Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-04-18
Report OF the Committee On naval
analra


The House Committee on Naval Affairs,
after thoroughly investigating the subject
OF Official rank in the navy, and maturely
considering the reasons urged for and
against the exclusive policy Of the line, had
agreed to report a bill for the reorganization
Of the navy, which provides that all COM
handing officers shall take precedence Of
all staff officers under their command; and
no staff officer, In virtue Of his rank, shall
exercise his command or authority In the
line Of the navy or In any stafI corps EXCEPT
the corps to which he belongs. In proces-
slons, courts, boards Of survey, ETC., the
line and staff officers shall take precedence
according to rank.
The bill will also secure to chief surgeons,
paymasters aud engineers the rank Of cap
tain, the highest rank accorded to them by
the order Of the Secretary Of the Navy du-
ring the rebellion, the revocation Of which
order by Secretary Borie under line lnnu-
ence has occasloned this long and unneces-
sary strife between the staff and line.
The obnoxious domination aud supposl-
tltlous rank Of the Executive officer" is also
done away with, aud that Official will rank
according to his commission In the service.
The committee has thus indicated tho
claims Of some Of the most serVleeable Gle
ments Of our navy to honorable recognition,
and shown that It appreciates true republic
can principles by dlscountenRncing the spirit
of caste developed by the exclusive and arlsto-
cratic system introduced aud fostered by the
line officers of the navy.
In so doing the committee has shown good
Judgment and properly interpreted the SEN
timeut Of the times, and the determination
Of the American people to properly protect
and honor as we'll those officers who, In the
full flush Of professional training, have
brought their sklll-to the service Of the re-
public, as those who by fortultous clreum-
stances have been educated at the expense
Of the Government.
The navy IL recognized AZ follows The arst
section reduces the lieutenant commanders to
| eighty, but yaoAtes no commission. The see
ond section hxes ensigns and masters In each
grade at one hundred The third section pro-
vides that the medical department Of the navy
shall consist Of fifteen directors, with the rank
OF captain; fifteen medical Inspectors, with
the rank OF commander Afty surgeons, with
the rank OF lieutenant Commander one hun.
dred assistant surgeons, with the rank OF mas
tiers, with promotion to lieutenAnts amer three
years service. No person under q or over %
years Of age shall hereafter be appointed
surgeon in the navy The pay department 70
graduated as follows! Thirteen directors, with
the rank OF captain thirteen Inspectors, with
the rank OF captain atty paymasiers, with
the rank Of lieutenant commander ! forty
passed assistant paymasters, with the rank Of
lieutenant, and twenty assistant paymasters
with the rank OF masters. The engineer bu-
reau IL established rs follows Ten chief tngE
nseTs with the rank of captain hfteen with
the rank Of commander twenty-five with the
rank OF lieutenant commanders one hundred
first assistant engineers, with the rank Of lieu.
tenant, and one hundred with the rank Of mas
ter. All ohlefa OF bureaus have the rank OF
commodore while holding that position, or u
retired thereftom on the same pay, their rank
10 changed to pAymASter general or surgeon
general, etc. There are two naval oonstrue-
tors with the rank Of captain, three as huteu-
ant commanders and four a. heutenAnts.
There are three professors Of Mathematics
with the rank OF comm Ander, and four A. lieu
tenants. There are two civil engineers with
the rank Of captain, two as commander, and
four as lieutenant commanders. The ofieeH Of
naval solicitor and Judge advocate are oontln-
ued and established, This bill viii be reported
TO the House next week.