The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-02-03
rhe mOuse NavaI ApproprlatIon RIr.


WASHINGTON. Jarrary *
The Naval Appropriation hill, as II passed
the House. changes the title and grade Of Mid
shipmgn TO. that of Ensign. and Master TO
Lieutenant and provides that the present
Midshipmen and Masters shall constitute "A
junior grade OF Ensign and junior grade OF
Lieutenant. In the Pay Corps there shall be
more or ginsl appointments. Promotions
may be mad according TO existing regulations
from those remaining in the corps Officers in
the line ehall be detailed 10 perform the duties
of Paymastcrs, but such officers shall not be
entitled To increased compensation therefor.
The examination OF officers for promotion
shall be conducted in writing.
On the subject of promotion the bill con
tains the following provso
THAT hereafter all vacancies which shall
ocrurdn the various grades of line or staff
snail lie hlled bS pr motion rs follows: For
each two vacancies there shall b. one promo
ton in each of the lower GRADES until such
grade shall be reduced below the numbers
| 8, 1872
The provision abolishing the grade of Com
modore is as follows;
THE grade of Commodore is abolished hut
| the present Commodores shall nor be dis
turbed thereby. Promot ons to the rank of
| Rear dmiral shall be made from Comm dor
| ant Captain. All officers shall be credited
| with the actual time served rs officers or en-
! listed men in the regular or volunteer army
| or navy, or both, and SHAH receive all the
! benefits of such actunl service IN all respects
| in the same manner rs If all the said service
| had been continuous, and in the regular navy
| IN the low st grade having graduated pay
| held by such officer since last entering the
| service. Provided, nothing i'm III $ clause shall
| be 50 construed as to authorize any chan2e
| in tie dates of commission or in the relative
| rank of such officers "
The President is authorized to appoint a
Board of Officers to inquire into and report to
| Congress which Government navy-yard or
arsenal is best adapted for the establishment
of a foundry for the manufacture of army and
navy ordnance.
The bill also provides that no part of the sum
| appropriated for Bureau of Construction
and Repair shall be applied 10 the repair OF
any wooden ships when the estimated cost of
such repairs shall exceed hirty per cent. of
the estimated cost of new ship of the same
size and like material.
The clauses of the bill for building double
| turret monitors an cruisers are as follows:
The money is TO be applied ny the Secreta-
ry of the Navy under the appro pirate bureau
| for completing. i'm accordance with the recon-
mendatiOns of the Naval Advis Try Board, the
| engines and MAJ hinery of the double-tureted
| iron-clad which said board may adv Sc to be
| first completed in tn" Government navy-yards,
| under direction of the Navy Department, by
officers and employees OF the Government, and
not by contractors: provided, he can do the
work of the same quality in the .vy-yards as
cheaply and thoroughly, and with Gs much adj
vantage to the Government; and provided, if
he shall not decide to do III S work in the navy
yards of the United States he shall then invite
proposals from all American shpbuilders
whose shipyards are fully equipped for
pairing or building iron or steel ships and
for the constru crion of engines, boilers
and machinery, and shall build the same
by new contract or Otherwise, as the Secre-
tary may think best for the interest of the
Government, but the execution of no
new contract shall be entered upon for The
completion of either of tn Sc vessels until the
terms thereof shall be approved by the Adj
visory Board, who shall approve only such
contracts "a may be to the best advantage OF
the Government, and fair and re sonable, aC-
cording to the lowest market pr CO for similar
work from responsible and competent bidders
and at a total cost not to exceed the amounts
estimated by the Advisory Board, in its fun
report, required by the act of August 8, lSs2;
and the Secretary of the Navy shall take pos
session of the doube-turreted ironclads and
If he thinks best remove the same to the Gov
| eminent navy-yards. and he shall ascertain
the amounts which ought to be paid to the con-
tractors severally for the use and occupation
of their yards with said sh ps, and for the care
thereof, and report the same to Congress with
ali facts in connection herewith"
The bill provides that the appointment of
naval cadets shall be made by the Academic
Board of the Naval Academy in the order of
merit, upon such tests as shall be determined
by said board, and to be applied at the concur
sion of six years course.
Hereafter no officer of the navy shall be en-.
ployed on any shore duty unless the Secretary
of the Navy shall determine the employment
of the officer is required b. the public inter-
ests.
If any officer or person shall accept any
present or gratuity OF any kind or value what
ever on account of or by reason o any pur-
chfse or payment made by him. as aforesaid,
! he shall on conviction thereof be dismissed
from service and imprisoned not less than one
nor more than ten years, and lined not less
than SlC0 nor more than $4,000