Washington sentinel., 1856-07-22

souS VINO nave ieIt your peacetuI DOrderS and
embarked in the military and naval service of
their country.
JAMES FINDLAY scHENcK,
Commander U. S. Navy.
Naval Bill.
The following is a copy of the bill to amend
an act entitled "An act to promote the eff
cheney Of the navy" passed by the Senate on
Tuesday last
BE 1t enacted, de- That upon the written re-
quest, made within ninety days after the pas
sage hereof, or within thirty days after the
return of any officer absent from the United
States at the time Of the passage of this act,
provided he shall return within one year after
the passage Of this act, by any officer of the
navy who was dropped, furloughed, or retired by
the operation of the act of 28th of February,
1855, entitled "An act to promote the efficiency
of the navy" the Secretary Of the Navy shall
cause the physical, mental, professional, and
moral fitness of such officer for the naval ser.
vice to be investigated by court of inquiry,
which shall be governed by the laws and regu.
lations which now govern courts of inquiry
and the said court shall in their finding report
whether the said officer, if he has been dropped
| from the rolls OF the navy, ought to be re-
| stored, and if restored, whether to the active
list to the reserved list, and if to the latter,
whether on leave of absence or furlough pay;
and in case the officer making the written re-
quest as aforesaid shall have been placed on
the reserved list, then the court in their finding
shall report whether the said officer ought to
be restored to the active list; or, if not re-
stored, whether he ought to remain on the re-
tired list on leave of absence or furlough pay
and the finding of the court shall in all cases
be submitted to the President Of the United
States and if approved by him in the case of
a dropped officer where restoration has been
recommended, such officer may be nominated
by the Presidest to the Senate for restoration
to the service according to the finding of the
court as approved by him; and in the case of
retired officer, finding of the court, when
approved by the President, shall be conclusive,
and such officer shall be restored to the active
list, to occupy that position and rank in the
navy which he would have occupied had he
not been retired under the action of the late
Naval Board or he shall remain on the re-
tired list on leave of absence or furlough pay,
according to the finding of the court as ap.
proved by the President: Pouided, That the
officers so restored or placed on the reserved
list shall be appointed to their places respec-
lively by the President, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate.
SEC. 2. And be IL further enacted, That the
operation of the present law limiting the num-
Der of officers of the navy shall be suspended
so far as to authorize the restoration. within
one year from the passage of this act, by the
President, by and with the advice and consent
OF the Senate, Of officers reserved or dropped
under the operation of the act of 28th Febru-
airy, 1880, entitled An act to promote the
efhciency of the navy Prorided, That there
shall be no further promotions or appointments
In any grade after said restorations shall have
been made thereto, until such grade in the ac
tive service shall be reduced to the limit now
prescribed by law. That when any such officer
shall be restored to the navy by and with the
advice and consent Of The Senate the officer so
restored shall occupy that position and rank in
the navy which he would have held had he not
been retired, furloughed, or dropped by the
order OF the President on the report of the
naval board: Pocided further, That any
dropped officer who may be in the opinion of
SAID court entitled to be placed on the retired
or furlough list may be thus placed by the
President, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate.
SEC. 3. And be IL further enacted, That off,
GERS who were dropped as aforesaid, and who
shall not be restored to the naval service within
one year from the passage hereof, shall be en-
titled to receive one years duty pay OF their
grades respectively; and the President shall be
and he is hereby authorized, with the advice
and consent of the Senate, to transfer any off
Ger from the furlough to the reserved pay list,
and that so much of the act Of February 28,
1855, entitled "An act to promote the eff
cheney of the navy" as renders reserved Off
GERS ineligible to promotion be and the same
is hereby repealed.
Sec. A. and be IL further enacted, That
reserved officers may be promoted on the re-
served list, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate; but no snch promotion shall en-
title them 10 any pay beyond that 10 which they
we're entitled when so reserved; nor shall they,
by such promotion, take any higher rank than
they would have taken had they been retained
in the active service Of the navy; and nothing
in this act, or in the act to which this is an
amendment, shall be so construed as to pre-
clude officers on the reserved list from wearing
the uniform of their grades respectively.
Sec. 5. And be IL further enacted, That
captains in command Of squadrons shall be
denominated flag officers. sAa
Sec. 6. And be ii further enacted That all
officers who may be restored to active service
under the provisions Of this act shall be entitled
to draw the same pay they were drawing at the
time they were retired or dropped, for and du-
ring the time of such retirement or suspension
from the active service aforesaid.