No. 85, page 977.—Quirk, Michael J., to remove charge of desertion and insubordination (H. R. 6597). No. 86, page 979.-The Hump. No. 87, page 983.-Naval reserve personnel bill. No. 88, page 987.—To reorganize and increase commissioned grades of chief boatswain and chief gunner in the navy. No. 89, page 989.-Farrell, William Edward, for the relief of (H. R. 15454). No. 93, page 1005.-Plunkett, M. H.-Saville, John W. (H. R. 13384, 21056, 16827, 21055). No. 94, page 1007.-Efficiency of the Naval Militia. No. 96, page 1101.-To authorize commissions to issue in cases of officers retired or advanced on the retired list with increased rank. No. 97, page 1103.-Memorandum of laws and decisions relating to beginning of pay of next higher grade in the cases of officers of junior grades and warrant officers. No. 98, page 1109.-Mayo, Arthur Henry, to waive age limit (H. R. 23772). No. 99, page 1111.-Perkins, Constantine Marrast, Lieut. Col., a bill for the reinstatement of (H. R. 15535). No. 100, page 1115.-Compensation of skilled mechanics in the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D. C. No. 101, page 1151.-Authorizing that commission of ensign be given midshipmen upon graduation from the Naval Academy. No. 102, page 1153.-Navy Department's proposed personnel bill. No. 103, page 1159.-Myers, F. L., to correct naval record (H. R. 24853). No. 104, page 1161.-Jungen, Carl W., for the relief of (H. R. 17468). No. 105, page 1163.-Young, Carrington A., for the relief of. No. 106, page 1165.-Crawford, Edgar F., to correct naval record. No. 107, page 1167.-Marshall, John, for the relief of. No. 108, page 1169.-Blankenship, John M., and others. No. 109, page 1171.-Milton, J. B., Captain, to complete naval record (H. R. 17950). No. 110, page 1173.-Restoration and retirement of Frederick W. Olcott, as a passed assistant surgeon in the navy. No. 111, page 1175.-For the relief of certain commissioned and warrant officers appointed while serving in the Regular Army, Navy, or Marine Corps. No. 112, page 1179.-Equipment, Bureau of, changes. No. 113, page 1181.-Officers carried as additional numbers. No. 114, page 1183.-Providing for retirement with rank of next higher grade. No. 115, page 1185.-Power to administer oaths. No. 116, page 1187.-Officers who perform engineering duty on shore only, be made additional numbers. No. 117, page 1189.-To repeal a portion of section four hundred and twentynine of the Revised Statutes of the United States. No. 118, page 1191.-Medals of honor. No. 119, page 1193.-To provide for the examination for promotion of certain warrant officers. No. 120, page 1195.-The Solicitor of the Navy Department. No. 121, page 1197.-Butter, Samuel, & Co., claim of. No. 122, page 1223.-To appoint a professor of mathematics in the navy (H. R. 15678). No. 123, page 1225.-To provide for an additional professor of mathematics (H. R. 15388). No. 124, page 1227.-Dry Dock No. 1, Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to increase limit of cost. No. 125. page 1229.-Band, Naval Academy, to reorganize and enlist (H. R. 89). No. 126, page 1231.-Naval Militia, increase of appropriation under "Pay of the Navy." No. 127, page 1233.-Waud, Robert G., to remove charge of desertion (H. R. 5021). No. 128, page 1235.-Dental surgeons, appointment of (H. R. 6741). No. 129, page 1237.-Medical Department, United States Navy, to increase the efficiency of. No. 130, page 1241.-Dry docks, floating, construction of (H. R. 90). No. 132, page 1245.-Relief of officers retired for disability incident to the service (H. R. 8229, 12344). No. 133, page 1247.-Naval station, Cavite, P. I., unexpended balances. No. 134, page 1249.-Winder, William, to be a commodore on the retired list (H. R. 14684). No. 135, page 1251.-Amending section 13, third proviso, of act of March 3, 1899 (H. R. 19870). No. 136, page 1253.-Cassidy, John, to remove charge of desertion (H. R. 17385). No. 137, page 1255.-Land, to purchase, in vicinity of naval trial course, Monroe island, Penobscot Bay, Maine. No. 138, page 1257.-To provide for the administration of discipline in certain ca-es. No. 139, page 1261.—An Act to authorize the Secretary of the Navy to loan naval equipment to certain military schools (H. R. 9543 and H. Ř. 18901). No. 140, page 1263.-To amend an act entitled "An act to promote the administration of justice in the navy." No. 141, page 1267.-Hartung, Renwick J., ensign, U. S. Navy, retired, to be additional professor of mathematics United States Navy. No. 142, page 1269.