The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-24
[FoR THE REPUBLIC
Rank tn the Navy.

We hope Congress, before they adjourn, will
settle the question of assmilated rank in the navy
BY the regulations Of the Navy Department, sur
geons and pursers of twelve years standing rank
with commanders. person who has only been
twelve years in the navy may take precedence of
one who has been between twenty and thirty years
in the service. All the lieutenants in the navy
have been twelve years in the service, and
one hundred and thirty of them have been over
twelve years commissioned. There are fifteen who
have been over twenty years commissioned. These
latter have been in the service from twenty sight
to thirty years. Now, purser who has only been
twelve years in the service would take rank of
these officers, except when they command are
doing the duty of executive officers. A lieutenant
who has been eight and twenty years in the
vice and twenty years a commissioned officer, if
he be not in command or doing the duty of exc
cutve officer, is ranked by purser who has been
only twelve years in the service. In the case Of
surgeons it is little different they have to serve
some time assistants. The object of pursers and
surgeons In getting assimilated rank with COM
manders, was that they might enjoy the honors and
privileges of commanders. 1t may not be obJec-
tionable that such should be the case but we GER
tainly think if one class Of officers to be
favored in this manner, another ought TO be. If
surgeons and pursers, who have only been
commissioned twelve years TO their respe ctive
grades, to rank with commanders, why not
ieutenants who have been commissioned the same
length of time? lieutenant and purser meet on
a survey, for instance; neither Of them is on duty
except for this special purpose. The lieutenant has
been twenty eight years in the navy, twenty OF
which as a commissioned lieutenant. The purser
has been twelve years in the navy, all of which
time, as usual, he has been commissioned. Aques
# ariaea The Eentenant
am the oldest and the Oldest officer by many
years. The purser says, True, but rank you; |
rank with a commander, and must sign first. Or,
suppose they duty in the same ship or squad
ron, and the lieutenant, though upwards Of twenty
years in the service, more than twelve Of which as
a commissioned officer, happens not TO be In COM
mand or executive ofhcer--the purser takes rank.
If they should happen TO be on court martial to-
gethcr, is sometimes the case where there arc
but few officers present and full courts required,
the purser would take RINK. This, certainly is all
wrong. Either the pursers and surgeons are in a
false position the lieutcnants lift be right
that pursers and surgeons, who have been twelve
years commissioned as such, should rank with
commanders, much more is II that licutenants
should, as leutenants have TO serve longer before
they become heutenants than surgeons do before
they become surgeons; and for pursers, they
Jump nj once lnto commission Wlthout any pre-
vious service in a subordinate station. 1.-THE prn-
cipe be right that pursers and surgeons Of twelve
years standing should rank with commanders,
and that leutenants Of twelve years standing
should do the same, reason why IL should
not be extended. If lieutenant Of twelve years
standing is TO rank with commander, VIC see no
reason why a commander Of twelve years stand
ing should not rank with captain. Comman-
ders arc as fond Of honors and privileges as any
other men, and It might be question of consdcra-
bic importance in the event Of war, whether or not
q commander ranked with captain when prize
money 10 be distributed.
We hope Congress will take hold Of this subject
and examine IL carefully. We say again that it
may be all right that pursers and surgeons Of
tweve years should rank with commanders, but
why lieutenants should not ALEC,
and, II brevetcies are to be established, why they
should not extend TO other grades. c.