New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-13
PROPOSED NAVY REORGANIZATION.

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY CONMENDs THE
SPIRIT OF THE ROLLINS AMENDMENT AND sUG-
GEsIs SOME IMPROVEMENTS
TBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE rRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON. Feb. IA few days ago Senator
Rollins introduced au amendment to the Naval Ap-
preparation BILL directing the President to appoint
a board of naval officers to scrutinize the present
actiy. list of the Navy and select rear admlrals
10 commodores 40 captains, so commanders 20
lieutenant commanders, 240 leutenants, 20 mas
ters aud 20 ensgDs; 10 medical directors 10 medi-
cal inspectors, 40 surgeons SO assistant and passed.
assistant surgeons day directors ray inspectors,
30 paysaasters passed d-assistant psymasers, and
chief engineers with the relative rank Of captain,
10 chief engineers with the relative rank OF COM
mander. 40 chief engineers with the relative rank
of lieuter ant commander or Lieutenant, ana ID
passed assistant engineers and 30 assistant engi-
ueers. with the relative rank for each as now fixed
by law TO be retained the active list OF the Navy,
aud providing that all others now on the active list
shall ne considered supernunerafy, with leave OF
absence and not entitled to promotion, but subject
10 be ordered to service with the Ircper pay OF their
urade only in time of war; day or two after ths
introduction of this amendment Seuator Rollins
wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, asking how
great n saving would be effected If tho amendment
,hould become law and asking for any suggestions
which the Secretary might wish to make.
The Sc retary has been giving the matter his at
tentlon. and has decided upon form of reply which
will prove interesting to a large nnmber of navai
officers who have duties at present to perform.
He has caused table to be made. which shows that
the saving which would result from the passage OF
the Rollins amendment would be q little more than
5000. 900. The Secretary heartily approves the
sprit. and purpose of the amendment bat thinks
that il may be improve cd in of its details The
Secretary will suggest that the proposed list DO
amended by adding to some grades and taking from
others II his suggestions are adopted there VIII DO
placed upon the supernumerary list rcar-admrais'
l3 commOdores, captains commanders, lo lieu-
teuant-commanders, 36 eutenants. 23 masters
., ensign,, 3 medical directors. medical lnspect'
ors surgeons Passed-assstant and assistant sur
geons, pay directors, pay inspectors ID paymas-
ters. i5 passed assistant paymasters, lo ASSISTANT
lawmakers chief engineers with the rank Oh cap
tain ) chef engineers with The rank OF commander
a. pas,ed assistant engineers 80 assistantengneers
~ cbaplains. professors OF mathematics - na'a'
constructors two assistant naval construc-
Zoo, ? c,vii engineers, 13 Loktswains. 20
on,ners "a carpenters, II sailmakcrs. 3S mates
ualins total of 446 officers, with an annual sav-
ing of 81 200
The Secretary Furthermore favored provision
retring all officers at tue age OF sixty-two years.
irrespective OF rank Under the present law the arc
not retired ON account Of age until they reacn .no
rads of comm snder The Secretary says that III tne
Navy ia TO be reduced this amenduent oiiors
nrompt practical aud efficient way OF making the
rsduction. and that nv it the saving OF money De-
Gins at once. Its adoption he believes will take
trom the active list of the Navy only those officers
who are now practically supernuneraries because
there arc no ships for them to serve upon. and hs
believes 1t i'll inspire zeal the part Of those
who are retained for active service and result in real
good to the naval establishment. The Secretary
saws that his observation Of the condition CT tho
naval service convInces him that somc such REFORM
atory legislation that proposed by senator hohs
"a required for the public welfare. The total st OK
officers Oh the active list ON July /. 1882, wase
on sea daty, receiving $l,SsO,00O; Gil on snofo
dutv receiying 81 50S 200. .230 on waiting oruo''
%. sv,ny s378 400 "a officers OF the Marine Corps
.ao.;,,,, s174 O4O. and vn the retired list. Jul
-, of,csr. receiying $7O3, $50; aud l3 oiiccfs
g a.. M.r,ne Corps, receiving S2o,sos, makinga
..sI - 6 oOs officers receiving annually $i''Zs,-
~" Tn. SECRETARY says he 10 are that II VIII
,,r. .,,onp conviction and great hrinness 10 sus-
-, .,v nerson who shall undertake to lessen the
"-;.;I.gos and omolumeuts of this great military
in connection with our tfirty'one
ali f,.bonei ships and 264 inferior guns, and sO0o
.usn INIT the work is a public duty, the perform
ance nf which he will cease TO reccnmen1. III
anv event the Secretary says he hopes that tnels
will be no repeal OF any OF the reiormatofy ieS'~
tion uf last year. . .no,ta
IL was wisely decided then that the navy snop.a
not he enlarged by the addition OF si'eo on''e' ""
voud the 2US then In the service o,.. .,a
there are, he says many more naVsi o"'o'''' '~