The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-05-09


ever be taken tn DO the Oldest captain in N. !.
w, who has not seen II at least twenty 80,
sea service. tt
But the evil Of an excess Of officers will M,
DO remedied until il shall be fixed BY law tia, =.
pointments and promotions to the hirbe,, $500
tho navy shall no longer he made without r.u,,d
to capacity. Ability 10 do all the duties Of ,n
Office should go hefore advancement TO m ofg,..
capacity should Do condition Of HOLDING off,.
The doctrine that advancement 10 duo TO senior;
~ alone, irresponsve of capacity for duty, plac..
personal interests before the public good, and =,
takes of the very essence Of tho worst form Of
arstocracy. Let the qualifications for olsce i.
the navy be prescribed by law; when an exam.
nation is requisite. let the board Of examiner. h.
provided as is now done by law in the case Of A..
sistant surgeons. and as & now done BY rsquI,-
tlon In the case of midshipmen and engineers
when an examination is not proper lot meth.
cd DO adopted that shall altogether and absoluely
IN appearance and in reality, preclude favori,jsm
Favorisism III naval appointments 10 dstestable
Let tho discretion of the Secretary, in recon.
m"nding fur promotion, be bound and restricted
lot system bs followed which shall proc,ud.'
tho FEASIBILITY of casting upon the President IN.
remotest suggestion of bias Of any kind L.,
not either the Secretary or the President even
select board Of advisers. Is promotion TO
captaincy to be made2 Let letters be written 70
all the captains near at hand, requiring them 10
propose the name of the oldes; commander, WIN.
On their honor, is believed BY them TO be every
way fitted TO be a captain. Let the commanders
also be written to for the same end. Let tbes.
communications be the guides to the President
and Senate in the exercise of the appointing and
approving power, SO that they may make no ap.
poia'msnis but of mon whose competency ia
established.
To say that such system could not DO made
to work well, is to doubt the principle Of solf
government. which implies selection to substitute
tho abuses in the rnonarchical and aristocratjcsl
governments Of Europe for the certain influence
of human passions and principles of conduct: To
shut out the light of experience, and the lessons
of history, which point to disgrace and defeat az
consequent on obsulute Difference to claims of
rank and show the most wonderful results from
organization. where the elective system has been
combined with devotion to a service for life -
The application Of the elective system to sub
ordinate officers. and control of il by superior
"fhcers. combines principles which. wherever
they have been applied, have boon attended with
the happiest results.
The ultimate reduction contemplated by these
suggestions amounts for
twenty captains, at waiting orders nav,
$500 per annum S5DOOO
Forty seven commanders, at waitinp-or-
SN'c pay pei dHnum S4,OUU
Sixty seven lieutenanis, at waiting or
ders pay, 81 200 per annnm So.AOo
Eight surgeons, at waiting orders pay,
$1,000 per annam l4.4oo
Ninety-one midsbipmen, at waiting-or-
= dsrs pay. $500 per annum 1880
Professors and teachers, S28 200; but this
sum is asked to be appropriated to re-
pairs. Improvements, and instruction,
at the naval school at Fort Severn, and
q nnl nIs,In al L.
Thirty masters, at waiting orders Fay,
$3.50 per annnm 225OO
Eleven masters mates, at waiting orders
pay. $500 per amman 1890
Seven secretaries, at 81 900 per annum 1000
Twsnty-six clerks, at $500 pes annum 1900