The New York herald., 1876-10-16
STEAMSHIP OFFICERS.
DEMAND FOR R4roRM-THE APPOINTMENT OF
NAVAL OFFICERS CONDEMNED.


NAVAL OFFICERS CONDEMNED.
From tho Alta California, Oct 81
Among the many experimental schemes which have
been, at various times put to the test OF practice
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company since its manage
ment has fallen into the hands OF Wall street stock
sharps, none have received universal condcmna.
tion at the hands OF tho mercantile community and OF
experienced steamship men than the appointment Of
retired or furloughcd naval officers commands in
the company's service.
The experiment been tried years since In various
steamship companies both English and American and
with invariably the same rcsult-an abandonment az
soon the evil effects became palpabe that they
could not bc ignored.
The objections SO plainly understood by expert
cnccd steamship managers tnat't appears supcrhuous
to enumcratc them nevertheless, as the present New
York management of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany appear disposed TO try tho experiment for the
third time in its history as evinced by the appoint
ment recently made to Of its first mands, Il
may be worth while to present once more the very
serious objo cions and dcnoral!zing results which
must cnsue II the practice is persisted in.
The policy OF substituting steamship companies has
been questioned by many OF our legislators, and ono
oil the chief arguments used by those favorng the pol
icy has been the TACT that aside from the commercial
results beneficial TO The whole country. such pecuniary
assistance tends to develop class OF merchant
meu upon whom our country has largely depended
ana must always largely depend in time OF need.
Tho Same argument applies TO the bountes pad TO
fishermen. and the benehcia results have been made
apparent IN our national history. The appoint OF
naval officers to such commands prevents the employ
mont OF more experienced men from merchant
navy. and, by stopping promotion, tends 10 dcmora-
zaton OF the service.
For instance The position OF chief ofncer IS an i'm
portant one, and curing the Mcane administration Of
the Pacific Mail Stcamsh ship Comp pany many or rst
shpmasters accepted the appointment for the sake Of
the promotion promised, II deserved. shut OF this
d an he o. i,ccte ed
to remain in the service any longer than he finds
avoidsble and while he does remain the managers OF
the company get from him only what they descrvc-n
performance Of duty without heart hope OF advance
menl
It's no dc,rimcnt to our navy 10 assert that its
officers untitled for commands in the merchant
service Their limited experience md thor igno-
rance OF tho stowago OF cargccs, commercial usage,
marine insurance, &c, place them at great dsadvan
The discipline OF the navy Is TO great extent en-.
tirely independent Of the commanding oiIcer. The
merchant service depends largely upon the personal
influence and respect tor the especially so
under our imperfect maritime code. Thus lind
that many naval officers. themselves by nature want
ing haracteristics which naturally nt man
command s.'ll control ships In which strict naval
discipline is maintained. The naval officer has gen.
orally little idea OF economy IN the management Of his
command Tho government has heretofore footed all
the bills OF his ship and the practice of economy
disbursement is unknown 10 him.
The naval officer iurlough, receiving pay from the
government and company simultaneously, Is not ac-
pany employing him.
Having lite position, Independent OF his temporary
command, he cares little, beyond fulfilling the mmedi
ate duties that his limited experience has acquainted
him with, and breach OF discipline neglect o. duty
has no serious results In his case.
The officers holding high rank In navy do net
want merchant commands IL Is generally .junior
officers Of the service, who, by political other inu
aside from their adaptnbility obtain such com
mands aud they generally nre very Incompetent, ex
cept in theoretical navigation, In which they fre-
quently excel
Many other points might be raised 10 support our
argument; but the few euumernted arc so palpable
tnat more appear necessary. We NAV, however,
namo rank injustice tEe want OF appreciation the
bitter Of neglect which ranklc in the heart
OF cvery faithful commander and officer OF tho COM
pany, who cannot but that under the present
management long and enicient service, untarnished
reputation and thorough scamanship, count for
nothing and that other mon, already Supported by the
government are hkely 10 supcrscde them ana deprive
them OF the Of support that they acquired
by years OF hard labor and attentive experienced Our
navy has its deserved iaurcls, and II will not add
thereto by detachne It's JUNIOR officers that they may
command merchant vessels and thereby draw double
pay ,.a,~,.n..
and tried commanders, many OF whom have been IN
the service OF tho Pacific Mall Steamship pany Tor
quarter of q century; but we do claim the right TO
strongly protest, In the name OF justice,
we'll as IN behalf OF the mercantile interests OF tho Pa
elc coast against the displacement OF these faithful
and experienced officers