The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-05
cline" AND "sTAFF.

LONG MooTED QUESTION SETTLED BIZ GEN.
ERAL ORDER FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAvY-THE wARDRooM DEPRIVED OF IRA
OPTIONAL SUBJECT FOR ARGUMENT.
WASHINGTON, August 4, 1875.
The Secretary OF the Navy has issued a general
order which definitely settles The long pending
differences between line and stan officers with
gard 10 rank, rue Secretary quotes the law with
regard TO commanding officers, and gives his
oficial construction Of 1t In order 10 remove mis-
understanding. The following are the principal
points OF the order:-
Onicers Entrusted With the command OF vessels
ol-war on naval stations or with the command or
direc ion OF any military expedition or duty what
ever their rank, must, while properly In such
command or direction. have full command, au-
th0rity and preceaence over all O1iceTs.anu per-
sons OF Whatever rank serving IN such vessel,
ton or eXpeultlon, or III the execution OF such
duty. This authority and precedence Will
descend 10 the o1icer or person on wnOm such
command or direction may devOve by reason
OF the death, DISABILITY or absence OF The
person Otherwise In command or direction
In the case OF the DEATH disability absence Of
an officer In military command or direction: tns
command ana direction, win all It's h0rliy ana
precedence, devolves anu rests upon the line
Onlcer next In rank who may be present. the d.
rectlOn oil all courts ana boards and precedence
thefeon, ahu IN all PROFESSIONS on shore, VIII de-
vove upon the next 0fllcer In rank who may be
present. without egard TO the corps TO winch ne
belongs. OmcerS OF the stan corps or the navy
Will on all occasions be treated with the same re-
spect as officers OF corresponding rank IN the line.
not IN command under Ike circumstances. Their
legal rank carries with 1t the same personal Dig
nifty, ana Is 10 receive i'll all respects tue same
consideration. No officer or any grade OF the
navy Is authorized, by virtue OF his own mere
raHK and authority. to give away, oraer or grant
any privilege, permission or liberty 10 his senior
IN the rank of any corps, nor Is any senior officer
required 10 receive sucn order, privilege,
permission or liberty IRON ms junior un-
command OF the vesseof-w war naval
station 10 when the senior Is attached or
IN command, direction o1 the military eXpe-
dltion or duty on which such senior Is serving;
ana no commanding oflicer Is authorized to dele
gate to any junior the authority TO grant any
permission, privilege or liberty 10 his senior, but
must himself receive ana hear, under the proper
senior, satisfying himself as to IT'S proprlety and
deci1Ing the matter in the exercise OF his own
authority. The efficiency OF every military or
EAniZatlOH requires OF the commanding authority
besides TIE general duties OF. command ana dlrec-
ton, the additional duties or the organization OF
police and inspection. All theSes apperta1n
30 ana go with the command. For the relief Of
tne com mandlnR officer tney are usually In
trusted IN their details to subOrdina Ies, but they
are performed by his authority anu under ais Ill
recton on shlpDoard. Inc Secretary OF the
Navy, by authority oil law, designates the senior
line Ofcer 10 perform these dutles In addition TO
the ordinary duties assigned u him as such line
oilcer attached to the snip. Tne ofllcer 50 deslg-
nated Is called Tor the time being
THE AID, OR EXECUTIVE,
OF the commanding Oiiicer. This Is not q new
rank, nor has the officer by virtue OF the title, or
In consequence OF the detall, any new, ''nde-
pendent authority.n 1t Is merely designation
VI the offlcer VINO, for the RELIEF Oh the command
ant, and by his authority alone, carries out
board the ship the details OF organization, In
spectlon and policy-dutes corresponding to
those which IN the army performed ny the
adiutants, inspectors and officers Of the day.
The duties Of organization, Inspection and pO-
lice devolve upon the laid, or executive OF the
commander OF a vesse-oiwar," by virtue OF hts
detail as sucn aid or executive and they and
the exercise OF the authority necessary
to execute them are recognized by all mill
tary laws and usage ana by the statute
which authorizes this designation. The officer
In command OF "A snlp-of-war rs not authorized to
delegate mis- power except for the carrying out Of
the details OF the general duties TO be perormeu
by his authority. While the statute provides hat
the oIticer detailed 10 act as 'ald or executive"
shall, ''when not Impra ctlcable be next rank to
the commanding ofilcer.n stu 1t contempates the
same obedience wnen this Is impractcaDle, but
orders TO seniors not given IN the ordinary prog
ress oil military organization or duty are to so
announced. Every Oificer in charge OF a depart
ment has, OF course, the general right. at all
proper times, TO communicate and confer directly
with the responsible commanding officer concern
Ing any matter relating TO his department., and
his duty 20 do so Is absolute whenever he thinks
1t necessary Tor the good OF his department or Of
the service.