COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS. OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON IMATES SUBMITTED BY THE 1915 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE No. 1, page 1.-Statement of Rear Admiral Victor Blue, Chief of the Bureau of No. 2, page 47.-Statement of Rear Admiral H. R. Stanford, Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department, accompanied by Civil Engineer C. A. Carlson, United States Navy. No. 3, page 77.-Statement of Surg. Gen. Braisted, United States Navy. No. 4, page 91.-Statement of Capt. Thomas Washington, in charge of the Hydro- graphic Office, Navy Department. No. 5, page 109.-Statement of Rear Admiral Samuel McGowan, Paymaster General United States Navy, accompanied by Mr. Clyde Reed, civilian No. 6, page 203.-Statement of Rear Admiral Joseph Strauss, Chief, Bureau of No. 7, page 231.-Statement of Capt. William F. Fullam, Superintendent, United States Naval Academy, accompanied by Commander J. R. P. No. 8, page 255.-Statement of Commander Frederic B. Bassett, jr., United States Navy, in charge of Division of Naval Militia Affairs, Navy Depart- No. 9, page 275.-Statement of Capt. Bristol. No. 10, page 305.-Statement of Rear Admiral Richard Morgan Watt, Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair. No. 11, page 321.-Statement of Rear Admiral Robert S. Griffin, engineer in No. 12, page 353.-Statements of Maj. Gen. George Barnett, commandant; Col. Charles L. McCawley, quartermaster; and Col. George Richards, pay- No. 13, page 463.-Statements of Rear Admiral Charles J. Badger and Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, United States Navy. No. 14, page 513.-Statement of Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, commander No. 15, page 571.-Statement of Hon. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy. No. 16, page 839.-Statement of Commander Yates Stirling, jr., United States No. 17, page 907.-Statement of Mr. Paul A. Talbot, representing the Talbot Boiler Co., of New York, and Seattle, Wash. No. 18, page 921.-Statement of Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant Secre- No. 19, page 997.-Statement of Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, United States Navy, aid for operations, Navy Department. No. 20, page 1059.-Statement of Hon. Augustus P. Gardner, a Representative in Congress from Massachusetts. No. 21, page 1097.-Statements of Mr. Alfred H. Rodrick and Mr. J. P. Sullivan. [No. 1.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Monday, November 30, 1914. The committee met at 10.50 o'clock a. m., Hon. Lemuel P. Padgett (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL VICTOR BLUE, CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF NAVIGATION. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, we have with us this morning Admiral Blue, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. Admiral, I see that the language in the first paragraph on page 10 of the first draft of the bill is the same as before, but you have reduced the amount for transportation from $850,000 to $750,000. We are glad to see reductions. What unexpended balance did you have last year? Admiral BLUE. Up to the end of the fiscal year, according to the report of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, we had a balance of $176,643.56 under transportation, but we expect to have other bills coming in which will reduce that balance to about $165,000. The CHAIRMAN. And on that basis, then, you have reduced the request for the appropriation $100,000? Admiral BLUE. Making it $750,000. The CHAIRMAN. And that would leave you a margin of about $60,000 or $65,000? Admiral BLUE. Yes, sir. I would not like to reduce it any more than that, because we expect to have a good portion of the fleet in the Pacific and we may have more transportation charges to pay on that account. I did not want to reduce it below a safe limit, but I think we can safely reduce it to $750,000. The CHAIRMAN. The next item, "Recruiting," you have the same as last year $130,000. Could that be reduced? Admiral BLUE. In reference to recruiting, we had a balance of $29,132.70 last year. Still we have made more liberal regulations in regard to discharges of men, and a great many men have taken advantage of them, compared with the numbers heretofore. I think it would be safe to keep that amount the same as it was last year. The CHAIRMAN. I will ask you to file an itemized statement of the expenditures under the last paragraph—you have one, have you? Admiral BLUE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And also under this paragraph. You can attach it to your hearing. Mr. ROBERTS. You mean under transportation and under recruiting both? The CHAIRMAN. Yes; an itemized statement of the expenditures. Admiral BLUE. I have estimates here based on those, which I can give the committee now if they would like to have them. |