The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-03
NAVAL STAFF RANK.

IVA van OIAFf hdNh.
We have received an official copy of the DILL
prepared by Senator Spencer for the reor-
ganization of the Medical, Pay, and Engineer
Corps of the United States navy, and to regu-
late and fix their absolute rank, uniform, etc.,
which he introduced in the Senate on De-
cember 7. This bill is the best solution of
the difficulties between the staff and line of
the navy that has yet been offered. 1t gives
the staff officers all that they can justly
claim, and it fixes their rank, privileges, and
uniform with sufficient exactness to protect
them from imposition, and at the same time
it does not infringe upon any of the rightful
prerogatives of the line, or in the slightest
degree undermine the foundations of good
discipline.
BY this reorganization of the staff, the new
grades of feet surgeon, fleet paymaster, and
fleet engineer will be created to rank with
commodores and captains surgeons, paymas-
ters, and chief engineers will rank with COM
manders and lieutenant-commanders; passed
assistant surgeons, passed assistant paymas-
ters, and first assistant engineers will rank
with lieutenants; assistant surgeons, assistant
paynasters, and second assistant engineers
will rank with masters; third assistant engi-
neers will rank with ensgus, and cadet engi-
neers with graduated midshipmen. 1t is also
provided that there shall be directors general
of each corps, with the rank of rear admiral,
to be appointed from the fleet officers for a
terms of four years.
The bill gives each staff officer on the issue
of bis new commission the absolute rank,
uniform, pay and emoluments, right to quar-
ters, honors, privileges, immunities, prize
money, pensions, etc., of the same rank in
the line; but it expressly declare that they
shall not exercise command or authority,
ashore or aAoat, except in the corps to which
they belong and over those placed under the
control of their particular departments.
There is but one Objectionable feature in
this bill and that is the very unjust discrimi-
nation it makes against the engineers. Pro-
vision is made for Immediately confirming the
members of the Medical and Pay Depart
ments in the new grades established, while
the Secretary of the Navy is directed to sub
ject the engineers to rigid medical and ply
sical examination and the Superintendent of
the Smithsonian Institute, the Superinten-
dent of the United States Coast Survey, and
the Superintendent of the National Observa-
tory are designated as a scientific board for
this purpose. While these gentlemen may be
perfectly well fitted to conduct an examination
embracing the higher scientific branches OF
engineering, it is extremely doubtful whether
they are qualified to discuss such matter,
as the designing, construction, and practicl n
management of marine engines and even if
they were, there is a manifest injustice in
obliging one class of officers to pass through
an ordeal from which the others are exempt
The engineers have been subjected to
strict examination before each promotion,
and they have right to demand that they
shall be treated with reasonable show OF
fairness. With the exception of this very ex
traordinary feature, Senator Spencer's bill i,
entitled to tAe candid consideration of Con.
geess as fair and equitable settlement of the
difficulty that is exciting most demoralizing
effect at this time on our naval service.
AT AN INFORMAL caucus of the Republican
members of the Harrisburg House of Repre-
sentatives, held on Saturday afternoon, b. b
Strang, of Tioga, was chosen as the candi
date for Speaker. This is an admirable selec
ton. At the last session he distinguished
himself by his zeal and hardihood in support
ing retail and wholesale schemes of plunder
and he was especially determined in his de
fense of the infamous bill which provided TO
the payment of large number of unnecessar,
pastors and folders, in defiance of existing
laws. No man in the House has better un
J derstanding of the art of facilitating the pas
sage of Objectionable bills, or of the device
} whereby legislators and the applicants 70
legislative favors may be enriched at the OK
} pense of the State. strang's selection a
} Speaker, therefore, is an auspicious augury o
large ''divvies' and plenty of them, and tn
voters Of Philadelphia hAYe additional rea