The daily union., 1856-03-29
TUE.NAVAL RETIRING BOARD.

The extract below, from article in the New York
Journal of Commerce. presents series Of strong facts in
vndication Of the action of the naval retiring board
which has been severely criticised Of late in Congress
and in the newspapers The suggestion in the concn-
ding paragraph to the hardsbps complained of may
become the turning point in giving Gnal direction the
public mind and If so, the navy Is destined to suffer-
We hope however, that the discussions in the Senate will
result in the adoption of wise and efficient remedy
for the prevention of the injury with which the arm
of the threatened. The extract as fol-
lows:
'The following deductions from the official naval list show
concusvey that the decisions Of the retiring have
been in the main correct 1t will be admitted without quss
on that the value Of officers services may be tested by
the dem for them to reverse the proposition
the years he has been unemployed will measure some de-
gree his deficiencies This being acknowledged the general
of tie boards decisions established The Reg
lister that the reserved captains have been unempoy
ed average years each while the active cap
ans have been unemployed only fourteen years and five
months that the reserved commanders have been unem
ployed average of sixteen years and ten months each
while the active commanders have been unemployed only
and nine months and that the reserved eutenns
been unemployed average of eight years and
months each while active ieutenants have been unsm
poyed only years and eight months b not this concu
sve testimony?
"Suppose the average pay Of the retired officers while
reckoning cntFy the service,
have been of the captains 81 800 per annum of the
manders per annum, of the ieutenants $3.50 per
num- aud this resut follows The active captains have
for the State average of 200 EACH the commanders
average each, and the eutenants average
6s each-more than the retired officers of the CORES
pondpg grades Is due these efficient and morito
officers than be paid to the drones and ncapabs
When rank and duty to be distributed should they
recsive in proportion \ they deserve2
That the report of the board Is generally just further
active employ Take the present roll of ieutenant for
list. out of s2e eutenants there co. nearly
as unemployed. In the list Of 1856 there only
waiting ordera number absolutely necessary be held
readiness for special or relief duty.
"The board may have made bundcrs, though not
one yet proved against them. The fault Of retiring
such deserving officers aury, Giss, and Mat the
fault of the law and of the board The latter could
construe preserve these gentlemen.
"Tbese mistakes, and whatever others have been made
require little remedial legisaon The discretion Of
Executive duly empowered hy Cn.srsss, easily undo
whatever wrong has been committed and make
The complaints made by the more indiscree of the r
tired officers Of the hardshps they undergoing and the
ngsttude Of the country absurd require notice.
II there any hardship in the II the side of the EN-.
poyers of these men-the peope-who, after supporting
them suence and dleness for many years, Tin some In
for than quarter Of century) fnd right
put them aside upon fair allowance disputed denied
As for ingratude greater instances Of Il found
than thsse officers exhibit when they refuse retire grace
fay upon honorable pension that their places may be filled
by better men.
Respectfully, yours, C.S. NJ"