The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-28

hhegeu lpJusuce 10 stan of1ceTs has good
foundation in fact. The medical profession,
indeed, has taken up the cudeels actively.
and there is Row scarcely medical associa-
tion in the country which has not passed reso-
lutions calling for legislation in this matter.
and, so far, discouraging capable physicians
from Offering themselves as doctors ir our
national vessels
In support of their assertion, that actual
rank will prove a sufficient remedy for the
hsrdships and hindrances which they suffer,
the staff f-officers point to the Unknown suo-
cess of the staff organization in the army
where the provisions of the Stevens bill have
been long in practical operation. The eff
cheney of the Army Medical Department has
really been wonder to the scientific world
in general. Its circulars are accepted as the
best authorities in Europe as we'll as at home,
and it has become a legitimate source of
pride to every American who knows its his
tory and values the true honor of his country.
If this great success and acknowledged supe-
riority be, as alleged, the result of indepen-
dence of action and of freedom from the con-
troll of those not experts in medical and sur
gical matters, doubtless the instance is well
chosen and applicable.
Or take the case of the paymasters: the
cost to the Government of disbursing its
money, including the pay of officers trans
portation and defalcation-much noise has
been made about this and that notorious case
of embezzlement--was less than one sixteenth
of one per cent.-a fact showing, as the advo-
Gates of the Civil Service bill have we'll said,
that the surest protection to the Government
against the dishonesty of its officials is to be
| found by making its offices permanent and
| respectable, thereby attracting q class of men
so high as to be above the commoner temp
tations to fraud. Concerning the army sys-
tenn, General Sherman writes to Admiral
Porter that it ''works very well in practice"
and such is the testimony of army officers
| generally
1t appears also that in other countries this
distinction which staff officers find it so hard
| to endure does not exist In the Russian
navy, for example, they attain to the highest
rank general admiral); in the British and
Spanish to that of vice-admiral in the French
and Austrian to rear admiral, without impair
ing either efficiency or discipline.
There are at least two facts to be de-
duced from the mass of contradictory state
ments on both sides of this quarrel. One
is, that the staff officers of the navy
are quite convinced that they are unjustly
treated and are clear as to the remedy;
and the other is, that this remedy has
the merit of being no new or untried expert
ment, but a plan which has worked well in
practice; in the United States army and in
the navies of other countries. Its merits
must be decided by Congress, since every
effort to settle the question by means of
mixed boards, and by reference to those most
thoroughly cogniZant of the circumstances,
has resulted in a strictly party division and
no agreement upon essential points. Certainly
the picture which has been presented of the
aged fleetsurgeon or paymaster asking the
entered the service, ''for permission to 90 on
shore, reporting to the beardless ensign
pacing the quarter deck that he has ''permis-
sion to leave the ship, and then waiting for
a still lesser youpgster to take command of
the boat which is to convey him ashore, mani
tests an inherent absurdity, which is yet the
necessary result of existing laws and regula-
tons. Or think of a competent surgeon con-
demned by naval court-martial for declining
to take a man off the sick list and declaring
him too ill for duty, when a certain line
officer, who had disabled the man by punish
ment, demanded that the surgeon should re-
port him well.
The subject is of more Importance than it
seems, for few of those who remain at home
are aware to how great an extent foreign
ideas of Americans, particularly outside Of
Europe, are based upon the demeanor, at
tainments, and ability of the officers of the
navy. Aside from the undoubted necessities
of war, it is a matter of considerable i'm
portance to this country that. at least until
the diplomatic service can be set upon more
creditable footing, the navy should be so
cOuStfucteu anu ulrocteu aS 10 attract INC pest
attainable material into both staff and line
corps. And in no way can this be better
effected than by at least equalizing the status
of professional men on board ship with that
which they would occupy in the military ser.
vice on shore. u s sf+ft -
Much, if not most of the trouble now
existing is to be attributed to the introduc-
tion of equiyocal terms, such as ''assimilated
rank" admitting of various constructions
according to the whim or prejudice of differ
ent officers, and it is to be hoped that the
subject will not only be fully discussed in
Congress, but finally settled by plain an6
ineligible enactment.