The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-28
COMMODORE FAIRFAX AND TIE NAVY
REGISTER.
LEXINGTON, Greene County, N. Y,
August 70, 1873.

LEXINGTON, Greene County N. Y..l
August "a, 1873. !
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
The HERALD OF the 10th inst. contains synopsis
OF the Navy Register for July 1873" wherein the
Washington correspondent states that ~ declined
to appear before the Examining Board,n and,
therefore, lam Ineligible for promotion.n and ut
is presumed will continue to be borne on the
register as senior captain until, by reason OF age
or length OF service, can be retiredn In naval
circles this needs no comment, but among my
friends and acquaintances IN the army aad in civil
life the question would naturally arise Why
should I make this selection when by an ex-
animation l would have all the advan.
tages accruing from promotion ? As 1t is
susceptible OF an unfavorable Interpretation, you
will obige me by publishing in your widely circu.
lated paper brief statement Of the facts. In the
regular order of promotion was entitled to the
vacancy created the 2sth OF December last and, In
compliance with an order from the Navy Depart
ment to report to the President Of the Examining
examination, waved the fright to be present." re-.
ferrtng the Board to my record Of thirty six years
on ile In the Navy Department, and witndrew. I
am sustained In my course by the decision OF the
secretary Of the Navy, under whose supervision
the laws were framed and enforced for nearly
up to very recent date and by the opinions OF
several OF the most prominent legal men. 1t was
and oaSe dn tine
regular examinations were practised, even among
the Junior officers OF the ''iine." At that time
dered before the Board to be professionally,
examined, but the very Board to whom 1t was first
addressed understood 1t to apply to junior of
been as yet satisfactorily established, as
m shown 5 their the senior
Of July 10, 1852 first establishing examining boards
large number Of the 'Iinen officers were pro-
NOTED by careful scrutinizing' Of their records.
ameQdatOrV
April II, 1884, requires more OF the Board than
to satisfy themselves" or the fitness OF "the
oilicer to be acted upon and who mas the right
first section OF this act, instructing the Board
IN In, Its duties to the Zine" oflcer, re;
all other o6lcers" Now, It is well known thst
professional" examinations In this corps cease
with the assimllated rank OF lieutenant commander.
billy, boards were more directly empowered to ex.
anime all the 'line' officers junior to commanders;
fessiona, examnatons WAS commeuced With tbe
junior grades. None OF these very officers who ad-
vocate the examining or captains and commanders
appeared before 1.-THE President, however, being
absent on account OF sickness recommended two
er 5 Sn n1s SsO Of
oficers record Is the best test OF his fitness, and
where the Board are In doubt as to "moral aud
sec u, gives them the power to summon "wit-
nesses" with whom the oficer has seE-ed. "Pro-
6essonai' examinations I are not practised on
at in the British Navy. After contesting the point
till found two OF my juniors confirmed by the
the present Secretary availed OF his oer TO ere.
fer my case to the Board" and for the second
time went before IT, and was examined on some
tactics occupying possibly ten minutes, when 7
was recommended for promotion-ail OF which is
Offensive to men OF my time OF life in am PROBES
D. Mon. FAIRFAX Commodore u. SIN