The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-26
CHAP. CCXXXI.

An Act to define the Number and regulate the
Appointment of Officers in the Navy and for
other Purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Re-
representatives. of the United States of America in
Congress assembled That the number allowed
in each grade of line officers the active list of
the navy shall be one admiral, one vice admiral,
ten rear admirals, twenty-five commodores, fifty
captains, ninety commanders, one hundred and
eighty lieutenant commanders, one hundred and
eighty lieutenants, one hundred and sixty mas
t1rs, one hundred and sixty cnsignS, and in other
grades the number now allowed by law: Provid-
cd, That the increase iu the grades authorized by
selection from the grade next below OF officers
who have rendered the most efficient and faithful
service during the recent war, and who possess
the highest professional qualifications and attain
ments. And nothing in this act shall preclude
the advancement in rank now authorized by law
for distinguished conduct in BATTLE or for extra
ordinary herOism: And provided further, That
nothing in this act nor in the fourteenth sect on
of the act approved July sixteenth, eighteen
hundred and siXty-two, entitled can act to estab-
lish and equalize the grade OF the line officers of
the navy" shall be so construed as to prevent
the Secretary of the Navy from promoting to the
grade of rear admiral on the retired list those
commodorcs who have commanded squadrons by
order of the Secretary of the Navy. or who have
performed other highly meritorious service.
Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That of the
number of line officers of the navy the active
list, five lieutenant COMMANDERS, twenty lieute
nants, fifty masters, and seventy five ensi gns may
be appointed from those officers who have served
in the volunteer naval service for period of not
less than two years, and WHO are either now in
that service or have been honOrably discharged
therefrom: Provided, That if by reason of these
appointments the number of officers in any grade
shall exceed the number fixed by law, no more
promotions or appointments to that grade shall
be made until the number is reduced below the
number fixed by law for that grade And provid
ed further, That TIE authority given by this
ton shall be exhausted when the number of vo-
lunteer officers above named shall have been ap-
pointed.
Sec 3. And be it further enacted That the
Secretary of the Navy shall appoint board con-
ssting of not less than three naval officers Supe
rior in rank to the officers to be thus appointed
in the regular navy from the volunteer service
which board after examination of the claims of
all candidates, shall select and report to the Sc
cretary of the Navy the most meritOriOus in cha
ractcr, ability, professional competency and ho-
nora5le service, the number to be appointed and
transferred to the several grades mentioned in
the second section of this act, provided they
shall find that number who are suitably qualified
therefor. And any officer who has served in the
volunteer naval service for the term OF two years
more shall have the right to appear before the
examining board and present his claims and be
examined for an appointment in the regular navy.
And any volunteer officers attached to vessels at
sea or on foreign stations may be appointed to
the regular navy, subject to The conditions con-
tanned in this section, ritter their return to the u
nited States.
Sec 4. And be it further enacted, That the
Secretary of the Navy be, and he hereby is, auth
| orzed to retain, or to appoint under existing
laws and regulations, such volunteer officers
in the navy as the exigencics of the service may
require.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That lieut.
enant commanders may be assigned to duty as
navigation and watch officers on board of vessels
of war as well first lieutenants of naval stations
| and of slips of war.
Sec. g. And be it further enacted That the
| annual compensation of the admiral of the navy
shall be ten thousand dollars year, and he shall
receive the annual sea pay of lieutenant in the
navy.
Sec. Z. And be it further enacted That naval
constructors and first and second assistant engi-
% heers IN d tne navy s,a % be oS nd G sbel
have naval rank and pay as officers of the ma
W.
Sec. s. And be it further enacted, That all
acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are
hereby repealed.
Approved, July 25, 1866.