The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-22

Apart from all other considerations, the present
system tends to check the srdor and to deaden the
ambition of the whole corps by sustaining and per
petuating injustice. seaman's ability to play .
seaman's part, depends much, very much,
upon his sea service; and had we q naval con-
test tomorrow, the common sense of the country
would not tolerate the appointment of any man to
active service who was not familiar, and thoroughly
familiar with the handling of ships and fleets under
all circumstances.
Yet we find from the returns before u.s. that out
OF sixtyeght captains fortytwo are waiting orders
on Shore (sx of whom were severally last at sea in
1916, '2S, ~, '34, '3S and '39) making an aggre-
gate Of sl05 600. or ninetyeight commanders,
lseven OF whom were last respectively at sea in
1916, 80, 49, '33, "a, '36 and 38) there waiting
orders fortytwo, at 81 500, aggregate OF $40 000
or 326 lieutenants there are waiting orders fifty
nine, at 81 200, making an aggregate OF S70,SOO.
or 1893 Observation-Disclosures, there are but eight
waiting ORDERS at $600-s4 800; and that while
there are seven captains and commanders who have
been each forty-one years in the Navy, and who are
now receiving respectively $1,000 and $1,000 per
annum, and yet have seen less than ten years sea
service, there are forty three observation-disclosures
who have seen over ten years sea service, and who
arc receiving but 500 per annum.
A glance at our naval captains will illustrate what
the history of all naval service proves. Paul Jones
captured the Serapis in one OF the most desperate
and memorable oombats on record, at thirty-two
years of age. Hull conquered the Guerrero, at
thirty-cight Decatur burnt the Philadelphia, at
twentyseven Perry conquered on Lake Erie, at
tWeUty elkut, anu MCDOlOuBU on Lake Cn1upalu,
at thirty one. Stewart captured the Cyane and Lee
want, at thirty nine, and cambridge the Java, at
thirty-one. The youngest victor was twenty-seven,
and the Oldest but thrty-nine-and thirty three
their average age-less than that Of many of our
passed mdshpmen.
Tie Naval Academy has given, and is giving,
o the country, officers not only thoroughly cd
ucated for the duties of the service, but whose
character and ability would adorn any profession.
These are the men who will be called upon in the
command OF our fleets and ships, not only to
lend with the ability and advancement of European
rayies, but rs protectors OF the rights OF American
citizens and property in foreign seas and countries.
A knowledge of the institutions, government, and
numerical systems of maritime powers, and a
general acquaintance with the laws OF nations, and
OF the rights, duties, and obligations under them,
VIII te demanded Of them They act sometimes as
negotiatoIs of treaties, warriors as judges, pa
cifcators. To fight his ship well is an essential
but far from being the most important duty OF an
accompl he'd seaman, and his countrys interest and
honor depend fully as much upon his services in
peace as in war. Unlike the army, which in peace
serves but stationary nucleus Tor future organza
ton, irigates are the eyes OF our government,
and penetrating every sea- and watchful oil passing
events, the navy is at once the messenger OF our
peace and Of our ability for war. Such men, edu-
Gated at the countrys expense, should be employed
in responsible positions at the period OF their great
est usefulness, and to attain this object your
mttee recommends and provides Tor retIred and O
permanent furlough list.
A just distinction should be made between the
gallant old seaman whose soul is still in his protes
SON. whose heart beats but for his country, but
who is disqualified BY long, faithful, and honorable
service, disease acquired i'll the active discharge
of his duty, and the man who has uniformly and in
geniously contived to evade his sea duties and de-
VOWED them upon otLers-who has succeeded by
political influence, or other resorts TO which his
noble profession should be stranger, in passing the
best OF his days upon shore-the man, in short who
Is unworthy from his own course, or from original
want OF merit. To meet this distinction, your CON-
mttee has provided two lists, varying in pay and
privilege. At this time have siXtyeight captains,
the youngest Of whom is tittysix years Of age
ninety-seven commanders, seyenty-four of whom are
between fifty and fifty-fve and the youngest Of
whom is forty-six; three hundred and twenty-seven
lieutenants, from thirty to fifty one hundred and
ninety-eight passed midshipmen, from twenty-one
to thirty years of age.
Your committee, after carefully examining the
rates of promotion in the several grades and aver
age age of officers, find that under the present sys
will be ffty-three, and commanders, when promoted
to captains, seventy-four years of age. What
commentary upon our present system.
Your committee recommends, and has provided
for, an increase of the wages OF the naval seamen.
This measure is absolutely necessary. Great diff
Guilty is experienced in obtaining seamen. This
iflculty, which has also embarrassed the British
] ayy, has been to some extent the result OF the
vast increase Of coastwise, and particularly
California, trade and the consequent demand for
sailors at largely increased wages, with the add
ional stimula Of short voyages and the chances OF
promotion to the posts of mates and masters, while
The wages and condition of the naval seamen remain
unchanged. Few sailors will ship for the navy at
twelve dollars per month, when any man who can
splice and steer can get eighteen in the merchant
service.
Provision is also made for ascertaining and
rewarding merit by extra pay and medal, and the
Naval Academy and the highest honors of the pro-
fession held out to the sailor boy, whose charac-
ter, conduct and capacity may entite him to the
fostering hand of the government.
Attempts are frequently made, by polling the COM
panes Of ships, to determine the proportion of
American born or naturalized citizens composing
them, and this proportion Is less than onethird.
The rest are seamen from all the maritime States
of the earth, and all the principal languages of
Europe, and even the dialect of the islands Of the
Pacific, are indiscriminately spoken amongst them.
A BILL
TO IMPROVE THE NAVAL SERVICE.
Be il enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatves OF the United States of America, in Con-
gress assembled, That the active commissioned off,
GERS of the navy OF the United States may be, but
shall not exceed, the number and the grades follow
ing, to wit =
Twenty commodores.
Forty-eight captains.
Ninety-eight commanders.
Three hundred and twenty-five lieutenants.
Sixty-nine surgeons.
Thrty-seven passed assistant surgeons.
Forty-two assistant surgeons.
One hundred and ninety-eight masters.
The number Of chief engineers, and OF first second,
and third assistant engineers and Of chaplains now
in the service.
The professors of mathematics now in service
may hold their commissions, but no professors of
mathematics shall hereafter be commissioned or
appointed in the naval service
The number and grades of warrant officers, and
the number Of midshipmen and acting midshipmen,
shall be as now established by law Provided, That
no appointments of masters, not in the line of pro-
motion, shall hereafter be made and provided
that the grade Of passed mdshipmen be abolished,
and that the masters in the line OF promotion, and
passed midshipmen, be commissioned as masters.
Sec. 2. And be ii further enacted That before
any change Of the grades aforesaid shall take effect,
the Secretary Of the Navy shall cause each naval
captain, commander, lieutenant, medical officer, and
puIser to report, under such regulations as he may
prescribe, the cicers OF their respective grades who
nre qualified to perform efficiently all their duties
ashore and aoat; and from his scrutiny of such re-
ports, the Secretary with the approval of the Pre-
sident, shall retire; or permanently furoggh oil OH
49, cni-- snJ - ~ M A..