Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-06

tIUBLIC-No. L.
AN ACT to further promote the efficiency of the
Navy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, That whenever the name of any
naval officer now in the service, or who may here
after be i'll the service of the United States shall
have been borne on the naval register forty five
years, or snail be OF the age of siXtytwo years. he
shall be retired from active service and his name
entered the retired list of officers of the grade
TO which he belonged at the time of such retire
ment.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the presi
dent OF the United States be and he is hereby au.
thorl@ed to assign any officer who may be retired
under the preceding section of this act to shore u-
~, and such officer thus assigned shall receive the
full shore pay of his grade while so employed.
Sec. 3 And be it further enacted, That the presi-
dent OF the United States By and tcih the acice and
consent Of the senate, shall have the authority to de-
tail from the retired list of the navy for the com.
mand OF s9uadrons and single ships, such officers as
he may believe that the good of the service requires
to be thus placed in command; and such officers
may, II upon the recommendation Of the president
OF the United States they shall receive a vote of
thanks OF congress for their services and gallanry
IN action against an enemy be restored to the active
list. and not otherwise.
Sec. A. And be it further enacted, That the presi-
dent OF the United States shall have the authority to
select any officer from the grades of captain or
commander in the navy, and assign him to the COM
mand OF asquadrOn, with the rank and title oil
flag otlicer;" and any officer thus assigned shall
have the same authority and receive the same ODE
dience from the commanders of ships in his squad
ron holding commissions of older date than his
that he would be entitled to receive were his com
mission the Oldest and to receive when so employ
ed, the pay to which he would have been entitled
if he were on the active list OF the navy
SEC 3. And be it further enacted, That all officers
retired under the provisions of this act shall receive
the retired ray of their respective grades as fixed by
law.
SEC 6. And be it further enacted, That promo
tions shall be made in place of the officers retired
under the provisions of this bill is now provided
by law.
SEC Z. And be it further enacted, That the secre-
tary of the navy be and is hereby authorized to
cause two hundred medals of honor'' to be prepar
ed, with suitable embemac devices, which shall be
bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen lands
men, and marines, shall most distinguish them.
selves by their gallantry in action and other seaman
like qualities during the present war; and that the
sum OF one thousand dollars be and the same is here
by appropriated out of any money in the treasury
Tor the purpose OF carrying this section into effect
SEC 3. And be it further enacted. That the hours
of labor in the navy yards Of the United States shall
be the same as in the private ship yards or near
est TO the post where such navy yard is established
and the wages paid to all employees in such yards
shall be- as near may be- the average price paid to
employees Of The same grade in private ship yards or
workshops in or nearest TO the vicinity, be
determined By the cODlHdHdant Of the mary yard.
Approved, December21, 1861.