—Publicity in the making of government contracts. No. 143, page 1277.-Green, James, "To remove charge of desertion" (H. R. 21605). No. 144, page 1279.-To provide for retirement of officers carried as additional numbers (H. R. 15684). No. 145, page 1281.-Naval hospital, Las Animas, construction of road (H. R. 17260). No. 146, page 1283.-Wireless telegraphy for vessels under control of the Government (H. R. 21757). No. 147, page 1295.—To promote officers with pay and allowances of next higher grade. No. 148, page 1297.-Painton, Richard B., to build cruisers and torpedo boats after the design of. No. 149, page 1299.-Wall, William, for the relief of (H. R. 24952). No. 150, page 1301.-"An act providing for leaves of absence of certain employees of the Government." No. 151, page 1305.-To provide for the naturalization of aliens (H. R. 127). No. 152, page 1309.—Bureau of Equipment, to abolish. No. 153, page 1311.-Mayo, Arthur Henry, "To waive the age limit" (25370). No. 154, page 1313.-Dental surgeons, appointment of. No. 155, page 1315.-Preliminary report on examination of naval supply fund. No. 156, page 1325.-That officers, including warrant officers, be credited with five years' service from date of appointment (H. R. 19870). No. 157, page 1329.-McCrackin, Alexander (H. R. 26485). No. 158, page 1331.-Number of applications for employment at navy-yards, Washington, D. C., and New York, N. Y. No. 159, page 1333.-Offley, Holmes E., to appoint on the retired list of the navy (H. R. 765). No. 160, page 1335.-Phythian, Robert L., relief of (H. R. 26768). No. 161, page 1339.-Hertfelder, Gustav (H. R. 24368). No. 162, page 1341.-Louisiana, restoration of lands. [No. 1.] THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Wednesday, December 8, 1909. The subcommittee on appropriations this day met, Hon. George E. Foss in the chair. STATEMENT OF CAPT. N. R. USHER, U. S. NAVY, ASSISTANT TO BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, ACCOMPANIED BY MR. EDWARD W. CALLAHAN, CHIEF CLERK. The CHAIRMAN. What is your rank? Captain USHER. Captain and assistant to the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department. The CHAIRMAN. We will take the first heading of the bill: "Pay of the navy. Pay and allowances prescribed by law of officers on sea and other duty; officers on waiting orders; officers on the retired list; clerks to paymasters at yards and station," etc. The language is the same as in the last year's bill until we get down to page 4, where you are asking an increase of 2,000 men? Captain USHER. Yes, sir; and 1,000 apprentice seamen, making in all 3,000 persons. The CHAIRMAN. Do you need these men? Captain USHER. Yes, sir. This is as small a number as we can get along with and handle the ships coming forward. There are four new battle ships to be commissioned, as well as fifteen new large torpedo-boat destroyers and seven submarines, and while it is not intended to increase the number of ships in active duty in the fleet, this increase asked for is necessary to maintain such force as we now have in an e..cient condition afloat and to care for vessels necessarily placed in reserve. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. How many men do you use on the battle ships, approximately the number? Captain USHER. In the new ships 695 men for the Michigan class, and for the Delaware and North Dakota class 813 blue jackets. These are the new large ships. There are 82 men required to man each of the new destroyers. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. I am speaking of the four ships likely to go into commission. None of the large vessels will go into commission this year? Captain USHER. The first will be the Michigan. It is expected that she will be commissioned about the 1st of January; the South Carolina will follow and then the Delaware and North Dakota will come in the spring. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. They take 700 men each? Captain USHER. The first two require 695 and the next 813 men. The CHAIRMAN. Will you please place in the record a list of the ships going into commission? Captain USHER. Yes, sir. List of new naval vessels that will probably be commissioned from now to the end of the calendar year 1910. destroyers? Captain USHER. Eighty-two men. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. And how many for the submarines? Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. How many vessels will go out of commission, and what kind? Captain USHER. It is anticipated that the Ohio, 707, Wisconsin, 623, and Missouri, with a complement of 707 men, will go out of commission. Mr. GREGG. They will go out of commission during the year? Captain USHER. They will be put in reserve or go out of commission. Mr. PADGETT. Only temporarily? Captain USHER. Yes, sir; and without unduly increasing the number of men in the service and keep such vessels as go into reserve in good condition. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. How many other vessels will go out of commission outside of the battle-ship line? Captain USHER. It is anticipated that probably the Denver and three others of her class, to be replaced by the New Orleans, Cincinnati, and Raleigh, which are practically the same class. That is practically an exchange. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. One less ship comes in than goes out. How many men will you have on those ships? Captain USHER. The number will be about even. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. You put more men on those coming in than those going out? Captain USHER. About the same number. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. You put in three vessels and you said that you would take out the Denver and three others of her class? Captain USHER. Yes, sir. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. How many men are there on the Denver and others of her class? Captain USHER. The number is about 320. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. The New Orleans has not been in commission? Captain USHER. She is just now in commission. Three hundred and twenty-five men is her complement. She is to replace the Denver. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Are there any other smaller vessels to go out of commission? Captain USHER. It is not anticipated, except in the way of an exchange. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. According to your figures you will put into commission vessels that will require in the aggregate about 5,000 blue jackets, and you put out of commission vessels that require about 3,800 men, which is a difference of 1,200 men. Captain USHER. The number required is to keep the fleet in its present strength of 16 battle ships and not to diminish immediately the force employed on the Pacific, which consists of 8 armored cruisers, with crews practically the same or a little larger than the battle ships. The vessels put in reserve are required to have crews also. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Very small crews? Captain USHER. About one-fourth of the regular crew. I think they are allowed 160 men, as compared with 590 or 690 men, the full complement. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Why is there any need for so many men? Captain USHER. To keep them in order, like the St. Louis, so as to be able to sail within a week. They are kept in perfect order. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Does it require 160 men to do that? Captain USHER. Yes, sir; and to make the inspections required; they have to go about that continually. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. That is a great number of persons to keep a ship in order. You take a hotel, which is much larger than a ship, and you put in 40 men, and if she is out of commission you have a pretty good force? Captain USHER. I do not think you can fairly compare a ship with a hotel. Conditions are not the same. The machinery has to be kept in perfect order for one thing. Mr. LOUDENSLAGER. Electricity and all that they have to keep up in a hotel? Captain USHER. That is true, but that is a very small part of the inspection. The detail of a ship is enormous, and it has to be kept in perfect order. Mr. PADGETT. Captain, I will ask you to put in the record a statement of how many officers and men it would require to fully man the entire fleet that we have at present on a peace basis, and also to put into the record a full statement of the number of officers and men which would be required on a war basis, so as to see how much short we are in officers and men. Captain USHER. Yes, sir. There will be 3,890 officers and 72,281 men required to man the entire fleet in time of war, and 3,652 officers and 60,902 men required for the same purpose in time of peace. These figures include the officers and men on tugs and receiving ships but not at shore stations. |