The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-05

necessary for "sueh vessels as arc authorized by
Law TO be put in commission. L" The great increase
which subsequently took place seems plainly never
to hay beeen contemplated by law. .s .t,,..e
u The question arises, how many arc necessary for
the purpose indicated in the act approved March 8,
i 1879 mode for the ascertainment of this num-
Der was suggested in communication made 18th
January, 1891, TO the House Of Representatives by
an able committee Of that body; and il is this
THAT II we retain IN service in time OF peace suf-
heient number Of officers to officer all our ships
which are built, equipped, and launched, IL will
afford liberal peace-establlshment" And the
committee proposed reduction. 49,.
| At that time, when the committee Of the House
proposed d reduction, there were thirty-two cap
tains, thirty-two commanders and one hundred
ond ninety-three lieutenants; tho committee found
an excess Of fifteen captains oftwenty commanders,
and OF seventy lieutenans. By inference they rec
| commended an establishment TO consist Of but seven
teen captains, twelve commanders, and ono hundred
and twenty-three lieutenants. limit ives not then
established, nor was reduction required by law;
but the effect Of the inquiry and report was manir
| fest the number Of officers Of the two highest
grades for the next seven years rather diminished
than increased; that in 1928, at the opening of
the last year of Mr. j. q. Adams's administration,
the aggregate number Of captains and command.
ders was but sixty-two. :.H
The number IN l642 and snco that time, has
been fixed at sixty-cight Captains, ni,,csy-ssvep
/ commanders, and three hundred and twenty.s seven
lleutenans. The number required 10 officer all the
vessels aaoat in that same year. lS42, was estima-
| ted by Commodore Stewart at eighteen captains
eighteen commanders, and one hundred and eighty.
| i've eutenants. That is to say, there was an ex /.
cess Of fifty captains Of seventy-nine comma nders
OF one hundred and forty lieutenants. "But to the
actual floating SERVICE" says Commodore Stewart
| "let an additional number be allowed for disab-
ny from age, sickness, or other causes, and for the
| supply Of all proper stations on shore. The cap
| talns list should be increased by the same number
the commanders by three-fourths, and the lieute-
| nants list by one-half"
For the ships on the stocks or to be built no al
owance is made; IL will be early enough TO appoint
officers for them when the time comes for launching
| and employing them; and the grade Of midshipmen
| Is the school from which accomplished officers may
i at any time be draughted.
| Were all the ships now in ordinary to be called
l into actual service in addition TO those already in
commission, there could at this time be EMPLOYED al
sea not more than from twenty-six TO thirty-two
captains, about thirty commanders and about two
hundred and fifteen lieutenants
Last year there were in commission as many
ships as could well be kept ahoat under the limit OF
seven thousand five hundred seamen and there never
were employed at sea more than about sixteen cap
tains, of whom ten only commanded ships, and six
commanded squadrons; about twenty -one command
ers, and one hundred and thiry-one lieutenants.
IL these views are correct, in the three highest
grades the number Of officers liable to be called up-
and shore stations, may be reduced-that Of cap
tains, from sxty-eight to forty-eght; of command
ers, from ninety-seven to fifty; of eutenants from
three hundred and twenty-seyen to two hundred and
sixty.
The class Of surgeons, like that of captains, NAV
be expected to include some supernumeraries, from
the disability Of age yet the present number of six.
! ty-eight employed, awaiting employment, may
safely be reduced at least to sixty. F.
i OF assistant surgeons there are not too many.
\ The present number Of pursers il likewise not too
large, for the immediate wants Of the service
Some consideration is DUE in the case of captains
and surgeons, to the claims Of age when connected
with fidelity. .... =
or chaplans, during the administrations Of Mr..
J. q. Adams Of General Jackson and of Mr.. Van
Buren,, the number varied from nine to thirteen
There are now twenty-five, and this number is quite
for the wants of the service under the pres.
Il ent complement Of officers. a.. - . ~ et .'.-.
i Midshipmen should, at least, during their first
| years in the service, be always employed. There
are now at sea about two hundred and sixty-fve
| midshipmen. IL the limit of three hundred and
sixty fixed for that class Of officers the dimi.
mutton would impose on them more duty, instruct
them better in their profession, and open to them
the way for more rapid promotion. This reduction
of the number of midshipmen, although it has hith-
erto been less publicly and less earnestly proposed
is deliberately recommended necessary to pre-
vent recurrence Of existing evils On no subiec,
has the action of the department hitherto been 30
vacillating. In one year, more than two hundred
warrants were given, bringing into the SERVICE with
out much discrimination, young persons, some Of
whom physically and mentally disqua
fed for duty. While, during the period from 1871
to 1907, the complement Of midshpmen for first
class hrigate was eight, in 1916 it was raised to
twenty greatly to the detriment of the service The
present complement ofeleven besides one as mas.
ter is believed TO be ample.
II The duties of master in time of peace NAV be per.
formed by younger lieutenants, or selected passed
midshipmen. During the present administration
the vacancies that have occurred in that grade have
not been filled. The greatest abuse has existed in
this branch of the service. Oftwenty-eight masters
it is believed that eighteen have never performed
cruise at Some of them are utterly ignorant Of
navigation. If they discharged masters, the
useful among them could still find employment in
the naval service.
q If this change in the assignment of the duties
master be adopted, the class Of masters mates az
: a permanent corps, should be abolished.
4 confidently hope that Congress will permit tn,
money heretofore expended for professors at sea
Fl be appropriated for the accommodation and nstruc
= ton of midshpmen at Fort Severn.
3 Another source of expense has been multiplied in
D the number Of secretaries and clerks that are en-
pleyed in connexion with naval commands.
J.; BY an act approved 9th March, 1894, captains o
forty-our and thiry-six gun ships we're authorized
appoint clerks their pay to be fixed by the Pres
ident. BY an act approved Cd January, 1878, cap
.
were also authorized to appoint clerks, their pay t
s be fixed by the President. 'n
/ Commodores' secretaries were first appointed, !
il believed, without any authority of law, othe
than the appropriation for the navy, consequen
: upon the Estimates" of the navy commissioners
submitted 9Th December, 1896 Their pay wa
r fixed by the Secretary of the Navy. ,.o, / - u'
= Thus it appears that Congress- never explicit,
authorized the appointment Of clerks in any vessel
:, less than thirty six guns, and never regulated tn
o appointment of secretaries. ...."s. -. s....
y The act approved Sd March, 1895, makes the an
nua pay Of secretaries ITO commanders ofsqusdron
}. when commanding in chief, one thousand dollars
It to commanders of squadrons, when not command
n ing in chief, nine hundred dollars" year age
there were sx secretaries at sea- at the annual pa
" of 1000 each, and ration equal to about $40
J. more. .. ...a a. .1.n a.u#.-". Hn.T.
/ The same law of 1885 directed that there shout
be paid to clerks "to commanders ofsquadrons cap
1t ains OF fleets, and commanders Of vessels, five hun
II dred dollars" Under this clause, the custom ha
, grown up Of allowing not only to commander
J. of .frigates, but TO commanders OF sloop