The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-29

TIE Board on Naval RcfarA.
Iron the National Ints,lissacsr, Nay N
GspgIes At Its last session, BY great nsjoYities In
SstA Houses, and after fun debate, dirested Board
ssnstDs Of ave officers from each Of the grades Of cap
SAins commanders, and heutenants, to make careful
szsnnation into the efficiency Of the efhcers of the
navy
They directed to report the and rank OF all
eesIs who, In their Judgment, are incapable Of per-
a.hsre and sdoat. Those reported incapable the
President 10 directed to place reserved Inst ON Leave
q. sns Of er own 'ss
peceed 10 remove them. In either event the vacsney
= be hnsd BY promotions OF officers Of capacity; put
when called into active service only to receive their
ssruer leave pay augmented BY the differences between
the leave and duty pay OF the reserved officers.
The necessity u such measure has not been for
mary ears matter Of debate Congress- and the navy
have soncorred on that point The difficulty has been
Il devise o sehexne which would at once avoid irgras-
tnde to rertorous officers and secure efficient mea for
sstivs service without entaing on the country the
Since under our laws no Office Ia right, but only
ssty and trust conferred on condition Of perorsiug
The services annexed, s1y officer who Ia able may
justly at any moment be removed. This right in
hsreat every and piled in the very idea
msy be fitting that the government should pro
Ssr faithful officers worn out in It's service but is no
less part Of the contract of the government it is
merely matter Of grace and favor
anhertO congress- have shrunk from acting on tnslr
plain right TO remove and they have with great peru
nAsy refused 70 relieve and pension officers incapable
II duty
The scheme submitted by the present able Secretary
II the Navy reooncied the apparently incompatible
4asnents OF avoiding ipsrattude and pension, while
aacs Of active and responsible duties The plan involved
he necessity OF the consent of officers Of the navy for
tie public sooo accept and discharge the duties with
hiss than the regular compensation Of the higher rank
and their patriott has given prompt res ponse COD
sss t9 esn for the res Ss the
ssssty and placed in their own hands the execution
"a. % ns Un Of THU
Beard with auzoas but confident hope II II fail in
hs da'y whether from want Of nerve or want Q. jug
70 the national demand for an efficient navy by some
sAsrt sharp snd sa,utary remedy II officers now sAcri-
hes the country to their interests they rast
I'd the country will have smsl hesitation in sacr ing
hem to the paramount necessities OF the public ser
Woo.
This duty, IL not thoroughly performed, had wen
not 10 and the liberal provisions for those
Of even the iesst appearance Of harshnsss and
lsavss no excuse for leniency.
the policy and principle Of this rnment to
pear the with navy not numerically equal to
England France, but adequate to the expanded
se.mercs Of the people and composed Of vessels of such
1srfest constr and power defended BY ornaments
q such weight and efficiency, and erected BY men OF
sch energy and skin Of mind and body shall render
Victory the inevitable result Of any collision with
AIMED fee OF anything like equal rate.
Against assaults from vast fleets our forts must de-
ssnd hArbors sganst depredatiOns the high
ee vessels, while many OF these may be readily
s1sd ss meet any speea, s s%sss;ncy and .s,,,
81 eur We owe the pendors Of the last war ON the
sssan.
Store the actual condition OF the TO conformity With
these principles Liberal appropriations have placed
for naval warfare worthy of the age and such as the
country requires But time and neglect have sadly i'm
se esDiroi Of thee costly elements Of power and Con-
ess have at last resolved TO restore this efficiency py
The lover ranks of the navy are crowded BY
DointDents Men grow old before they are called to the
sstive duties OF command The highest and mos, re-
cid merely past the age Of actve energy, but
far on the decline OF life and in many Instance physical
incapable Of performing the duties Of their post Be
Iisd them, the next grades stand those who
follow them, now treading their heels in point Of
years. and be Incompetent. than the present
heambents before they take their pisces Bad rs the
ros, time, which has produ ed it, Is every day
s..aaiy ageravstinr the evil and no remedy 30 ap-
Piled in ten years may be called to send the finest
shps the world to face an speny under the command
Iast years graduates from Annapolis are now at sea,
snd after serving there three years viii only become
parsed Didshppen instead Of heuenauts at the age OF
twenty three. They win attain the latter grade still
subordinate after weary probation of some fifteen
years. and treadDg here another duh routine for twenty
ave years. they will reach their hrst important command
~ the ripe age Of about ,bIeescore and five years. Hav
ing passed forty years OF their lives in ssrnipg how to
shsy, they in their old to know how TO
After allowing literally for the casualties OF service in
time Of peace these men WILL no war intervene, hoii
their commissions post captains at the mature Of
eighty i've War would materially simplify the case.
Active service would bring relief to this state of tn ngs
BY een1gring ships and men under such guidance to
min and dsbopor and Congress- would then ~ free to
supply the place Of the Naval Board by having to build
new ships, 10 be commanded by new men.
II to invoke the glores of the last war for
glory Is NO protection against sunpowder and its in
Ssr The gsrrulty Of old age BY the rsside At eighty
The men who these glores cannot repeat thef
exploits But men of this generation At their age can
y{yal andC hQya NM ri
- sear the d. css for action, that such no. be
sacrificed The men of the last war who fought the
passed nidshipmep pass into the grade OF Lieutenant
the age Of those men who now command the fleets Of
policy OF the bill restore the efficiency Of the navy by
putting maturity In place OF old activity in the place
This duty is eonGsed to the Naval Board. with them
rests the responsibility OF xeutng failing to execute
the law They reap many Of the advantages, but the
country has the greatest stake in the result and the
country will hold the Board responsible for the attain
nent OF the results they anticipated when vestng these
ample powers OF purgaton in the officers OF the navy
Whist then does Congress charge the Board with the
erty Of performing? The law assumes wha. the oouu
try knows 10 be the fast that tnere are many officers
n the in the grades mentioned incompetent TO the
prompt and Efficient discharge OF all their duties ashore
and sfoat The law has charged the Board to examine
kts the efficiency Of the officers Of the navy and
port those Who in their judgment are SO incapable Of
The Board have nothing else to DO Thsy ara to In
aue they are to form Judgment, they are TO report
70 the Secretary OF The Navy and then they through
They bound to make the inquest and pass judgment
On the results.
Every OF inquiry is open TO them. No limit Is
est TO their information, rule Of judgment
10 y,escribed TO them They are not court acting
the rights Of They only adm lnistrative
beard Of officers AIDING the President with know
dse Of men and professional judgment in performing
the executive duty of seeing that the laws be faithfully
executed. It il the duty the President keep the
pnbhe force shore and In efficient state,
us9y for every emergency. IL men are incompetent
matter from what cause II Is his duty to know It. to
ASCERTAIN IT, and to remove them either by his
i've power by legal proceedings Butwhstsver be the
adopted he Is responsible for the efficiency OF his
Instruments. Congress have aided HE iudg msnt by
giving him the benefit Of the inquest by the Board.
fhsy az free 70 inquire as the President. They
subject TO other reexc TONS They pass their jujg
pent subject to the same responsibilities snd they
are subject 70 other They are bound to inquire
fairly, earreety cOurnR sously Ruded by IN Bile