Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 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 Conflscated Ponies.
Congressional Bulogies on the Late
Senator Hill.
THE NAVY,
Special Dispatch to TnE BEs.

special DlsphtCn 10 lHb DEB
TEXT OF THE BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, January 20 - 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
lieutenants. In pay corps there shall
be no more original appointments,
promotions may bs made according TO
existing regulations f;om those re
manning in the oorpS. Officers in line
shall be detailed to perform the 6uties
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.
ti,n as follows; For each two vacan.
there shall be one promotion in each
of the lower grades until such grade
shall bs 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 eff jers 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 Ia
the same manner 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 ofiicers. The
president ia authorized. to appoint a
board of officers to inquire and report
to congress which government navy
yard is best adapted for the establish.
ment of 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 cont of the
estimated cost Ct 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 dispatchel
Wednesday. igt
The bill provides that the appoint
ment of naval cadets shall be made BY
the academy board of the naval acad
emy 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 of 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, or any propert!
whatever, for the use of, or on &C
count of the navy, naval vessel, ol
bureau, and who shall be Offered
any discount on the pric thereof fol
cash or as an inducement for the pur
chase thereof, or for any other reason
whatever, shall account therefor anl
, charge himself Herewith In the settle
ment of his account; If any sucl
officer or person shall wilfully fall 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
thereof, be dismissed from TIN servic,
and imprisoned not less than one no
more than 10 years, and fined not les
than 500 nor more than $1,000.