New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-04
RANK IN THE NAVY.
COMMODORE HANsCOM MERELY NAVAL CON-
sTRUCTuR-TITIEs THAT PROPERLY BELONG TO

STRUCTUR-TITLES THAT PROPERLY BELOND ~
LINE OFFICERS
TO the EdttOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your interesting report this morn
ing of the testimony before Mr.. Wiss Subcommittee ON
Naval Affairs you style Mr. Isaiah HsnscOm, Chief OF the
Bureau OF Construction In the Navy Department Com
nodore Uanseom. There IS probably no naNai ute NJ
well known 10 counrymcn at large as commodore,
and the impression is likely to prevail that II Is one OF
that honOred service who has be forced to make tae
mortifyng admission that he wrote t. the Conmandant
OF tho Boston Yard private note directing him to take
on men, "a they may be required The Administration
desires the election of GOoch and Frost 1t seems only
right that you should such error Mr. Hans
com Is not a commodore ana is not entitled 10 De
called so. He simply Dava constructor, CIVILIAN
who has never made naval cruise IN his long nie
but being at the head Of bureau in
Washington Congress It's wisdom has given him the
"reative rank Of commodore, which means that ne u
entitled 60 the Difference ana precedence ID courts
martial and funerals etc, as commodore III the navy
Had the full correspondence been upusled your leautIH
would have seen how this commodore o. ater Tiltng
the note referred to, subsequently sent an Oical lete
& the true commodore demanding by what authority the
increase OF had been made, ana how thoroughly
the seaman yndlcated himself showing the efforts &c
had mad t. secure purity aud economy "Hich were
tlIwuIteG by some outside influence ..-
This coupling OF title belon-mgp operly TO tLe MAYA
limo officer with dirty action VIII lerlas endsj ne
sympathy your readers win the strong dls
cmdtiOn the line have to soeng legal authority give"
Tor the stan to assume their titles fls Mort te
sal is now maEing Had theI hueftSeu Ihr t . o
would have had The modification of seeing Tue In-
trial for defacitlon, ana tle WVilu Moulu not nay
known it was payinaster There Is no re ION oI S'
ing constructors, ayr mas and doctors comhou1re
cOmmandcr," or icuteninL' As yet II has no. been
authorized oy law The effect OF sIcn action w9l sen
on the shoulders OF the line. LINE OFFICER
Aec lOyk, Feb. 10, 1876.
TRY it the other way. The action which A Line
Officer breads would be just as likely to throw ali
tine dirty actions of all the other corps on the
shoulders of the stat. How would the Doctors and
Engineers like thati-Ldl
TIE COST OF QUARANTINE SERVICE.
LARGE ICES RECEIVED by TEE HEALTH OFFICER
co or FUMIGAIING v ssELS-THE PROPOSAL
OF THE QUARANTINE COM&ussIoS TO REDUCE
EXPrNsEs.
TO the BdttOr OF The Tribune
SIE: Ia your alluSiOn to the annual report
Of the Commissioners of Quarantine yOu speak o. the
variance of vi between the Commissioners and the
Health officer ga quarrel" VIII you permit me to
suggest that this is error There Is no quarrel. To
describe il "a such belittes important question Of
legislation It Ia simply difference Of opininn as to
what calculated promote the public interests
No doubt tho Health officer m his attempt to grasp unre
srlcted authority and unlimited pnwer. while retaining
firm hold upOa enormous revenues, IA actuaed by the
anne motives that prompted oar recommendation 70
make quaran inc self -sus ainiug-a desire Ia Sc
cure more economical administration OF affairs
The issue is simply this:
Quarantine il established for the protection OF public
health by preventing the spread Of contagious diseases
from vessels arriving at the port Of New-York tn"
theory Is that the expense uf this establishment is de-
frayed by the arriving vessels, which pay the Health
Officer for his Wis taon fees, established in 1920.
when the arrivals were comparatively inireqncn The
fccs have grown entirely ont OF PREPARATION to the
service performed and propose that the State shall
aupropratc this tax upon vessels for quar- ntnc pur
,Scs To the ere aud nantrnauc" OF the quarantine
tahlisbmcnt The receipts will dcray all the expenses.
,ciuling salaries ana repairs, estimating that the Health
Oncer should receive moderate salary OF say $4,000
$4,000 per annunl. with the usr of hnWp'nou-
official residence, acquired 10y Toe STATE I"'
ears ago "a = cost ~ about 100000. 4 instance
~ the fiilug n1tur. the differences ~ opuion ti
exist, mention incidentally althuush har y WORTHY
fumigatug. which r. matter uf husiucss ouistc 81 the
3. cs Tor boarding, winch are fytd 10y law The chare
f0r Z mlga.n NJ Oce q sc (Which are subjected to
ihe ordeal whether II 5rfsc exists or nt j. 500
ror each turn,gltyn The fplowug tsiimOny "i
Dr. Theodore WibleT. Assistant Hca "a Omc'r, gwen
fore the Legislative tonmit -" l~'2, ii 'WH ~, c'7,
Is 0rtl T.. ~ fUu SSH s. II
may Tor 10 10 - cents; 1t depend altogether
g. iGow many men it. takci A. Que can iumgae
O. Al m cvucnsc Of l0cens dayi A. Yes Sir II Is don"
uvtarc q -a't ''cs ovvd oi r'refne.e a'd snrh
with pat nt" each plate o. an thns iha We
have got 10 doit a.. -
Iu Investment OF 10 cents, H., 10 'i'.' duH Times. %
rOrGnHItr 30 the business Mss; ana we tteitl"'f
recommend the & 10 TX by law the Zee or luu-
For ii.,s din .rtiCCs 81 between ldt
rIirgn tp 4 gmissinucrs and Health Ofir'r, ihe
Quarantine C0Hiss, rs recommend tnat Use res ne
reduced, and Health O.iccr De III De "A sdarird '4
That the Quarantine COmnissOn nc abolished and GA
continue t. absorb tic rev nues ns lrfei ur bhl
there is no quarrel Truly y9ur' WI l. y, SItAEs,
Pre-. dent Quarantine Commission
keuC- York Feb. i, 1876.