New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-29
RANK WITHHELD FROM TIE NAVY Sta

RANK WITHHELD FROM TIE NAVY STAFF
ruR AyNoYANCEs OF THE STAFF C)Rrs On SHIP
CHARACTERIZATION OF LINE OFFICERS 10 RANK
BLING GRANTED.
lTRoH THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE tribune J
WAsuINGroN Dec. 2S.-Several recent acts OF
tie Secretary Of the Navy show more disposition to re-
cognze justice Of some Of tho complaints maze ny
tbe Cop OF the navy has been apparent since
tEe DAYS when Mr. Borie Secretary and at the ln
stance Of Admiral Porter, issued series OF orders cGcu
lated 10 annoy the engineers, surgeons ana paylhascr
md make their position more unpleasant thau IL hhu
been before What Stan Corps ask for and what II
seems hut right should be given them, is positive rank
such as is held by membeIso Of the staff Corps OF the
army This they do not now have An engineer, under
tie present law, is not lieutenant nor captain nor
commander and can be. he ranks with omcers
f these grades but does not have the same pay when
they receive and admitted b. the lne to nave inc
privileges apportauing 20 TIC ranks named Tue stme
il tr1e OF members o. all the other Stan Corps.
The same cor s!derations which influenced Congress 10
give 10 the stat Corps OF the positive rank, should
tecure II fOr the corresponding officers In the navy and
would have done long had It not been FOR the OPP
position 0, officers Of the line and their personal inhu'
eDee IN Washington But even no change Is made IL Is
IA the power the Navy Dcparncn; 10 remove many oil
the annoyances 10 which members % the STAFF Corps
have been sub eetcd and there seems now 10 BIZ dispo
ston ~ 10 this For instance IL is well knowE that on
ships " war the captain baa personally Ve'
little do with the navigation u tde Ncobcl
epiue OF the men with any 0f tie duties when IL
would be- natural 20 suppose would devolyc upon him.
These are all delegated executive ohcer, VINO Is
generally junior in rank and years OF service vi
course the captain is the responsible officer hui ne gen
orally troubles himself little possible, and Is ~ fact
sHtue monarch shipboarL This state OF things
probably grew OF the practice IN European countries
q promoting the sons OF policemen and other favored
pesoDages rapidly that they were unable to learn the
art OF navigation they felt an Inclination TO- Dc
fore they were placed In command OF ships. IN
such eases this Il was necessary 10 nave
executive officer capable OF taxing inc
whole responsibility The system has been copied IN the
American navy though the occasion for u docs not exist
il makes the captains board most OF our naval shps
1stocrats with tho other officers, except the eI
6cutye officer do not IN contact In the Zine of duty
socially unless the captain lie willing Ia permit IT.
The executive officer ship Of always ranks al the
other line officers except the captain 90 that 1t 10 no
degradation for them him for permission to zee
the captain II they desire 70 do 30 on business, or TO 90
ashore or 10 any other privilege But the stan
officers on board ship often rank higher than the exec
utiye officer though never high as the captain ana
70 require them ask permission to speak TO the cap
tJn or 10 20 ashore, from who IL their junior 10