Evening star., 1924-01-14

H0[DSNAVYSH0ULD
MAKE own CHARTS
DENLY Opposes Transfer of
Hydrographic Office and
Naval Observatory.
SUPPORTED BY OFFICERS
SUPPORTED BY OFFICERS
Capt. F. B. Bassett aud Admiral
Rodgers Declare Naval Men Best
Equipped for Work.

Secretary DENLY opposed the transfer
II the hydrogra phic office and the Naval
Observatory from the Navy Department
today before the joint congressional
committee on the reorganization of the
government departments. holding hear
ings in the public lands committee Of
lce in the Senate office building.
His testimony was preceded by
another attempt on the part of the
committee. to get light on whether the
late President Harding approved the
so-called Presidents plan" for reor-
ganzation-
In reply. to a question from SEN
ator Smoot. Secretary Denbv said
that the proposed amalgama ton OF
the War and Navy departments
was opposed vigorously and never
agreed to by the Secretary of the
Navy at any place or time"
Secretary DENLY revealed that the
cabinet. following submission Of the
residents plan" to Congress. had
discussed at length whether it would
submit another plan fer reorganiza-
rion, and had found 1t utterly i'm
possible to, do So
Il have very graveat doubts
whether President Harding approved
of the amalgamation of the War and
Navy departments" Secretary Denby
said.
The Secretary of the Navy pointed
out that the photographic Office has
been in existence since 1880 as a
part of the Navy. Its transfer to
any other department., he declared
would make the Navy Department,
in relation to its photographic work.
subordinate to the other depart
Jn in ir,A ne
II there is one department capable
of making charts for the Navy 1t is
the Navy, Secretary DENLY said. The
obvious thing to do, he said, is to
split the coast and geodetic survey
and give back to the Navy the coast
work.
OF 4,500 charts needed for a. vessel.
Secretary DENLY pointed out, 3,400 are
issued in the United States. OF the
S.4o0: 200 are made by the hydro
graphic office of the Navy Depart
:nent and 700 by the coast and geo
detic survey. All nations. except Por-
1uSal, the witness said, have their
chart-making in the navy.
Secretary DENLY complimented the
revenue cutter service and said that
II had function, as civil police force,
wholly distinct from the Navy and
that his department would not like
to take over that function, but that
1t would be happy to get the ships
ohu men Cl the revenue cutter service
if they could be added to the Navy
Navy Best Prepared.
''The Navy is best prepared to
make the charts for saiiormen," de-
clared Capt. F. b. Bassett. chief of
the photographic office, who followed
Secretary DENLY. He described the
work done and said that no other
department has had the necessary
experience to do the work, nor does
any other department know what the
sailor wants.
He was substantiated by Rear Ad-
miral W. l.. Rodgers, who said that il
had taken the coast and geodetic sur
Ney eighty years to make maps the
way the navigating officers of the
Navy wanted them.
Secretary DENLY declared that there
would be no economy or practicability
whatever in taking the Naval Obserya-
tory, with it's s2.000.000 worth of
equipment belonging to the Navy,
from the jurisdiction of that service.
The committee adjourned until
"Wednesday morning at $50 o'clock,
when Admiral Rodgers will resume
his testimony. 1t is expected that
Lieut.. Col. c. o. Sheriff., head of the
Office of public buildings and grounds.
will testify at that time.