The New York herald., 1869-12-08


general modincat0ns al To the composition OF ths
board and the manner OF Its appvi aLsnent would |
think, meet thc wants OF the Departments on this
subject
Tie board should. however, be wholly advisory,
anu without the power OF interfering with the action
0I the Executive or his Responsible representative.
RELATIVE RANK.
The subject Of relative the various CORDS Of
she havai service u one OF mu1a interest and some
dlnculiy. some OF these CORPS are dlssatsfed with
thelr position under the law AZ IL now stands, but
there IL no power in the department. 90 cnange this,
even should the propriety OF such he admittea
BY all. Rank can only be flxed Dy law. This sub.
ject, involving at the same time many considera-
tohs OF discipiine, eMciency aad leellng II now
pressing for wise aud dispassonate legislation nav.
ing Ia view only the best interests Of the service
A board composed Of officers of high RANK and
long experience. representing equally the various
personal interests involved, mas been con-
sttuted by the department to consider and
report some proper sys en- for the regulation
OF tnls matter. Pending the report OF this board
desire TO express no opinion on the SUBJECT matter
Of their consideration. should they Dc ape to
rive ut proper conclusion, the result Of their abora
VIII be AZ once communicated " Congress for tnslr
RETIRED oPFiCERs
Mueh injustice TO the many distinguished ofnceta
on the retired list is now done by operation OF
the act o March q 1851 requiring lae advance OF all
officers on tnat list nv their respective grades on the
acye list are promoted. Mauy onicers rellred years
ior the good of the service aro now regularly pro-
NOTED under tina law. and tage ranS Win those who
have gone en the list disabled " coveroa
with honorable wounds. some VI those formerly
retired ~ long service in other nInas or gallant
condaot during the iats war wch deserve the a0nora
or ther profession; but IL Ia not vita all.
Ihe physical and mental condition of some officers
renders their promotion worse tnaa folly. II nas
occurred that unoef the operation Of the law refer
req TO- ths department was required to send An ap-
pontmsnt OF nigh grade to au oircer lonG ago re-
urtd as mldshipman, who mad renoered no service
Binoe, and who. confined gs dwelling idiot IN an
asyluin, could neither vane nor understand ths
document which Contained the expression OF onicfh
confidence and iayor
IL Is noped that this law will be so far mod6ed
to leave semo diserotion IN tho application OF its
provisions.
In The year ls6s.a board, composed OF admirals
who had commanded squadrous during the war,
with Admiral FArragut "a president, was coaveaed
by secretary OF Inc Navy TO report the names Of
SUCH oncers they deemed wortay OF
ad dvancement under tho act VI April ~ 1904
Tho board, after careful consideration, rnsds q
report strictly according TO the letter
Of their lnatructons ana their selection wonid
1t 10 believed, have been satisfactory to the navy ri
large. The Recommendations OF the Board were
however, nos acqniesecd In, and the aayaneem ant
was made quite independently OF thelr actIon The
result 10 that many Officers consider themselves as
unjusty trestod, and feeling OF aiscontent exists
most undesirable Ia the service some OF tas cases
affected " TINS action have been already acted on
bg the edlnnstration. Hut II IL felt that the real
merit VI eacn case can ony he properly judxed of
py those who we're personally counizant OF all in
ofeumstsness and Thai LOO many 0opsdsvati0ng