The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-23
Iecting OF the Board Co Promote che EN-
cheney OF the Navy.


RULES AND REGULATIONS.
This Board met and Organized In Warrington on the
2cth inst. As the senior officer Commoaors WI sau-
brick presides its elaboration me toiiowing
ceDuuncaton, smbojy the rules aad regulations Tor
the guidance Of the board ressTed from the Score
NAVY DEp.azxEsr, June 20, 1855.
GEsrzhEs-The President bas caused you 70 oe
spproysS a rssruar, q entitled act to pro-
mote the eHfciency Of the navy" .I
me Law direct; this 20 Be psr Sr the sscrstary Of
Your path Of Suty is marked out plainly aud with
such dsinc,usss by the language Of the statute as to
enable You TO advance with technical
questions and undi.turSsd By s.eu a save those
pf passing upon the relative merit and incapacity OF
Dcers attached to your own honorable branch OF the
public service. In prescribing regulations shall
osavor to very BRIEF concise In order to avoid
4rsnmslng your deliberations by multitude OF rules,
pften calculated to confuse than TO direct.
Reposing confidence In your integrity and intelligence
persuaded OF competency to discriminate with
lice because Of your experience and your personal and
ing doubt Of your having she Independence to dis
charge duty with fidelity and steadness Of purpose
however delicate or painful, have abiding faith that
the honor reputation OF the will be safe In
your hands and that need not indulge In elaborate
gument appeals to your pride officers and patriot
ism as citizens cooperate causing the standard OF
capacity in the American to be maintained at an
elevation commanding the confidence and respect of the
country Consderate statesmen oox to the the
theatre which future national conflicts are large
extent to be seted, and the Of the country
", u
sure protector Our wonderful expansion as a nation
the necessary multiplication grave questions with dis
tant foreign Powers, and our wide spread commerce,
have attracted with greatly increased concern the at
tenon Of the Legislative and executive departments Of
70 the condition of the navy and the impor
lance or securing vgor energy and capacity In its per-
sonnet In order the eiectuay to attain that OBJ
1sot and yet not do injustice from ignorsace
Consress has authorized thu Of board Of Off
Gers whose duties shall be merely Of advisory nature
and As an aid to tho Executive in promoting " the
W, utv to
make Careful examination and report in pursuance
sssrsef And here gsnslemsn allow 70 invite your
requires capacity but stops not here for it must be
capacity to perform IAN duty"-"ashors and afoat"
But 1t stops not here, for II Is not content with
capacity to perform duty but demands that it shall be
done, no. merely promptly" but "saieienty." The
sory board to assist in enforcing it Your own sound
common sense and acquaintance with the dutes an
Of this Eciency efaciency-t6at is what is requssd
!nefciency Is what Is to be withdrawn
n ass sSs the law
amning as TO who are 'incalabls OF performing their
whole duty both ashore and ahoat," need hardly sug
mentally, physically morally; for although he may
posseis strong mind and robust Frame yet 4 his moral
to render HIM unreliable he could hardly be ranked
the capable officer to be intrustsd with the lives of
his countrymen and the property and honor Of his
You win perceive that there are two distinct classes
snd tha. one Of bose classes Is DIVIDED You
quiIed to report me Of officers who should be- in
Your 81. opn sssn
duty, should receive full "isave OF ABSENCE pay and
those who should merely receive furlougn half eAvs
You are required to advance a step further in your
examination and discrimination and report the names
OF such officers you sbelieve have become incompe
9ent "trom any cause implying sufficient blame the
part af the officers to justify your recommending them
to abe stricken altogether feOm the rolls" And on thus
point venture to suggest the opinion that officer is
become Incompetent neglect
Df duty and inattent and Indifference to his profes
sion, ss well as from dissipation and immoral indu
1 fear q MISREPRESENTATION may exist in the minds of
Rome in regard to the position before the country Of Of
hcers placed on the reserved list with full leave of ab-
sence pay 1t is degradation It is rather high COM
plimsnt The pay I. liberal and amply sufficient to the
Indeed, = is the generous act Of government saw.
ing to the mertorous officer, "you have served With
the Soa to
lasors Of your profession without or anxiety as to
your support az we have provided for it." Nsr gentle
men, do consider that it viii be necessarily degrade
ton or mark Of governmental displsasure for an officer
to be placed on furiOush, which is half have.of
Peent to The discharge Of his dotss and vet NAV not
have served long and faithfully and With such credit
enttie HIM to the highest compensation to the
According to conceptions the spirit Of this law
merit and services should high to enable an officer to
pc placed on the reserved list wish full absence
question having arisen to the true Interpretation
Of the proTso to the frat section the opinion Of the
A Az General was requested, nom which give you
thnk, therefore, that the effect Of the provso il
require the board to be subdyded in the process Of
its action and to make three distinct sub reports which
together shall constitute the general report.
That IL to say the entire body will sit together, de-
cate their conclusion Is to ieussnants, masters and
passed mic shipmen; after that the heutenants win
act in regard 10 ali oers 81 hs rans Of
whes the commanders must retire, and the captains will
act as to officers of that rank All the examinations
reached, in the manner contemplated BY the law the
sum total Of the opnioss viii be certified to the Secre
Jstions, shall see At to prescribe.
The records and fles Of this department are at your
service ana shall Be freely submitted to you 70 assist
Iestsem it but proper to say to you that notwith.
standing every effort to avoid them both my prsdecss
Beard may not DO competent according to the spirit
there be any, TO cause you the slightest embarass
@snt calm oonciatory spirit in your deliberations
burnDss An that You are expected to do is to contri
nndsf the provisions Of this liberal statute in relieving
efficiency Of the navy" transmit herewith for the
information Of the Board copies of the act under which
l. You vi therefore assemble, deliberate and deter
mine, after "carefu examinatfono in pursu ance of
nan during which the i"nor ina
viii act as the secretary OF the board whereupon the
said secretary will make record in the nature Of
subrepor OF the judgment Of the board" as to each
arade separately, and after certifying to its
ness, shall deliver the to the senior officer who
shall attest IT, and the leutenants win then retire but
not consider themselves as detached from duty.
y After the retirement Of tue ieutenants, the cap
tans and commanders will assemble deliberate, and
determine, after s'carefu Examination in pursna
OF the law as to commanders during which deiber alton
the Junior commander will act as secretary. Where
upon the eaid secretary will make record, In the ma
tuIe OF suoreport of the judgment Of said captains
after certifying to its correctness win deliver the same
to the senior officer, who shall attest 1t. And the CON-
manders will then retire. but not consider themselves
detached from duty.
g. After the retirement Of the commanders the cap
tains win assemble, deliberate, and determine after
"careful examination in pursuance of the law as to
captains during which elaboration the junior captain
VIII act rs secretary. Whersupon the said secretary
w make record, In the nature of sab-report OF the
Judgment Of said captains to the grade Of cap tans