The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-11-17

It was the bungling of these bureaus which resulted in the top- heavy construction of the new de- stroyers.
 Most people don't realize 1t, but the organization of the Navy to- day Is a fearful structure based upon the Naval Bill of i842. One feature of this organization is Q serio-comic division of responsi- bility for construction and design, which may be hard on the tax- payer, but serves as Q perfect alibi for the ndmirals in case of defective ships,
 ADMTRALS HATE RESEARCH
 Real scandal in the Navy, how ever, Is not the defective destroy- CTS, but the ossified intAllects of certain officers who are responsi- bio for hamstringing any attempts ct naval research.
 During the 1888 session of con- gress, the House included in the naval appropriation bill $l5,000,- 900 for experimentation and rec search, but when 1t got to the senate, the admirals ruled 1t out. It is not often that any govern. ment department refuses virtual gift of $i5,O00,000. But the Ad- mirals were quite firm about 1t.
 "The Navy sees no reason why there should be any authority Inc corporated in this bill for use of the money as provided In the House bill," they told the Sen- ate Naval Affairs Committee. ADMIRALS DISLIKE CIVILIANS The only navy man who publicly opposed the Admirals on this was Commander Charles D. Rosendahl, former commandant of the naval air station ct Lakehurst, N. J. Shortly after his testimony, Rosen- dahi was detailed to sea duty
 A vigorous plea for more naval research also came from Lester P. Barlow, developer of the high. powered aerial bomb, who said:
 Successful mitary tech- nicians in civilian life have received such rotten treatment from naval bureaucrats In the past that they hesitate to offer their inventions for patriotic uses. The result is that naval military research is almost stutified."
 But at the next session of Con- gress legislation will Do renewed providing more naval research whether the admirals like 1t or not.
 NOTE-The Admirals did not say SO, but one reason they op- posed the 1888 naval research ap- propriatioa was because 1t was to be conducted under civilian di- rection, not by Annapolis gradu- ates.
 MOWERS HOME
 Herbert Hoover's S street home in Washington has been rented by the French war supplies mis- sion, which seems to knock on the head the idea, once toyed with by the Hoovers, of coming back into the thick of politics in the Capi- tal.
 The French mission will use the ground floor for offices, and re side upstairs. The house formerly was rented by Secretary of War Woodring, who was given a sud- den eviction notice by the Hoov- CTS.
 When the Hoovers read in the newspapers that the Woodrings had been given such short notice, Mrs. Hoover wrote to Mrs. Wood- ring apologi2ing, and explaining that she had intended coming back to Washington to engage in Girl Scout work.
 Political pundits, however, re. membered MT. Hoover's desire to vindicate himself. also his be- hind -the-scenes move to head Europen refugee work. With the re-renting of the Hoover house, however, the Hoovers apparently will net come back to Washington.
 NOTE-The Hoover home is on the same street with Woodrow Wilson's. ex-Senator Reeds of Pennsylvania, ex-Under Secretary of State Castles, and other ex's AIR MONOPOLY
 New Dealers won't admit 1t. but while one breach of their admin istration is tracking down nloEl- apolies in the JustiDe pspartmenk