Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-02-15

""o' ~ SeoMeH, OFUtH0Fy SeHWeU, ana
bays. to Dc annually employed IN TIE SER
expectancy IF reducing he number nor ia
actual seytice
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
JANUARY ~. 1921.
The Committee on Naval Affairs, to
whom WAS referred resolution Of the
House est Representatives OF the lltn Jan,
1921. ins'ruciing them "to enquire into
the expectancy of limiting by law the
number OF seanen. ordinary seamen, and
boys, TO he annually employed in the
service OF the u. States and. also. into
The expedieucy Of reducing .li. number
now in actual service" Report:
That. by an act Of Cangress. approved
tile third Of March. 1901, naval peace
establishment was fixed by law, provid
ing The number Of ships which should be
KEPT III constant service, in time of peace,
anu that the residue should be laid up i'm
ordinary. with sailing master, certain
petty rhcers, seameD, and marines, at~
iached 10 each vessel thus laid up; au.
thorising the President 10 officer and
man the vessels TO be retained i'm actual
service, as he might direct. limiting him.
however, 10 two thirds of the then present
complement of scamen aud erdinay sea
men. (by which the com mittee understand
The Two thirds OF the then full crews of
The ships re'ained.) limiting the number
OF captains, lieutenants and midstipmen.
To be retained in The navy service in time
OF peace, ami authorising The President TO
discharRe all The other Ulcers in the
navy. service of the u. Sials. That, by
aneiiier ACT OF Congress, approved April
2ls', 1906. the President was authorised
N EpG ..,l
as many Of the trigaips ani other armed
vessels of the u. S. az, in his Judgment.
the nature OF The service might rrunire.
apd 10 cause The residue 10 be laid up i'm
ordinary In convenient ports and the
President wss authorised to officer and
man the public armed vessels in actual
service III time Of peace az he might di-
rect; but The act just referred to limited
lie number OF captains, masters com
mandani, ileuienanis, aud midshipmen
II limiied, too, the number of able "a
men, ordinary seameD, and boys, TO 026,
and authorised the President TO appoint.
tor the vessels III actual service, as manv
officers OF the grades therein mentioned
as might, in his opinion. be secessa,y
and proper: that. by another act, APPROX
ed March Sd, 1897, the President was au
thorised. IN addition TO the then presen,
naval peace establishment. to employ
number OF able seamen, ordinary seamen
and boys, not exceeding 500, should the
exigency OF the public service require il !;
thai. by another act, approved Jan. 3ist,
1909. It was provided that, in addition TO
'te fr!gaies then employed in actual SER
vice. there should be fitted out, differed,
and manned, four other frigates by name;
and that the President might equip. man,
and employ. in actual service, as many
oil the public armed vessels, then laid I'D
in ordinary, and gun boats, as, ia his
judgment, the public service might re.
CURE; and, for the purpose OF carrying
Inc provisions OF the said act into effect,
The President was authorised, i'm addition
10 The number OF petty officers, able sea-
men. ordinary seameD, and boys, then
authorised by law, to appoint, and cause
10 he employed. 800 mids!,ipmen, 5000
able seamen, ordinary seamen, and boys,
TO be engaged 10 serve for period moi
exceeding Two years, but subject TO be
sooner discharged. That, by another
act, passed June 26,h, 1900, the President
was authorised, in the event of a favora-
bic change IN the foreign relations OF the
country, 10 cause 10 be discharged from
actual service, and laid up in ordinary,
such OF The frigales and public armed
vessels as, III liisJudgment, due regard
10 The public security aud interest would
permit. That, by another act OF Con,
gress, passed March both, 1912, the Pre-
sideDi was authorised TO cause TO be i'm.
mediaieiy repaired, equipped, and put
'nio actual service, three frigates by
name and il was provided, that the of.
hcers and sesmeD of the navy might be
increased so far as was necessary 10 Off
Ger, man, and equip, the vessels so 10 be
put into service. That, by another act of
Congress, passed Jan, 2, 1918, il was pro-
vided, that the President should cause 10
be built, equipped, and employed, four
ships, TO rate not less than "a guns, and
u to rate Al guns each; and The number
OF com missiODed and warrant officers,
pesty officers, able seameil, ordinary sea.
meD, and boys, 10 be employed on board
each OF the said ships of ID guns. was
liked by the act The crew, so far as il
Consisted OF seamen and bows. was limit
ed to 200 able sea men, and 800 ordinary
scamen aud boys. That. BY another aci.
passed March 81, 1919, the Prpsiden. was
authorised 10 have built, manned, e1uipt.
aud commissioned, for service. SIX
sloops OF war, and, also. 70 have built or
procured, as many slOops, be employed
on HE lakes, as The public service might
require aud, by the second section OF
The last mentioned act, The President was
authorised 10 appoint such officers, and
To employ such number Of seamen, a.
might be necessary Tor such vessels as
were authorised by Law To he pul in com
mission, any Law 10 Tie contrary notwiib-
standing.
The committee have thought /; proper
10 givr 10 the House blici view Of ihe
progress oi legislation IN relation to His
subject, and they believe Tie for, going
sketch substantially 10 present il. Upon