The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-05
Bill to Reorxanixe tho Navy.

Senate:
A Bill to organize the Navy of the United States
Be It enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-.
sentatiues Of the United States Of America in Con
gress assembled. That the active commissioned
officers of the navy of the United States may be
but shall not exceed the number and the grades
following, to wit: Twenty commodores, fifty
captains, eighty commanders, fifty lieutenant
commanders, two hundred and seven first lieu
tenants, one hundred second lieutenants sixty nine
surgeons, thirty-four passed assistant surgeons,
forty f1ve assistant surgeons, sixtyf pursers,
twenty assistant pursers thirteen chief engineers
nineteen hrst assistant engineers, twenty nine
second assistant engineers, thirty seven third
assistant engineers, twenty-f four chaplains and
the twelve professors of mathematics hHw in SER
vice. Provided, That no professors OF Mathematics
shall hereafter be appointed in Che navy. And
that the warrant officers shall be the nineteen
masters now in service not in the line promotions
Provided, That no masters shall be appointed or
warranted in the service. Two hundred and fifty
midshipmeh, sixty boatswains, forty five gunners,
forty 1--WE carpenters, and thirty eight sailma.
kers.
When midshipmen shall have passed their
hnal examination, and been assigned to the
naval Service, they shall be commissioned as
second lieutehants; and the number so assigned
and commissioned shall not exceed sixty in any
one year.
SEC. 2. And be It further enacted That, before
any change of the grades or number of officers
shall take place, there shall be created retired
the establishment of which the President Of the
United States may convene, at the city of Wash
ington, board of naval officers, to consist of two
captains, two commanders, and two ieutenants
OF the navy: Provided, Each of whom shall have
seen at least i've years. sea service his respec
tive grade.
SEC. 3. And be 1t further enacted, That within six
months after said board shall have convened, it
shall report to the President of the United States
the names of such commissioned officers of the
line of the navy as ehall appear, upon careful
scrutiny of all such officers, to be incapacitated
disqualified, or incompetent from any cause what
ever for active, prompt, and efficient service, both
ashore and afoat, in their several grades; and if
the President shall approve thereof, the said off,
GERS 80 reported shall be thencefortb retired, or
permanently furloughed from the navy, as the
board may determine, and they shall thereafter
receive from the Treasury of the United States. in
lieu OF all pay and emoluments heretofore received
by them, the several amounts hereinafter specified
which amounts shall be paid to them in the man
ner and form in which they formerly received their
pay.
SEC. 4. And be itftuther enacted That vacancies
on said board may be filed by the President, who
sha preserve the aforesaid relative proportion of
grades and qualification of sea service.
SEC .. Ind Be 1t further enacted, That at the ex-
pration OF five years from the adjournment of said
board, the President of the United States shal in
like manner assemble another similar board of the
three highest grades, which shall proceed in all
respects as aforesaid to make second retirement
Sec. g. And be 1t further enacted That after said
retired and furloughed lists shall have been ap-
proved as aforesaid, from the remaining captains,
there shall be promoted to the grade of commodore
the number specified in the first section hereof; and
vacancies thus created in the grade ofcaptain shall
be hlled from the remaining commanders; and the
vacancies in the grade of commanders shall be
filled from the remaining lieutenants; and from
the grade OF ieutenants there shal be created the
grade of utenant-commandant, and the remain
ing lieutenants shall constitute the grade of fret
Lieutenant; and all promotions shall be by senio.
rlty of commission
Of passed midshipmen and of masters shall be
abolished; that all masters and passed midshipmen
reported by the board for service shall be commits
stoned, and shall have rank and pay as second
neutenants; but that the duties of master shall
continue to be performed by officers of this grade
SEC. .. And be 1t further enacted, That it shall
De the duty OF every commodore to transmit annu-
ally to the Navy Department, under such regula.
tions as may be prescribed by the Secretary there
OF. list ofsuch captains as he may, on his honor,
deem to possess most professional character ability
and experience; and it shallb be the duty of every
captain, commander, lieutenant commandment, and
first lieutenant, in like to transmit list of
the officers composing the grades Immediately below
them respectively; and such lists shall contain, as
nearly practicable fifth of the names of all
the officers of the several grades reported upon.
The Secretary of the Navy shall scrutinize and
compare such lists, ascertain the fifth of the
ohcers OF each grade who have received the high
est number of designations and annex to their
names and lineal rank in each annual Naval Re-
glster the numbers 80 received
SEC. 9. And be 1t further enacted, That the pay
OF the said officers shal be according to the follow
ing rates per annum
The Senior Commodore
In command of squadron, four thousand five
hundred dollars;
At,navy yard or other duty, four thousand five
hundred dollars;
Waitipp H.. ~, -;
three thousand five hundred dollars;
On leave beyond sixty days, three thousand dol
lars
Retired list, two thousand five hundred dollars;
Permanent furlough list, two thousand dollars;
Couanodores.
In command of squadron, four thousand dol
lars;
On other duty, four thousand dollars;
Waiting orders, or on leave not over sixty days,
three thousand five hundred dollars;
Leave beyond sixty days, two thousand eight
hundred dollars;
Furlough list, one thousand eight hundred dol
lars.
Captains.
Sea service, three thousand five hundred dol
lars;
On other duty, three thousand dollars;
Waiting orders, or leave less than sixty days.
two thousand five hundred dollars;
Leave beyond sixty days, two thousand four
nnndred dollars;
Retired list, two thousand two hundred dollars;
Furlough list, one thousand five hundred dol
lars.
Commanders
Sea service, two thousand five hundred dollars;
On other duty, tU thousand FIVE hundred dol
lars;
Waiting orders, or leave less than sixty days,
one thousand eight hundred dollars;
Leave beyond sixty days, one thousand seven
hundred dollars;
Retired list, one thousand five hundred dollars;
Furlough list, one thousand two hundred dol
lars.
Lieutenant Commanders
Sea service, two thousand dollars;
AT yards or other duty, one thousand eight hun
dred dollars;
Waiting orders, or leave less than sixty days,
one thousand six hundred dollars;
Leave beyond sixty days, one thousand four hum
dred dollars;
Retired list, one thousand two hundred dollars;
Furlough list, nine hundred dollars.
First Lieutena,ts.
Sea service, one thousand five hundred dollars;
Other duty, one thousand five hundred dollars;
Waiting orders, or leave less than sixty days,
one thousand two hundred dollars;
Leave beyond sixty days, or retired list, one
thousand dollars;
Furlough list, eight hundred dollars.
Second Liestenants
u