The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-04


year s20 the policy Of gradual si continued
10 he favore object with Congress and the country In
1929 1895 and 1927 the question 81 proper naval peace
establishment was much discussed and considered, but
was left undecided by the legislature and appropriations
Tor increase. as well maintenance and repair, have
continued be made, with some irregulary as 10 inter.
walls and amounts until the present t1e but without any
definition by Congress OF the number and description OF
vessels deemed necessary Tor the national marine.
The number IN The various grades OF the personnel 81
the navy has, until within recent period, been Jeii sli
more underlined than the number OF ships. Since the re-
ducton Of the number Of vessels and men, after the
reesablshment OF friendly relations with France by
treaty in 1901 no statute Tor more than forty years
limited the sum total OF persons 10 be employed IN the
navy, or in its several ranks and officers The number
oil commissioned officers any grade up 10 and including
a capiancy depended on the President and Senate, and
the number of officers on the President or head
OF the department alone Bya provisional clause IN the
annual appropriation bill, approved August 4 1912, the
number Of officers in the respective grades oil the navy
was directed to be increased beyond the number in
service on The LIST Of January 1872 and any further ap
reduced 10 the number m service the LIST OF Janu
AIRY ls4l In this Retrospective proviso OF appropr-
then before The eye OF the Legislature. but 10 be
searched for in the roster OF the service for the pre-
cedng years. and by this, after being thus ascertaned
il continues 10 be regulated.
The personne OF The navy thus established Comprises
6s captains, 81 commanders 327 lieutenants, 60
geons 81 passed assistant surgeons, 43 assistant
geOns 81 purseTs "a chaplans IL professors OF maihe
mates ii masters 10 the line OF promotion and 464
passed and other mdshpmen to which to be added,
besides other warrant officers, according the annual APP
preparation for pay and subsistence 1900 petty officers,
seanen. ordinary seamen, andsmen and boys.
The capacity OF the country to enlarge this force,
whenever desirable, may be readily perceived by sta
ting that we have now in the mercantile marine
5000 900 OF tons OF shiPpng-an amount greater than
thai oi any other nation cf the world and,
cordng TO the ordinary estimate OF six men 10 every one
hundred TONS there IN merchant service 10000
seamen. In this array oil hardy mariners TO recruit
FROM and in vast resources for building, equipping,
and armng ships OF war we possess the elements OF
aul in tha nf hA
problem be solved by the statesman how lar these
elements TO be brought into usewhether the pres
en establishment. with its accustomed regulation and
direction, adapted 10 present necessities, wheh
IL may be reformed, regulated, aud improved, so
better TO the great objects OF its institution And
in considering these questions, We must bear constantly
in mind that have arrived at in our history
arising from occupation and vast extension OF
territories on The coast OF the Pacific.
Ii is not matter OF surprise that system which has
grown TO its present dimensions without any law OF in.
should be found unshapely and disproportoned
An obvious fault OF the present organization OF the per-
sonnet OF the navy above set foth IS the disparity
between the head and the subordinate parts The natu
raj desire for promotion has brought into the higher
grades greater number OF officers than required by
the present force Of ships and men, than will be
quired In any state OF things likely soon to occur.
The shore statons-comprehend navy yards, re-
ceiving ships. aud naval asylum, and including of
each for the Pacific coaswiIl require is captains 81
commanders SO eutenans ~ surgeons, 10 passed and
surgeons, IL pursers IL chaplans go passed
and other mdshipmen leaving for service SO cap
tains 10 commanders, al lieuienans Al surgeons 10
passed and assistant surgeons SO pursers 10 chapans
4O4 passed and other mdshipmen.
Assuming the present number OF 1900 petty officers,
seamen, ordinary seamen, landsmen, and boys the
force to be commanded. and dividing il into six squad
rons, each 10 consist OF ship Of e-line, frigate
steamer OF the LIST class. | steamer OF the 81 class,
soopso war, il will give employment al TO ~
captains, 80 commanders l56 eulenans 30 surgeons 60
possed and assistant surgeons, AZ pursers, chapans
396 passed and other midshipmen leaving unemployed
either land % captains, s6 commanders, lis
eutenans, surgeons 10 passel and assistant surgeons
pursers four chapains. passed and other midship-
men.
In service subjected TO hardship, danger, and depri
Walton of the comforts Of domestic e there should be-
at all times, such number OF officers as To allow
sonable respite between active al sea- and pro-
vide against losses from sudden casually
But duty shore Is itself relief from duty sea,
is believed that the above list OF supernumerary officers
at least in the three highest gadess greater than is
demanded for an effective naval establishment; and |
therefore recommend that the numbers be reduced 10 90
captains so commanders 300 eutenants with correspond
ing notifications in the inferior grades Sach reduction
would adapt the supply OF officers 10 the state Of the
vice, and. BY aordng employment 10 ALL with occasional
intervals o. relaxation would tend to advance the stand
ing OF professional skill and requirement IL would still
leave IN the grades OF and below euenaney sufficient
number Tor the duties OF ordnance photography,
tho observation the coast survey, and all special service,
besides active duty nj and al the navy and other
shore stations. .@ e..
While the propriey OF this curtanent would appear
to be manifest 10 give symmetry the naval corps and
inuse life and animation into all its parts by more active
employment and therefore TO be demanded by the public
interests justice 10 those who have devoted themselves
I, the service OF their country, and have given TO the
prime OF their manhood requires that shall be effected
IN the most delicate manner TO the feelings OF those dis
charged and that suitable remuneration shall be made to
them Tor the disappointment and change in their OF
livelihood We not however. without precedenis for
such proceeding the reduction Of the navy by the
OF March B. 1901 and the large reduction OF the army 10
peace establishment by the act OF March 2, 1871.
Whether the designation OF the persons 10 be discharged
shall be devoved the President, in the instances
just rected board OF officers convened Tor that
purpose, respectfully referred to the wisdom OF Con-
gress. u#a IA
Having by this process determined on the size OF the
navy will be necessary in order 10 render IL effective,
10 provide that from time 10 time officers may de.
cline in capacity for useful public SERVICE either from
superannuaon other cause. they may be retired from
the active list on terms both just and liberal.
The duty OF the government take in old age
in unavoidable decreptgde disease, OF lis gallant and
faithful servants, should be in respect preermed
bn nothing should be allowed 10 interfere with the eff.
cheney OF the navy for the purposes OF It's institution In.
competency from vice and dissipation should be viewed
with ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from unavoidable and
honorable with commiseration and kindness.
But in neither should command promotion be de
MED TO those who must really and eecually stand be-
tween the country and its enemies in the hour OF danger
Even in judicial oces, held during good behavior, In
all welregulaed Saes provision has been made for
mova fiom Office for mental or physical incompeiency,
as well as for crminaiity.
whether seniority Of commission should not be die.
regarded IN promotions 10 grades above that OF CON-
mander Although the power Of the President in nomi
mating 10 all Offices 10 unlimited BY the constitution, and
dependant no qualifications in the casdidaie, and
although a few instances there have been departures