The daily union., 1854-02-15
mac Navy.
ToA. Ed,tors of u. NatiOnsl Iatelligsno,,

the hopeless condition Of promotion in the navy under It's
present organization and ito still more hopeless future.
soye TO prove the necessity that exists for an increased
rate oil promotion solely on The ground OF age referring
entirely to the Register OF 1858 Tor proofs now pro-
pose TO show further why legislation upon this point is
required. and what must be the ultimate end OF any acts
OF Congress proposing to better It's condition in eec
tive degree
1t seems almost superauous TO urge that the midship-
cannot be expected TO perform with zea--or in any
ii he has the ability and energy 10 gain liyel
hood in another pTolessonthe duties pertaining his
office for fifteen years, those among the best OF
his life, on any salary Congress could or would vote
him Neither can be expected that the lieutenant,
inning his career such, at thirty years OF age or
more will efficiently and zealousy perform the
noonous but wearing duties OF the watch officer day and
night, for thirty years Subject 10 the privations and
hardships OF sea ie he becomes advanced in years.
siranng his already whisng voice in the duties suitable
to the young and dashing officer. finding himself con-
slany separated from the enjoyments OF domestic life,
sick heart with long years OF hope deferred with no
incentive, who wonder that he seeks TO avoid the
sea- Long after zeal and love OF profession have
ished he becomes a commander. Having been al.
lowed 10 act for himself, placed in responsible posi-
tions how II be supposed that he would act efficient
ly or support responsibility for the first time his old
age? The officers who made the navy famous were
young men. Those now captains and commanders were
most OF them in subordinate positions but few years
They assumed commands at time Of life when their
buoyan and ardent spirits caused them TO feel that pride
OF position which jealous prompt, faithful, and
efficient service and which is of the best promoters
OF gallant deeds Common teaches that men to be
efficient sea- able to bear It's fatgues and exposures
fearless in the performance OF their duties must be OF
age TO make lgh, oil the effects OF its and Ills We
have seen that the navy is becoming filled with old off,
GERS whose average age is constantly increasing and in
the views above, this is an increasing evil.
fofbear TO date upon The disorganizng infuen ces.
the creation of jealous and enyious teuds the want of
cordial intercourse that much prevail, and which may
in measure be attributed to the want of organization
and system the department, and OF general regulations
for the service bu, mostly due 10 the all towering
evil, want OF promotion.
Reference several methods for increase OF promotion
and efficiency made FIRST promotion by merit, Or
as | before termed IT, by promoting such as have infu-
ence. Oslensbly the merit system obtains in most SER
vices until the higher grades reached, but tact sin
teres" appropriate term, though il is conceded
that merit is sometimes advanced unassised The ques-
on naturally arises who the meritorious Ii easy
10 answer who would be in most instances The natural
result would be that the officers would have their best
eye al and the weak for the service This may
remedy the evil OF having old commanders of ships bu,
leaves older men as subordna,es.
The other two methods retired list and reserved
haf-pay list This last is very extensive in the English
navy and the officers upon il much employed in va.
rous home services. Its chief advantage TO navy
would be this by permitting officers, after certain
Der of years of service according 10 rank 60 upon
ha-pay list beneficial effects would rise 10 the active
service is and the number TO be retired would be so
greatly reduced that probably coercion would be ne
cessary for it is presumed that unless liberal pro-
visions are made than be anticipated few OF the older
officers would retire voluntarily. The prevailing idea
that retired list is efcacous solely a OF rid
dance OF the disabled and those manesy unfit for
Il
is TO maintain officers of each grade appropriate ages
and il shoud be regarded provision made BY CRATE
lul country for lis disabled mertorous officers who
have done good service during their mos, efficient life
Let it be supposed that those pronounced inefficient
have been cued FROM all the grades and retired aud
their places filled from those below. Immediate relief
would be experienced and good would result; bu, after
little time il would be discovered that promotion had
scarcely been accelerated The accumulated inecency
due 10 many years having been set asde 1t could be
expected that many would become inefficient Tin the sense
OF the ac annually; hence, few would be retired and
promotion would again chiefly depend upon mortality
and other casualties, now, and all the officers of
y grade again rapidly increase IN age The desired end
would not be attained.
Let II be supposed retired list is established which
has Tor It's object TO reduce the actyeservce list the
greatest state OF efficiency and least number required
and to maintain il al that point To eject this the master
must be promoted 10 be lieutenant by the time he is
twenty-five years Of age. Now, there 327 eutepants
and 81 commanders-in all 424 Should IT be required
that the officer promoted 10 capaincy shall be more
than fifty years of age there would be twenty five years
in which TO rise through those two grades This would
require the OF advance be about sixteen and half
yearly but have that the present rate for both
grades will hardly reach eight and bali therefore,
eight vacancies at least would have TO be made annually
from above the grades Of commander and lieutenant or
greater number, If they made by retirement from
among those grades. according the position the Reg
lister OF these retired Here a difficulty is met with in
the large number OF the grade OF commander aad CON.
paratiyely small OF captain As the other communi-
cation propose make will show these points in tracing
the probable effects OF the proposed measures will not
follow them up, but simply point out fact elected
viz that il il should be deemed advisable to establish
retired lis upon the basis OF minimum ,se,ivs nun ber
the only methods establish in addition to retire
ment from disability, age limit orinvie captains to re-
tire upon a superior rank, as 10 the English service OF
adopt judicious blending Of the two systems Every
vacancy thus made would be from the head Of the Reg
ser and all grades advanced and those retired would be
at more advanced ages than If retired from the different
grades below, and the greater mortality yreason Of il
would keep the list al reduced number.
am, gentlemen, respectfully, your obeaient servant
z.