and have made
little or no impression on Congress
The House Of Representatives dashed the best
hone Of naval reorganization by killing on the
Bureau of Operations provision on point OF
order. Then, under the leadership Of Mr. Under
wood. il went after the other progressive pro
visions in the bill, reducing the number OF SUD-
marines authorized from sixteen to eleven, elimi-
Mating the hospital ship and the much needed
naval transport, reducing the appropriation Tor
aeroplanes and cutting out the provision lor the
creation of a naval reserve.
Mr. Underwood's wrecking efforts resulted IN
q reduction Of about S75000O0 in the amount
carried by the naval bill AS usual, the wreck
ers claimed TO be carrying out Democratic
PROMISES Of economy. But the country VIII not
take such a plea seriously. 1t knows that this
Congress has raised the average Of the annual
appropriations by about SlOO,OOO,OOO above the
average for the last two years-l9O9- lin
which Congress was under Republican control
It knows that many times the S7,5OOOOO cut out
of the naval bill will be wasted in expenditure
which will produce no material results in the way
of improving the national defence or promoting
the national welfare. 1t is aware that Congress
is honeycombed with statesmen whose highest
idea Of serving the public is to vote money to
dig out some inland river course, unruffed by
commerce. or to plant federal building costing
$4,000 in some county seat of from 5000 to $500
inhabitants.
Economy which stunts the growth of the navy
and increases its unpreparedness is a bigger
crime than throwing away money on useless pub
lie buildings and useless river and harbor i'm,
provements. The European war is teaching US
many lessons, and the first of these in importance
is the necessity Of an adequate national defence
AS neutral we are threatened with foreign
complications arising out of the regulation of
neutral commerce by the belligerents. New and
strange doctrines Of international law are being
advanced to suit the military necessities Of the
two begerent groups. We do not know how
long we shall be able to depend on the law OF
nations for the protection of our neutral rights
We should be in position TO command proper
treatment if our right. are challenged.
The failure of the House of Representatives &c
see this is an indictment of its intelligence anC
capacity The navy must be reorganized anc
strengthened. The party in power which refuse:
to undertake that plain duty will meet short
sbrift at the hands of the voters.