Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-21
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
(L0acluded)
lEohaANIzAr1oN OF TIE NAVY.


that the present organization of the navy not on
ly essentially defective and unwsc but is in its prac-
teal operation working papabe and serious mischief
to the efficiency and character OF that branch OF the
public service.
am not insensible to the fact that proposals for
radical reform, however much suggested by the re-
suits of experience observation reflection, are Of
ten viewed with distrust and doubt as rash innoVa-
tons upon familiar and long established systems
chung to, sometimes, with tenacity and abandoned
generally with reluctance. From a sense OF justice
to the service and duty to the government, venture
to expose to view of those defects and orleny
recommend remedies by which, it is hoped, they
may be, to some extent, removed. This subject mas
long attracted the attention of those whose occuPa
ton association has brought them In contact Win
the navy and as it has more recently won the con-
sideration ofCongress and the public great socltude
is felt great hope is entertained that the nuch-heeo
ed relief will be no longer delayed .
The great evil in present system IS, that neith
or merit nor sea-scrvice galantry capacity,
but mere seniority Of commission, regulates promo
ton and pay The gallant, chivalrous men OF the
navy feel subdued, dispirted, discouraged their ar
dor is chilled the fire of their young ambition and
pride is well nigh eXtinguiShed many are leaving
the service to which they have long fondly clung
many remain only because of the cherished expecta-
ton of reform. The officer who encounters all the
porils of the deep wins the admiration of the world
for his brilliant achievements, and makes his coun-
trymen prouder than of the country, returns to
rest awhile from his tolls but to feel mortified IN see
ing the indolent, the imbecile who have known no
tolls and have never met the enemy daily promoted
over him. 1t is true that the Executive has power,
to some extent to interfere and exercise discretion
as to promotion but fixed and well-scttled has
been the almost uniform course since the organlza-
ton of the navy of promoting according to seniority
of commission, that the effort by any Executive to
deviate from it without the sanction OF law could
only be made at the hazard of charges OF aFortism
and prejudice productive of discomfort injurious,
probably as the evil itself 1t is true, also, that the
Secretary of the Navy has the discretionary power
to place officers furlough, and thereby reduce
Al IL hooT1 TlO h9Vn OK
ercised the power myself But in the absence OF
some uniform rule sanctioned by law, the effort at
discrimination however sincere and disntercstcd is
30 embarrassed with difficulties-by no means di-
minshed by the interposng appeals of the friends OF
the partes-that this power, if not paral yZed is d
vested almost entirely of its salutary and corrective
virtue
To illustrate the unfarness of the present SYSTEM
permit ME to mention few facts not with the view
of invidious comparison but solely to elucdate the
subject. There are officers who have been in the
navy than forty years, whose total sea service
is less thin ten gears, who receive the same pay with
those of their grade whose service IS t6e, e1gh
tecn and more than tacenty gears. These officers
who are thus receiving pay, prevent the promotion
Of those below them who have seen more than twice
their service at sea, and have helped to give their
country a name There inefficient officers who |
have not done duty, Shore for ttce(rc IT.
tesn and ttcenty years. There are ieutenGnts who
have seen double the service of some Of higher |
grade and receive but half their pay. There are
service whose pay leave is sir hundred dollars,
and there their superiors in rank Of less than ten
years sea service, whose pay is tre1ty5re hundred
dollars
The pride of rank and position is the anmating cl |
Oment that imparts Vgor to the arm, courage to the
heart buoyancy to the spirits of the faithful officer
and there is peculiar senstvcness to the slightest
neglect But, in a country like full of rich !
fields inviting the entcrprising- so many
paths through which the aspiring may advance to fame
and fortune-what is there in the above outline OF
the picture which our naval system exhibits to at
tract the accomplished young men of the day? The |
tinlid and the laggard promoted rapidly the
brave and the active. The officer who has borne
himself well in twenty years service amidst the
storms and the dangers of the sea, beneath tropical
suns and unfriendy coasts obtaining his few
months lea"e of Absence finds himself only receiv-
ing the same pay with those of his own grade who
have fingered amid the comforts of home, and rarely
ever touch the deck of ship But it may be said
that pay should be increased with rank and that the
officer of the lower grade should be content until he
attans higher rank. This reasoning, however, is
met by conceding the correctness of the principle,
but protesting against the system which blocks up
the path to rank by mbecility incompetency, and
thus deprives merit and hard service both of rank
Ind pay. [ am aware that it is easier task to |
point out defects than to prescribe remedies. But
the evils of our system hardly be diminished by
time, and no reform cannot be expected without CT
fort
Ientertain the opinion that a retired list or re-
1tIeed pay for the 1uithTuL achO hare became in1ra
The discharge Of the inefficient echo hare claim on,
he bounty their government for scrriccs rendered.
regulated By capacity, merit and not by
mere seniority Of commission pay to some ertent
0ntTOtled by sea-Serrtce-are reforms not only de-
handed by the condition of the service by consid-
raons of Justice, but absolutely necessary to the
of efficiency and usefulness. There are
officers whom the nfiTmitics of age or the ravages
VI disease incident to the exposures of rough sea-
airing life have rendered unfit for duty They have
been faithful public servants ever ready to obey or
ters, and from their vocation improvdent for the u-
ure On retiring such men to secure the aid of the
more vigorous and active, grateful country may
yell deal generously, and thus, at the time,
administer Kindness to age and fidelity-justice to
ne deserving. l believe this plan of a retired list
an be so arranged to protect the treasury from
he heavy drains of an odous pension system. They
re now all on pay Reduce the pay of the retired |
top the pay Of the discharged organize thus corps
efficient officers, and, question of economy |
may be one rather of rctrenchmcnt than extrava-
ance. To apply these principles, and reduce them
practical operation, may at first nconVenent
nd embarrassing. But in common with many who
ave bestowed much consideration on this subject ,
am persuaded that the difficulties are far from be-
1g insurmountable.
board OF officers of various grades carefully Sc
acted by the President be convened periodically
o report to him the names of those who, in their 8
Judgment should be made subjects of the rules pre- {
cribed Their report may be subject to the aDpro-
al or reversal or modification of the President To
nable them to act intelligently and impartalIv in
MS delicate task the Secretary of the NAVY can Law
efore them not merely the Navy Register and the =
ecords of the department, but may materially con-
-ibute to their enlightenment by inviting in the
asst offensive and most delicate mode, the opinions
fthe officers themselves touching the fitness ofthose
their grade and those below whom associa ,