Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-18
WHAT THE PRESIDENT CAN DO.
How Far His Control rs COMMANDMENT.
Chief Over Aemv md Navy ExfAnds.

How Far His Control rs C0mmander.in.
Chief Over Army and Navy Extends.
The President OF the United States il made
By the Constitution commander-in- chief Of the
army and navy. Curiously enough his control
over one branch Of the service and over the
other differs materially. So far a. the navy 10
concerned he has comparatively little execu-
tive authority, while his power in army mat
tiers 10 not to be sneeEed at For example, he
is able, 90 long as,the Senate does not object,
to take any fresh graduate from West Point
and make him the general Of the army. In
fact, with this condition granted, he can turn
Gen. Schofeld out Of his place Of command,
drop him from the list altogether and replace
him with whomever he chooses. Indeed, more,
implying no contradiction from the upper
house in Congress, he has the power to take
any private in the army and make him the
general.
Tho law in this regard seems to be very
curious one, inasmuch as no like power is
vested in the President with relation to the
navy. MIR. Harrison, however willing the Sem
ate might be, could not take u sailor in the
service and make him an admiral Neither
could no promote q midshipman just ont OF
Annapolis to such q position. Nor would it be
possible for him to advance to the dignity even
a captain. For 1t is only the senior commodore
on the regular list who can legally become an
admiral. and throughout the entire navy pro-
motions must follow this invariable rule Of
seniority.
NAVAL ADVANTAGE.
/ That Is one advantage possessed by the navy
over the army. midshipman entering the
service at given age has the absolute and
comforting assurance that, with reasonable
good conduct, he must arrive at q certain time
IN the future, supposing that he survives, at a
dennite rank. II he is graduated with high
rank III his class, he may count upon being at
tho head Of the service before he IL retired, as
II we're more matter Of mathematical cal
culation.
On the other hand, after the grade Of colonel
in the army has been reached, appointments
are made BY the choice Of the President, only
restricted by the Senate's Endorsement Greedy
was made brlgadier general over the heads Of
= considerable number of those atop Of him on
the list In like manner the Chief Executive
turns things about as he desires beyond the
rank OF the colonies, though he usually picks
out Tor preferment the men whom he con-
siders best qualified for command But it will
be seen that the young soldier in the line has
no certainty to anticipate such as is held BY
the junior naval lieutenant from the start
THE SUPREME courts DECISION.
1t has been maintained in contention that
has been carried as far 40 the Supreme Court
that the President is granted authority by the
Constitution to appoint anybody to any place,
though he should choose to make hod carrier
admiral Of the navy, and that Congress has no
power to restrict the Chief Executive in this
regard But it was held, on tho other hand
that Congress is given authority to make
regulations governing the land and sea
forces and the last legal resort decided
according to the latter proposition. One
officer may be promoted by Mr.. Harrison over
the head Of another, even in tho navy, but the
man so overslaughed would simply lose one
place on the list. The practice, however. has
always been to follow the rule of seniority,
In war the President is given a very much ex-
banded authority. His function as commander
In-chief of the army and navy then becomes
active and he can dismiss officers or give them
rank pretty much rs he likes. without even re-
ferring to the Senate for consent