Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-26
The Naval Appropriation Bill
Patched and Passed by
the House.
Synopsis of the Most Import
ant Provisions of the Bill.
Search For tho Proceeds OF Rcd
Clouds C~onhscated Ponies.
Congressional Bulogies on the Late
Senator Hill.
THE NAV Y.
Special Dispatch to TnE BEE,

special DlsphtCn 10 LII DEB
TEXT OF THE BILL PASSED BY II HOUSE
WASHINGTON, January % - The
naval appropriation bill as it passed
the house, changes the title of the
grade of midsh!pman to that Of en-.
sign, and master to lieutenant, and
provides that the present msdshipmen
aud masters shall constitute the junior
grade of ensign aud Junior grade of
l%ieutenants. In pay corps there shall
be no more original appointments,
promotions may be made according to
existing regulations f;om those re
naming in the oorpS. Officers in line
shall be detailed to perform the duties
of paymasters, but such officers shall
not be entitled TO increased compensa.
ton therefor. Examination tf officers
for promotion shall bs conducted in
writing. On the subject of promotion
the bill contains the following proviso:
"That hereafter all vacancies which
shall occur In the various grades Of
line or staff shall be filed by promo.
tim as follows; For each two vacan.
there shall be n promotion in each
of the lower grades until such grade
shall BIS reduced below the number
fixed by the provisions of the act of
August 5;h, 1882. The grade Of com-
modore is abolished, but the present
commodore shall not be disturbed
thereby. Promotions to the rank of
rear admiral shall be made from com.
modore and captain. All ofi ,ers shall
be credited with actual time served az
fiji ,ers or enlisted men In the regular
or volunteer army or navy, or both,
and shall receive all benefits of such
actual service in all respects la
the same II as If all said
service had been continuous, and
provided nothing in this clause shall
be 80 construed as to authorize any
change of dates in commissions or Ia
the relative rank Of such officers. The
president ia authorized. to appoint a
board of eff GERS to inquire and report
to congress which government navy
yard is best adapted for the establish.
ment of a foundry for the manufac.
ture of amy and navy ordnance. The
bill also provides that no part of the
sum appropriated for tho bureau Of
construction and repair shall be sp.
piled to repairs of any wooden ship
when the estimated oost of such 70
pairs shall exceed so per cent of the
estimated cost Ct q new ship Of the
same size and like material. The
clauses of the bill for building double
turreted monitors and cruisers, etc.
were incorporated In the dispatches
Wednesday.
The bill provides that the appoint,
ment of naval cadets shall b. made BY
the academy board of the naval acad.
envy In the order of merit, upon such
tests as shall be determined by said
board. Hereafter no officer of tn,
navy shall be employed on any shar,
duty unless the secretary of the navy
shall determine the appointment O.
the officer is required by public inter
ests. The last item Ct general legis
lation In the bill Is the following
ANY pay director, pay inspector
paymaster, past assistant paymaster
paymaster's clerk, or other officer OF
person who shall purchase or pay fol
. any stores, supplies, OF any propert!
whatever, for the use of, or on &C
count of the navy, naval vessel, OIL
bureau, and who shall be Offered
any discount on the prio thereof fol
cash or as an inducement for the pur
chase thereof, or for any other reason
whatever, shall account therefor anl
charge himse lf Herewith In the settle
ment of his account; If any sucl
! offs r or person shall wilfully fail t.
so do or shall accept any present o.
gratuity of any kind or value, what
! ever, on account of or by reason o
: any purchase or payment made b.
|, him, as aforesaid, shall, on conviction
I thereof, be dismissed from thu servic'
and imprisoned not less than one no
more than 10 years, and fined not les
> than 500 nor more than $1,000.