The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-10
The Cadet Engineers.

The Cadet Engineers.
Tho dispute between Secretary CHANDLER
and the cadet engineers has some singular
features. Congress, in the act approved Aug.
8, 1882, undertook to provide for the gradual
reduction of the line officers Of the navy by
lis and of the Engineer Corps by 100; and In
order to aid this scheme Of reduction 1t fur
Their directed that about 100 cadet midship-
men and about 80 cadet engineers should be
dismissed to civil life. Such, at least, was the
intention of Congress, as deduced by the
Navy Department from q perusal OF the act.
But forty-six cadet engineers who had been
graduated at the Naval Academy, and had
not completed the subsequent two years
course, found reason, in the language OF
the statute. for believing that the pro-
vision for dismissal did not apply to them,
and In the test sui. Of HENRY G. LEOPOLD
against the United States they brought their
case before the Court OF Claims. This suit
was begun on the 10th Of March last, argued
on the 9th OF April, and, to use the language
OF Mr.. CHANDLER, against the wish Of the
department, hurried to decision " on the
could not lawfully be discharged under the
".
ground that the Secretary's Interpretation
OF tho language Of the act was erroneous and
would be unjust in Its operation.
As soon as the decision Of the Court was
made known, those Of the cadet engineers to
whom 1t applied. whose final examination at
the end Of the two years subsequent to what
ls known as their graduation 1881 had been
suspended, were notified to report forthwith
ct Annapolis and resume this final examine
ton. The next day, however, Mr.. CHANDLER
requested Attorney-General BREWSTER to
move that the case should be reopened in the
Court of Claims; first, for the admission OF
further evidence in behalf OF the Govern
ment, and, secondly. for a rehearing upon
the question Of law involved. This motion
was made in the Court on Friday.
The Sccretarys complaint OF undue haste
on the part of the Court Of Claims in taking
up this matter does not seem to DO we'll
founded. He says that the case was crushed
to Judgment solely to Assist In the introduce
ton into the service OF about forty officers
declared by Congress to be unnecessary"
There is no doubt that these officers and a
good many more IRE unnecessary But at
least they have a right to know, definitely
and promptly, what is to become OF them.
II they still have naval career in prospect,
they want to know it; and II they have been
legislated into civil life, they want to know
that 1t happened that the final examina-
lions OF those who graduated In 1881 were
due, as we have seen, In the latter half Of
May. Instead, therefore. OF its being a re-
prOach, the celebrity Of the Court in hear
ing and determining the case was cred
table. provided that no other suitors
suffered and the consideration Of tho case
was deliberate.
No suitors have complained, and Mr.
CHANDLER himself undoubtedly would find
no evidence OF undue haste had the decision
boon in his favor. The time from tho 9th
OF April to the l4th Of May was ample
for court to determine the question
for the immediate purposes OF that suit,
since the whole matter was simply one OF
Interpretation OF single clause in IN act
OF Congress Not to go into the merits OF
the matter, or the elaborate arguments, the
case turned largely on the meaning of the
words graduates" and undergraduates u
a. applied in the act to cadets. under the pc.
culiar system OF the regular course and
the supplementary course just indicated.
On the other hand. there was some reason
for Mr.. CHANpLER's disgust, In the turn the
case has taken. The needless overcrowding
OF tho navy with officers has been for years
apublic disgrace and an outrage on the peo.
pie. 1t is to Mr. CHANDELIERS credit that
departing from the custom Of his predeces.
sors In Office who had nourished this growth,
he determined to apply the pruning knife
Against vigorous opposition he succeeded In
getting Congress to consent to about half the
reductions he proposed, and he now finds @
large part OF his work threatened with multi
hcation through a statute admitted TO bt
loosely drawn Mr.. LEoPoLD's claim was
for $3.50 only; but according to Mr.. CHAN
DLER the pay Of all the officers involved fol
the first year will amount to about $40, 900
and In the course Of years will take ovel
$1,000. 900 from the Treasury" The matter
therefore, becomes one Of much pecuniary
Importance, apart from the public interest
that scheme VI reduction should not bt
fOlled. In needlessly discouRteous refcc
ton on the tribunal that decided the case as
committing plain errors Of fact and law,
Mr.. CHANDLER wrote to Mr.. BREWSTER Al
follows:
Tho Court Of Claim now appear to decide that, Will
Congress toward accomplishing the reduction Of III
iRs ocers has actually dismissed the 40 cadet mid
shipmen has toyard the accomplishment Of the re
ascsion Of the 100 sinssr directly sddsd to the nav.
- cadet engineer who are 10 BE- commissioned
asssss sasisssrs ]" the hasss Of lsssAtsa csasrss