The Portland daily press., 1883-01-26
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
Abstract Of the Measure Passed by Con-
Rress.

| Rr6SS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The naval appro-
priation bill as it passed the House changes
| the title of the grade of midshipman to tfat
| OF ensign, and that of master to that of lien
tenant, and provides that midshipmen and
masters now on the list shall constitute a inn
] ior grade of eDsighs and junior grade of lien.
| tenants respectively.
The provision in regard to pay corps of the ma
| Wy is that whenever vacancies occur in said
corps tDere shall be no original appointments to
| MI sucn vacancies, but promotions may be made
according to existing regulations from those
remaining in said corps. Officers in line shall
De detailed to perform the duties of pavmas-
ters under the same rules and regulations as
are now required of paymasters, but such Off
GERS shall not be entitled to increased compen-
sation In consequence of performing such du-
ties.
The bill also provides that the various boards
constituted and provided by law for the ex-
animation (other than physical) of officers of
the navy for promotion to higher grade in
the service shall conduct such examination as
iar as may be in writing and make record
thereof and certify the same and their conclu-
sions thereon under their hands and upon their
honor. They shall prosecute and carry on
such examination strictly in all branches and
requirements necessary to the discharge OF du-
ties OF higher grade and particularly as to pro-
sesslonai ntness OF ofiicer examined to per
form all duties at sea.
On the subject OF promotion the bill contains
the following proviso: THAT hereafter all va
canc.ss which occur in the various grades Of
iine or staff OF the navy shall be filled by pro-
motion as follows: For each two vacancies
there shall be one promotion in each OF the
lover grades until such grade shall be reduced
below the namber fixed by the provisions of
the act OF August 10, 1882"
The provision abolishibg the grade Of commo-
dore is as follows: Provided that hereafter pro-
motion to the grade Of rear admiral on the act
i've list shall be from grades of commodore and
Captains according to seniority and under the
regulations now provided by law, and no more
promotions to the grade of commodore shall be
made, that grade being hereby abolished: |:
provided, however, no commodore now i'm SER
wee Shall be reduced in rank or be deprived OF
bis zion by reason OF this act"
All the officers Of the navy shall be credited
Wild actual time they may have served as Off
GERS or ehlisted men IN the regular or volun.
teer army or navy or both, and shall receive all
Dement'S OF such actual service in all respects in
the same manner as if all said service had
Deen continuous and in the regular navy in
me lowest grade having graduated pay held
oy such. omcer since last entering the service;
provided nothing in this clause shall be con-
sru as to authorize any char ge in dates Of
commission or ia relative rank Of snch officers.
Ihe President is authorized to select from
the army and navy five officers who shall con-
stitute board for the purpose of examining
and reporting to Congress which of the navy
yards or arsenals owned by the government
mas the best location and Is best adopted for
the establishment OF government foundry for
the manufacture of ordnance adapted to mod
ern warfare for the use of the army and navy
Oh the United States, the cost of all buildings,
tools and implements necessary to be used in
the manufacture of them including the cost of
steam hammer of sufficient size for the man
uiacture OF the heaviest guns; and the Presi-
aent is further requested to report to Congress
the hndiDg OF said board at as early date as
possible; provided no extra compensation shall
o. PAID the officers serving on the board hereby
created; and the secretary Of the navy is an-
tnorlzed and empowered at his discretion to
constitute and introduce as q portion of the
equipment of the navy the life saving dress
adopted and approved by the life saving SER
vice of the United States.
Bill provides that no part OF the sum appro-
prlated for the bureau of construction and re-
pAir snail % applied to repairs of any wooden
snil when the estimated cost of such repairs
shall exceed 30 per cent of the estimated cost
OF new ship OF the same size aud like mata-
rial; provided further nothing herein contained
Shall deprive the Secretary of the Navy of
authority to order repairs of ships damaged in
foreign waters on the high seas as far as may
be necessary to bring them home.
