Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-03-07
nh. .me,doto,v Naval-Reform BIZ.

on Naval Affairs. 1t was reau ana passeu 10 Sec
ond reading:
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatires of the United States Of america an Congress
assembled, That, upon the written request, made
within thirty days after the passage hereof, by any
officer of the navy who was dropped by the operation
of the act of the twenty eighth of February eighteen
hundred and fty-fve, entitled &c An act to promote
the efficiency of the navy" the Secretary of the Ma
Wy shall cause the physical, mental professional,
and moral fitness of such officers for the naval SER
vice to be investigated by a court of inquiry, which
shall be governed by the laws and regulations which
govern courts of inquiry; and the Secretary of
the Navy shall present the facts and the opinion OF
the court in each to the President OF the United
States for his consideration and such action as he
shall deem consistent with Justice and the interests
of the public service
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the ope
ration of the present law limiting the number of Off
of the navy shall be suspended so far as to au-
thoriZe the restoration within six months from the
passage of this act, by the President, by and with
the advice and of the Senate of officers
served or dropped under the operation of the ac Of
the twenty eighth of February, eighteen hundred
and fifty-ive, entitled An act to promote the eff
cheney of the navy" Provided, That there shall be
no further promotions or appointments in any grade
after said reservations shall have been made thereto,
until such grade in the active service shall be
duced to the limits now prescribed by law.
"SEC 3. And be 1t further enacted, That officers
who were dropped as aforesaid and wto shall not be
restored to the naval service within six months rOm
the passage hereof shall be entitled to receive
years duty pay OF their grades respectively and
the President shall he, and he is hereby authorized,
with the advice and consent of the Senate TO trans
Ter any officer from the furough to the reserved pay
list; and that much of the of February TWEEN.
ty-eghth, eighteen hundred and ffty-fve, entitled
g. An act to promote the efficiency of the navy as
renders reserved officers ineligible to promotion, te
and the same is hereby repealed.
| "SEc. 4. And be it further enacted That reserved
| officers be ed the reserved list. hv
with the advice and consent Of the Senate but no
such promotion shall entitle them to anv nav be-
yond that to which they entitled when so re
served, shall they, by such promotion take anv
higher rank than they would have taken had they
been retained in the active service of the navy: and
the President shall be. and he is hereby, authorized
10 transfer any officer at his own request, from the
active list to the reserved list, when in mis- udg-
ment, the public interests require 1T and nothing
in this act or in the act to which this is an amend
ment, shall be construed to preclude officers
on the reserved list from wearing the uniforms of
their grades respectively
SEC. 5. And be At further enacted, That captains
in command of squadrons shall be denominated flag
officers.
"SEC. E. And be 1t further enacted, That the grade
of admiral in the naval service be, and the same
hereby revived and that it, in the judgment Of the
PRESIDENT, the past eminent services of any naval
captain shall enttle him to such distinction he shall
be authorized, ty and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, to commission such officer admiral of
the navy.
"SEc. Z. Ind be 1t further enacted, That there
shall be established corps, to be called The Sci
entifc Corps of the Navv,' 10 which shall be as
signed all duties pertaining 10 the Naval Observatory
the preparation of the Nautical Almanac, and such
duties pertaining to the hyrographical department,
and such other scientific duties connected with the
naval service the Secretary of the Navy may,
from time to time, prescribe or may be prescribed
by law,
The Scientific COrnS shall consist Of
Zone captain, two commanders ten lieutenans,
and seven masters, who shall be taken from the &C
tive and reserved lists of the navy, and who shall be
commissioned as belonging TO said corps and who
shall, in all respects, officers of the navy be sub
jec to the rules and regulations of the navy and to
the orders of the Navy Department. They shall
rank with officers of similar grades in the active
vice of the navy but shall be entitled military
command. Promotion shall be within the corps, and
shall be regulated by the rules which govern promo
ton in the active service, and the captain of the
corps shall, Icy virtue of his Office, be Superintendent
of the Naval Observatory Provided, That after the
organization Of said corps, aforesaid, appointments
thereto shall be made only from the graduates of the
Naval Academy
THE LATE JEREMIAH MAsoN-Mr Mason seldom
wasted words on anything. When the methodist ell
der waited on him during the famous trial of Ephram
K. Avery for the alleged murder of Maria Cornell
and announced to him in oracu!ar language that the
Angel Gabriel had appeared 10 him the night previ-
nocent,'-'' Let him be summoned was his instant
reply, without abating attention to his work, or rails
ing his eyes second from the table
The late Judge Smith, of New Hampshire, was
of infinite humor. and nothing appeared to
please him more than 10 crack joke with Mr. Ma
son, who was his contemporary at the bar. One day
Mr.. Mason was engaged in defending man of the
name of Smith for horse stealing. AT dinner, the
Judge, addressing Mr.. Mason across the table, says
Well, Mr.. Mason you going TO get your client
off u "Cant TELL" says Mr.. Mason; " could, if it
wasn't for his cursed name !"
SCENE IN A POLICE OFFIcE.-The prisoner in this
case whose name was Dicky Swivel, alias - stove
pipe Pete" placed at the bar, and questioned by
the Judge 10 the following effect Judge-Bring the
prisoner into court Pete-Here, | am bound to /
blaze, the spirits of turpentne said when he was
all FIRE. Judge--We will take a little of the fire
out of you. How do you live! Pete-I amt par
tsular, the oyster said, when they asked him if
he'd be roasted fried. Judge-We don't want TO
hear what the oyster said the spirits turpentine
either What do you follow? Pete-Anything that
comes 10 my way, as the locomotive said when he
run over the little niger. Judge-Don't care any
thing about the locomotive. What's your business
Pete-Thats various, the cat said when she stole
the chicken off the table. Judge-That comes near
er the line suppose. Pete-Altogether in my line,
as the rope said when it choking the pirate
Judge-lt'l hear any more absurd comparison s.
will give you twelve months Pete-i'm done as the
beetstake said to the cook Judge-Now, sir, your
punishment shall depend on the shorness of YOU
answers | suppose you live by going around the
docks Pete-No sir | can't 90 around the docks
without boat, and han't got one. Judge-Answer
me How do you get your bread Sometimes at
the bakers, and sometimes eat later Judgc--No
more OF your stupid lnsolence. How do you support
ootir ooS