ledge and consent. The effect on my labors was instantaneous and immense. The experiment proved a great success and when reported to the Navy Department its methods were adopted for the entire service.
It thus came to pass that from having to sign my name from three hundred to eight hundred times a day on wholly perfunctory endorsements chiefly "Respectfully forwarded" about forty times were foundto suffice and these signatures were to documents that required my careful consideration. Thus were the chains that bound me to my desk shattered and opportunity afforded me to go around the port and investigate conditions and methods.
The nation was fortunate during this period in having at the Navy Department first as Assistant then as Secretary of the Navy the Hon. Truman H. Newberry--a man of extensive business experience, clear mind and exceptional courage. Mr. Newberry welcomed any and all suggestions for the improvement of affairs at the Navy Yards with which he was especially charged and with singular fidelity to the public good, he ignored the protests of the politicians who loudly complained of the work of navy yard reform and he furnished that indispensible factor, Departmental authority, without which nothing could be done.
It is only fair to say that Mr. Newberry himself initiated a number of reforms--only one of which, however, was not preceeded by a conference with me. This exception was due to a kind and generous consideration. He foresaw that it would occasion violent opposition and recrimination. These he sought
ledge and consent. The effect on my labors was instantaneous and immense. The experiment proved a great success and when reported to the Navy Department its methods were adopted for the entire service.
It thus came to pass that from having to sign my name from three hundred to eight hundred times a day on wholly perfunctory endorsements chiefly "Respectfully forwarded" about forty times were foundto suffice and these signatures were to documents that required my careful consideration. Thus were the chains that bound me to my desk shattered and opportunity afforded me to go around the port and investigate conditions and methods.
The nation was fortunate during this period in having at the Navy Department first as Assistant then as Secretary of the Navy the Hon. Truman H. Newberry--a man of extensive business experience, clear mind and exceptional courage. Mr. Newberry welcomed any and all suggestions for the improvement of affairs at the Navy Yards with which he was especially charged and with singular fidelity to the public good, he ignored the protests of the politicians who loudly complained of the work of navy yard reform and he furnished that indispensible factor, Departmental authority, without which nothing could be done.
It is only fair to say that Mr. Newberry himself initiated a number of reforms--only one of which, however, was not preceeded by a conference with me. This exception was due to a kind and generous consideration. He foresaw that it would occasion violent opposition and recrimination. These he sought
