Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-26
THE NAVY.
PRovIsIoNs OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL As
IT PASSED THE HousE.

WARRINGTON, January zo.-Ihe naval
appropriation bill as it passed the E,g,
Gchasuges the title OF the grade OF midship-
man to that Of ensign and master to lieu
tenant, and frevides that present midship-
men and masters shall constitute junior
grade eusigns and junior grade ieutensnts.
In the pay corps there shall be no more
original appointments. Promotions may be
m sde according TO existing regulations from
those remaining in the corps. Officers in
line shall be detailed to perform the duties
of psymasters, but such officers shall not be
entitled 10 increased com pensation therefor.
The examination of officers for promotion
will be conducted in writing.
On the subject OF promotion the bill con.
taius the following provisos That hereafter
all Vacancies which shall occur in the vari-
GUS grades of line or staff shall be filed BY
promotion, as follows: For each two vacsn.
cits there shall be one promotion In each OF
the lower grades until such ade shall be
reduced below the numbers fixed by the pro-
visions Of the act OF August 5, 1882.
The provision abolishing the grade Of COM
modere is as follows. The grade of COM
modore Is abolished, but present comnioaores
will not be disturbed thereby. Promotions
to the rank Of rear admiral will be made
from commodore and captain. All officers
ohail NC CIcuittu Win tuc uctudl llhe served
as officers 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 in the same manner as if all said
service had been continuous and in the reg
ular navy in the lowest grade, having grads
ated pay held by such officer since last en-
tering service; provided that nothing in this
clause shall be so construed as to authorize
any change in the dates of commission or in
the relative rank of such officers.
The President is authorized TO appoint q
board of officers to inquire and report to
Congress which government hayward or
arsenal ia best adapted for the establishment
of foundry for the manufacture of army
and navy ordnance.
The bill also provides that no part of the
sum appropriated for the bureau of con-
struction aud repairs shall be applied to
the repairs of any wooden ship when the
estimated cost OF such repairs shall exceed
thirty per cent. OF the estimated cost of a new
ship of the same size and like material.
The clauses of the bill for the building of
the double-urreted monitors and cruisers,
etc, were incorporated in the dispatches
Wednesday night.
The bill provides that the appointment of
naval cadets shall be made by the Academic
Board of the Naval Academy in the order
of merit and upon such tests as shall be de-
termined by said board, and to be BY il
applied at the conclusion of a six years
course. Hereafter no officer OF the navy
shall be employed on any shore duty unless
the Secretary of the Navy shall determine
that the employment of the officer isrequired
by the public interests.
The last item of general legislation in the
bill is az follows: Any pay.director, pay.in-
spector, paym aster, assist ant paymaster, pay
m asters' clerks, or other officer or person
who shall purchase or pay for any stores,
supplies, or any property whatever for the
use of or on account of the navy, navy vess.l
or bureau, who shall be offered any discount
on the price thereof for cash, or as inducs-
ment for the purchase thereof, or for any
other reason whatever, shall account therefor
aud charge himself Herewith in the settle
ment Of his accounts; and any such officer
or person who shall wIlfully fail 30 to do, or
who shall accept any present or gratuity of
any kind or value whatever on account of or
by reason of any purchase or payment made
by him aforesaid, shall Oh conviction thereof
be dismissed from the service and imprisoned
for not less than one nor more than ten
years, and fined not less than 800 nor more
than $4,000.