The national Republican., 1862-06-24
THE Rsvlar0N Or TuIa Law FOa
TRn OOVkRHnRAT OF rHH nAvy.

The RBY1alON OH THIS LAW FOa
Tnn 0OvEAHAHAT OF the RAvy.
The Senate, yesterday, passed a law. reported
by Ar. Grimes, from the Commit,ee on Naval
Affairs, revising ths old law Of April Is, 1900,
"Ior the batter lpvsrumeu. Of the navy Of the
united States, Ind introducing some amend
ments Of the Law for the distribution Of prize
money, which has not been changed since the
last war with Crest Britain.
The general character Of the revision 70
ported BY hr. Grimes is 10 the direction Of
Humanity aud smeliOration, 70 conform to tho
advance In public sentiment ~ = De Improve
ment In The character Of ,aiiors, which have
taken place within rixly years The code Of
discipline d 1900 vas bracouiau, and although
mit'ssted in practloe, has until now not been
m'iiss'ed In its letter, except in the abolitioo
Of aossipy, which was carried some twenty
years aed. -.
Mr. Hale, referring during the discus,ion Of
yesterday to the prohibition of Tie Lash, With
which be vas bimself hoeorably ooanected,
stated the great change which had taksa place
in Tho opinions Of many ofiosrs Of The navy,
who wero At first oppoeed y that prohibition!
he said that The sober ofAcsrs, who werS ~
great majority, were now all In favor Of II. He
added, however, that some punlshments were
sill inflicted, which we're quite q barbsrou,
"a HAT BY he lash. " .Db .-ra ,aH.. .
While The bill, passed yesterday, was uoasr
discussion, Il Wa amended, On motion Of NJ.
Grimes, who he'd he BIN 10 charge, % . %
prohibit The infection, al, sss, Of any punlah.
ment except condnemsnt on bread aud watsr
not exceeding I've days, or orsolitary confinement
uot exceeding ten days. The oommandisg Of
deer To have the power Of arrest (not exceeding
hve days,) but no power 70 punish, without ths
sanction Of summary court martial, otherwise
th n by degrading 10 an inferior rate.
The bill, - passed, suthorizss general courts
martial 70 commute the ssntenoe of death In
capital cassa into imprisonment 10 the peniteu.
Iiary, bat doss not authorize an original sen
'encs Of such imprisonmeht ...-......
In respect 70 priss money, this bill leavee
he captains share, ~ II hss always been, bu,
divides 1t amorg subordinate ofi,ers and men
10 the proportions Of their pay. This docs no,
much sfFsct The shares Of comuissiooed ,ea Oh |
'ers. 1t reduces the share Of the petty ofliosn,
which (urder certain circumstances) was ex-
,essivs. It raises he share Of seamsn, and
'lso Of . class Of employees connected with Tie |
tesm machinery, who were uuknowu when he
I'd prize laws were enacted, and who only
Am, lat al under Tho dsscrietion Of "ol.s, |
'ersons,' snd 70 shsf. altogether too small
Under the old law . certain per centase Of
hs value OF . prizs vent 70 tho petty cficsrsn
ew or many. II The capturiog vessel had ,he
'rdiuary number Of "petty ofioers," their In
lividual shares were not too great But whsre
he number is small, as happens now In 70
many Of our ships, their individual .bsres may |
'e out Of all proper proportion. |
The rule suggested In this bill, ind adopted
y The sensts, apportions prise money to p,y,
hat IL, 10 the importance OF the position o.
uty occupied BY eich person, Of which Ii.
ny Is, or At any rate 70 intended to be and
ught to be, the measure.
The bill, as whole, Is undoub.e dly a Rres,
Improvement, and rh.ct, crdit upon tie Q re-.
,dustry and good judgment OF Mr.. Grimes sud
his colleagues Of ,hs Naval COMMITTEES Of tb.
enate. 1t Is an appropriate ssquel 10 ihai
reat reform, the abolition Of the spilit rate,
'hich came recently from The same source.