Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-20
THE NAVAL REFORM BILL.

lhc NAV AL Inn. DILL.
The following is copy OF the Naval Reform Bill,
which passed ihe Senate At the last session, and
which, by vote Of I59 to 80, passed the House OF
Representatives Oh Monday, and now awaits Tic sig
nature of the President to become q law:
Sec. /. That, upon the written request, made with.
in ninety days after the passage hereof, or within
thirty DAYS after iii. return OF any officer absent from
III. United States u the time of the passage Of this
ac, nv any officer Of the Nsvywho was dropped, Gr-
laughed or retired, By The operation OF the act Of the
18th Of February, eighteen hundred aud fifty five,
entitled IAN act to promote the efficiency ot the
navy" the Secretary of the Navy shall cnuse the
phyeca!, mental, professional, nni moral ftacss Ui
such officer for th. naval service TO b. investigated
by court Of inquiry, which shall be governed 5y
the laws and regulations which now govern court. Of
nouirv; aud the said court shall in their finding re.
por whether The said officer, if he has beeG dropped
from the rolls of the navy, ought tn be restored lie
ther 10 the active list the reserved list. and ii tie
latter whether on leave Of absence or turough pay;
and in case the officer making the written request, rs
a,resaid phall have been placed the reserved ,i
then the cnur on their fudlng. ehal report whether
the and officer ought 10 be restored to the active rf,
or if not restored, Whether he ought TO remain on
the retired lst leave absence or furiongh pay;
and the finding of the court shall ID oil Gases be sub
i,.d TO the President Of the United States, and, il
approved by him, in the case OF a dropped officer,
where restoration has becn recommended, such otii
Ger may be nominated by the President to the Senate
for restornon to the service. according to the iuing
Of the court approved oy hm aud IN The case OF
retired officer, the finding Of the court, when ap
uroved by the President, shuIl be conclusive; aud
sncb officer shall be restored 10 the active list 20
cDpv that position and rank IN the navy which he
would have occupied had he not been retired under
the sclcn of the lap naval board; or he shall remain
unon the retired list on Lave VI sbsrce OF furuugh
nav according TO the finding of the court as approved
by the President: Provided, That the officers 80 re
uored or plucrd on the reserved list shall he appoint
Ell to tIer places respectively, by the President by
and with ths advice and consent oil the Senate.
SrC 9 That the operation Of the present Law linz
,,rg I'm, runb.r of ctiices Of the navy shall bc cue
perL,d 70 far es 10 authorize the restoration, within
one year from the passage ot this act by the Prr--
dent by sGd with tbs advice anu Consent OF the Sc
nate Of ,ffcers reserved or dropped anner the OPT
ration of t,e act of the 18th OF February 1853 en-
,i.d "An act 10 promote the efficiency of the nevy:"
provided That there shall be 10 further promotions
or apponnen:s in any Crude, after such restoration
shall hav heen made thereto until euch grade IN the
active Service shall be reduced To the limit now pre-
scrbed by law. Thst when any such officer shsl be
restored 10 the navy, by and with the advice and
consent of tho Senate the officer restored shal:
occupy that postiun and rank III the navy which he
would have bel,Fhad be not been Retired Enrloughed
or dropped by order OF tbs Prcs!dent on the report
of the naval board: Provided, further, That any
dropped officer who may oe' III 'he OPINION ~ said
cour:. entitled to be placed on the retired oriurough
list NAV b. thus placed by the President, by aud
with the advice snd consent OF the Senate.
SEC. 3. That officers who were dropped, as afore-
sais and who snail not be restored ~ the naval
vice within ono year from the rs:s"g- hereof, sh.
be entitled TO receive one years duty pay of their
grades respectively and ;he President shall be- and
he i. hereby authorized, with the advice aud consent
of the Senate to transfer any officer from the fur
lough to the reserved pay LIST, and that so much Of
th- act Of February twcE:y-eighth, eighteen hun
dr.d and hfty-ive, entitled "Au act 10 promote the
efficiency of the navy" as renders reserved officers
ineligible 70 promot,ou, BE- and the same i. hereby
repealed.
the reserved list, by and witt .hr advice and consent
of the Ssnnte, but no such promotion shall entis!e
them to pay beyond tha, o which they entitled
when 30 reserved nor shall they by such promotion
tax. sry higher rank than they would Dase taken ha
tbev been retained in the active service of The navy
and nothing in this act the act 10 which rhi. s
amendment, shall be so construed as to preclude off
GERS on the reserved st from wearing the uniform vi
their grades respectively.
Sec S. That captains in command Of squadrons .hal!
be Geuominated flag officers.
Sec 6. That all o:hcers who may be restored to ac
tive service, under the provisions Of thi. act. shall b.
entitled 10 draw The pay they were drawing Al
the time they retired dropped, or ana during
the tiue Of surh retirement or suspension from The
active service aforesaid.
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