The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-27
ACTION OF THE LATE NAVAL BoARD-REPoRT
OF RON MR. MALLORY, CHAIRMAN OF The
SENATE COMMITTEE on NAVAL AFFAIRS.

ACTION OF THE LATE NAVAL BoARD-REPoR1
4 OF Ron MR. MALLORY, CHAIRMAN OF THE
/ SENATE CoMAITTEE on NAVAL AFFAIRS. ..
II win be reeolected that snoraIs have been present
ed to the Senate OF the United States from Commodore
Stewart Captain Levy Commander shaw and othcr oh-
ces ia which they sea forth they have been Illegally
and unjusty removed from the active naval service Of
their country by he late naval board and praying TO be
restored erey their former POSITIONS These memo
rias referred 90 the ComDtes Naval Affairs Who
amer mature deheration and much patient Investigation
have madea vonIanous report accompanied BY bill
ipubishcd in yesterdays unon amentntory OF "the act
promote the efficiency Of the navy The report oeca-
pies forty-nine large oetasp pages Although unable,
from the continued pressure upon conmns TO give the
report entire We viii endeavor herewith, furnish onr
readers with full ahsact of is important features
| TIM ALLEGED GRmY4scSs or sEaonAlHTT.
They aliege that the proceedings u tbe board and the
proof upon which its Recommendations wsro based were
equally yioatve Of the later sR the spirit of the Law
der which il assembled that they entitled be
fore being scoadrmnrdn p .dsgrsded .hnmiliaed Gcf-
ciay disgracedF kc copy Of all Charges aud speif-
cations againRt them be confronied with their accu
sers to the right Of producing and wit
nesse and all the legal and equitable forms of impair
Etial trial." a .at.as uH #@# aEa @w@
They forth ia detail their past services and present
standing in the navy ae,e seseray their efficiency for
the performance of all their duties ashore and saost
and appeal Congress for relief from the action of the
III, f. NJ"
| board
eEsss.l ANSWER TO gnr srnAoRALIsrs
| The report says:
aBefore aayortng 10 the law Of 18th February 1885, the
action Of board which II created the prayer of the
memoriasts, your committee, in view OF the great
tona importance OF the subject deem proper state
briefly the serious evils and longsiandng abses in this
of national deencas which Congress by the act
in question: sought correct These evils had reached
a2node but little understood by The country large
and rapidly alternating that public confidence which
the eminent services Of the navy in the of 1912 had
created and parayzng its energies by crushing the hopes
the ardor, and Esprit du eoPs ofi most efcient men,
Then follow in the report extracts from the reports Of
Secretaries Of the Navy made during the past fifteen
years to prove that ahowever they may have differed upon
other questions involving the naval deences of the
try they all and properly appreciated the urgent
ccssity of Kidding the service of the incompetent and
worthless members whom previous INSTRUMENTATION and
promotion exclusively by seniority had entailed upon it,
These occupy twelve pages of the report and their
character may be inferred from the following pointed pas
sages: @~."s"
sEcaErARY PArLpra OK NAVAL REyoRx
Experience has also demonstrated that 1t il only by
frequency of active service at that the otherwise
voidsbe consequence of long in any degree be
arrested"
\ sEcRsrARy BADGER on NAVAL EEFoEa.
HThe opinion seems TO have become general well In
the service in the nation At large that thorough
ganizson of the navy demanded by considerations
neced with the defence and honor OF tho country and In
\ -.
this opinion heartily concur
SECRETARY rrMua on NAVAL RssoRs.
al respectfully submit that IL is wise in place
ourselves in position TO be compelled TO intrust TO age
and imbecty the duties which require the vgor and
ergy Of younger and under the systems which
have heretofore prevailed there few who hope
attain the higher commands until they have also attained
period of life at which the best powers of man begin
decay" - a<
Again: .. .......-.r r.....
ait II mere prodigality build ships If have no of-
command them There Is school for the off,
Ger but the ship itself The theory which be may acquire
shore although necessary part OF his education only
prepares him to begin 10 learn what be required know
as naval commander
Again, In 1912:
On The other hand II Is TO he borne Ia mind that the
willing and sbe to perform all the duties Of the station
which be soiciis and receives at her hand and be has
therefore right 10 complain that she rejects him when
he proves either neglecifal Incompetent Perhaps
more Just rule be adopted than compel the officer
retire upon certain proportion Of his snnual pay
sysem Of compulsory furongh, properly regulated and
guarded against abuse, would have the most sautsry
| effect
at may be urged ss an objection to this plan that II
will create body OF gum pensioners the treasury,
who will have done nothing 10 deserve such favor This
true in point Of fact Tbeso officers already In
the service and II they be not put urlough win
oeiye their whole pay, instead OF only half Of H. No Off
will ever be put furough he he really qualified
for the scrvioe and IL be ho qualified he ought
be and presume viii be called into servee a all
VI course hesa treasury
10 the fun amount Of his Who'll. pay To put him fur
lough thcrefore s positive relief 10 the treaSury the
extent Of ons-hslf of his pay"
srcsxTARY sxcSoFT OF NAVAL nrrosM
MANY Of tho best among The older officers received
| high promotion while comparatively in early life The
younger officers Of to-day equally full OF talent and
bition but tie present system rruses to them the oppor
unty Of command while life Is Ia its yiGor and
Il for the decline Of their powGr Ia Consequence the
sverage age of captains T. constantly Increasing and al
ready nearly sixty The average number Of annual pro-
motions s sbont The average age OF eommsnders
from whom captains and shoaid II TAKEN " much
service which they called u favorable TO longevity
Continue the present usage twenty yssrs longer and while
hop. win be crushed In the yoepg in the service the
eass OF commanders will itsef be composrd OF hut
aged and there win rot be captain under thrcescore
4 years and ten
aThis eustou discoaraee4 ths most worthy and leads
the inoapsbe and the indoient 10 cling with ienaciiy 70
/ their commissions
Hwhy should the sncapable he promoted Why should
they be allowed to postpone The promotion Of The capa-
ble2 Why sboald galany, tcrppenno integrity in the
payment OF debts distinction hy service at sea weigh no
than opposite considerationaf Why should men
deficient in capscy and inexperienced In their profes
sion, be advanced and, Consequence officers with
every naval aud manly virtue and Tho brsncJ and vigor
.f matured powers he le 70 wait TIL crest age gives
them the prrf.rment vi ch genius Alaeritl and merit
could not attain = .. #. Hr.
SECRETARY ysvAL KEFoRN.
aThe safest and mode appears 10 s To require
by Law tha officers rendered unit Cor duty ohsrWiss
than by wounds received u battle or not qualified for
promotion 10 higher grades should be PLACED reduced
| pay out Of the line Of promotion
SECRETARY rEssroS os ssyAL RKFoRS.