Inc clause relative to the completion of
double turretted monitors is as follows: To be
applied by the Secretary of the Navy under
appropriate bureaus for completing in accor-
dance, with recommendation of the naval ad-
vlsory boards, engines and machinery of the
double turretted iron clad which said board
may advise to be first completediin the govern
ment navy yards under direction of the navy
departments by officers and employees of the
government and not by contractors; provided
ne Can do the work of the same quality in the
navy yards as cheaply and thoroughly, and
with as much advantage To the government;
ana provided II be shall not decide to do this
work IN the navy yards of the United States he
shall then invite proposals from all American
shipbuiiders whose shipyards are fully equipped
for repairing or building iron Or steel ships and
from constructors OF engines, boilers and ma
chinery, and shall build the same by new con-
tract or otherwise, as the Secretary may think
best for the Interests of the Government,
$3.50 600; but the execution of no contract
shall be entered upon for the completion of
either OF these vessels until the terms thereof
shall be approved by the advisory board, who
shall approve only such contracts as may be to
the best advantage of the Government; and
fair and reasonable according to the lowest
market price for similar work from responsible
and competent builders, and at total cost not
10 exceed the amount estimated by the advis-
ory board In its full report required by act of
August 5, 1882. And the Secretary of the
Navy shall take possession of the double tur-
ret'ed iron clads, and, If he thinks best, re-
move the same to the Government navy yards,
and he shall ascertain the amounts which ought
to be paid the contractors severally for the use
and occupation Of their yards with said ships,
and for the care thereof. and report the same
" OObSrtsS WIFI all inc I&CLS IN connection
herewith
The clause in the bill for the construction of
the new cruisers is as follows:
For construction OF steel cruisers Of not less
thai 1900 tons displacement now specially
authorized by law; two steel cruisers of not
more than 5000 nor less than 2500 tons dis
placement eacn, and one dispai ch boat as RS
commended by the naval advisory board in its
report of Dec. 20, 1882, 81, 800, ,OO0 and for the
construction OF all which the Secretary of the
Navy shall invite proposals from all American
ship6uider5 whose ship yards are fully equip
ped for building and repairing iron and steel
ships, and constructors Of engines, machinery
and boilers, and the Secretary of the Navy is
authorized to construct said vessels at the fatal
cost for each not exceeding the amount es-
timaied by the naval advisory board in said
report, the same to be built by aud under con-
tract with the lowest and best responsible bid
der or bidders made after at least 60 days ad-
vertisemeDt published in five leading news
papers OF the United States, inviting proposals
tor constructing said vessels, subject to all
such rules aud regulations, superintendepce
eud Prauislons as TO bonds aud securities for
que Completion of work as the Secretary of
The Navy shall prescribe; and no such vessel
shall be accepted unless completed in
strict conformity with the contract with
the advice and assistance of the naval advis-
ory board and in all respects in accordance
with the provisions of the act of Aug. 8, 1882,
except as they are hereby modified. And au-
at once and the Secretary of the Navy may in
addition to the appropri ton hereby made APP
ply to the Constructing and finishing of the
vessels In TINS Clause referred to any balance
OF the appropriation made to the bureaus of
construction and iepair and steam engineer
ing for the current hscal year. or in the present
act which may remain available for that uur-
pose provided he shall utilize the national
navy yards with machinevy, tools and appli-
ances belonging to the government therein
used in building of said shipser any parts there
OF as fully and to as great exteut as the same
can be done with advantage to the government
The bill provides that the appointment of
naval cadets provided for by the act of Aug.
5, 1882, shall be made by the academic board
of the naval academy in order of merit upon
such tests as shall be determined by said
board and to DO by it applied at coaclusion
of their six years course.
The second section of the bill provides that
hereafter no officer of the navy shall bs en-
ployed on any shore duty unless the Secretary
of the Navy shall determine that the employ
ment of of officer on such duty is required by I
tue public interests and shall himself so state
In the order OF employment, and also the dr,
ration of such service beyond which time it
shall not continue.
The last item of general legislation in che
bill is the following:
House, Mr. Knott of Kentucky demanded the
readins Of the bill, and the question was put
"Shall the bill be read?" II was decided in