The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-02


geons, paymasters, and engineers; and recon-
mend that this remain as It Is now fixed by law,
viz, with and next after lieutenants, and with
and next after masters.
This gives those officers, on their first entry
into the service, possibly at the age of twenty
one, rank with and next after officers Of the
line, who have been regularly educated and
have been In the service, on an average, rather
more than elk years, including their time at the
Academy, and who cannot in the future hope for
promotion nearly SO rapid as that which fol-
lowed the reorganization of the navy at the close
of the war.
have substantially followed the recommen-
dations of the board in regard to the precedence
OF the executive officer, because II seems to me
clearly right and necessary to discipline and efii-
cheney. The law as 1t now stands gives the
duty, precedence of all officers OF
the medical, pay, and engineer corps"
The recommendation of the board, and the bill
proposed, provide that this officer shall, as far
as practicable, be next In line rank to the COM
manding oficer, and conhne his precedence to
the officers attached to the organization of
which he is the representative head, while they
are in the discharge of the duty connected with
such organization.
The government of a naval establishment,
anoat or ashore, is the will of the commander
acting under the laws governing the naval SER
vice, the regulations which are founded on them
and his instructions from the department. and
supplying, with his own Judgment and COM
mand, those points wherein the laws, regula-
tions, and instructions fail by reason of their
generality. He is the law-giving and directing
element of the government looking to the
general objects of the duty he has to perform
and planning, celebrating, and ordaining
what steps shall be taken for their ac-
complishment Occupied with these general
duties, 1t Is only at very rare Intervals that he
himself undertakes their execution in detail.
This is entrusted TO the executive officer, who is
just what his title imports viz, the head of the
executive department and centre OF the organ-
Haff ,,l A,hlt
out and executes the ordinances of the COM
mander, and is clothed with the necessary COM
mand and authority for that purpose, as the
representative OF the commander, certainly, but
representing him as the executive does the
Government.
In the close organization of ships company,
where every individual is in constant contact
with every other, IL is essential that every grade
of the organization should be distinctly marked
and its duties and authority distinctly and con-
stantly understood. To have one grade charged
with the duty and authority of commanding
all, and yet required constantly to abandon
to position and insignia of command, and
| to assume a secondary and subordinate position
in the eyes of the ships company, is to hold the
reins of authority loosely and it has been found
| In every service destructive to discipline with
both officers and men. think this bill restricts
| the precedence of the executive officer, as the
representative of the military organization, as
| closely as the good of the service will permit
| In regard to the board of naval survey, which,
4
| present organization of the department and
assist the secretary, as the head of that depart
ment, in procuring valuable information, and in
the introduction of many desirable reforms and
| improvements in the construction, armament,
equipment, management, and discipline OF
naval vessels, and in the management of every
department of our navy yards stations,
| and establishments, have. in some
Senate bill, by making the members of that
board eligible, by the Secretary of the Navy,
from wider range of officers; thus
| placing the matter where, in my Judgment
1t properly belongs, under the direct supervision
and control of the head of the department, as
| do not think it advisable that the responsible
head of the department should be hampered by
board not responsible to him, and which might
at times be at variance with his views in princi-
pie as well as in detail.
| The Senate bill, in its last section provided
| for the temporary continuance of an office
| which, in my judgment, and in the opinion of
my two Immediate predecessors, is OF constant
and permanent convenience and necessity. The
| fifteenth section, therefore, is made to continue
| and establish the Office of solicitor and naval
| judge acknowledgement, and l have requested
that officer to appear before the committee, If
| views in regard to 1t.
The bill also recommends reduction of the
officers of the marine corps, as well as change
in the proportions, and reduction of the num-
ber of line officers of the navy. Thus, II will
| be observed, / have recommended large reduc-
tion in the number of heutenant-commanders
and an increase of lieutenants; diminution of
the number of ensigns, and an enlargement of
the number of masters; endeavoring at once to
promote a wise economy, and to bear constantly
In mind the actual necessity of the service and
the best method of insuring its efficiency. Very
respectfully, your obedient servant
GEORGE M. RoBEsoN,
Secretary of the Navy.
Hon. G. w. SCoFIELD,
Chairman of the Naval Committee House OF
Pan iuaa