The National tribune., 1891-10-08

tho bouudlcss plains of Texas 20 the narrow
confines OF box iu am express car was too much
for the freedom slowing young fellow and IN
spite of All that could be done for him he died
within am hour OF two after arriving at the
White House. Ills body WAS sent to the smith
souian, where, after being prepared, his splon-
did suit Of aunor win be on exhibition.
A new grief has come to a head in the much
discussed Navy Worn out ships and obsolete
guns have had their day in court and now
comes the trouble OF vermont officers blocking
The way 10 command of their iriskior juniors,
aud men condemned 10 long years OF service IN
subordinate positions, until they lose the nerve
and vim necessary TO handle a saucy fighting
ship in trying situations This is the subject
matter oi a voumiuous report of a Board APP
pointed TO investigate tle condition OF the per-
Eonnel of The Navy. The Board dwells upon the
fact that the success Of all naval operations
must depend upon the galiautry and dash Of
the commanders Of ships and the habit OF decl-
ding what can be done with q ship, and OF doing
it promptly and effectively can only be formed
IN the earlier period Of a mans life. As he adj
vances in years his indisposition to undertake
unusual tasks and responsibilities increases,
Therefore, there should be a minimum age at
which an officer should be given opportunities
10 exercise independent command. Unless
this is done says the Board, the Navy viii be-
come totally inefficient from congestion. The
problem OF The greatest gravity is how to do
this. The Board, after discussing all the diff
cultios suggests that there shall be an entire
reorganization Of the official personnel OF the
Navy; shat another Board shall carefully cX-
anime into the fitness OF all officers and select
from among them 10 Rear Admirals j. Com
modorcs, 90 Captains. 20 Commanders, 100
licuteuaut. Commanders, 300 Licuteuants and
l15 Juuior Leutenauts 5Ensigus); total, 100
This would mako great increase ina the num-
bcr Of higher officers. The present number Of
Rear Admirlls is six, Of C0mmoiores, 10; Of
Captains A.; OF Commanders, s.; Lieutenant
Commanders "a; Lioulcuanis $50; Junior
LieutoHauts, 75 and Ensigns, ia. The officers
80 selected shall constitute the Active List"
and be mainly employed in sea duty. The Off
Gers not selected shall be placed GA the " Re-
served List and be employed on what is now
known as shore or othcrduty," and be allowed
TO 60 upon the Retired List upon their own
application. an officers must be retired upon
completing iG years Of service: 10 Lieutenant
Commando shall be promoted who has less
than 10 years 10 serve, and NO Captain who has
less than Eve Boards % Promotion shall meet
every year, and shall consider the names Of
twice as many candidate as there are vacancies
Captains who have been twice considered for
promotion 10 Commodore and rejected shall be
placed on tile Retired List al once. A modif-
81 rg 1f.fs
grades. The report Is now before Secretary
Tracy for consideration.
The Second Comptroller OF the Treasury has
under consideration and decision the interest
ing question whether man has a right to be
an officer o. the Army and Member Of Con-
Rross at the same time, and draw pay lor both
offices.
Gilman Nant0n, Of New Hampshire was
elected % Congress iu 1850 his term beginning
March Z, 1861. lie was commissioned Colonel
Of Volunteers April 10. For two years he was
q Member Of Congress and an officer having IN
Tie meanwhile been promoted 10 be Brigadier-
General lie drew pay ms q Member OF Con-
gross, and not as an officer OF the Army, until
his term expired, March 4, 1853. in Novem.
resigned his military commission the last o.
February, 1865. His term began March oil
that year, and DIS resignation was not accepted
until April 20 lie lived until July, 1880 aud
lnade no claim Tor the pay as an officer Of th,
Army that be had no, drawn. Ills executor
nov claims, in the interest Of the estate, Gen
Marat0Ha military pay between the dates Oh
oath % iis C0lonel's commission and his taking
thc office as q Representative IN 1861, and again
i0I the interval between Tie commencement o
Bis second term boz Congress aud tic acccptauc,
81 his military resignation iu 1865. The claim
is lol Gi days pay but IL that were allowed
there would be equally good reason for allow
ing his military pay durng tho other portion
Of isseryice that be did net draw IL IS prett,
Well settled that seat in Congress is not "a
Office within Tie meaning Of The law that pro
Lihits man from holding two Offices al tb
same time in fact, tlo law Is virtually doa,
lcucr, and "a number OF Army officers are hold
ing important civil Offices and drawing nay TO
both, and f membership in Congress Is no
holding Federal Office, there seems 10 be d.
reason why the Genera. should not have raw
Die military pay. The fact that De did NO
elect 10 draw Chat pay and made no claim 10
during thc remaining 20 years of his lie Is no
evidence that be would not have made CLAN
had he lived year longer
10 De was entitled 10 tile pay at the time I
service bic hcirs can obtain il now
aa
il viii not Dc long before the question ,
masis o. uo nasts will be as earnestly debate
On ihu American Navy as &c Is u0w being !
the navy OF England ID Is certainly advar
tageous in q financial point Of view for wal
slip b Do able 10 proceed under canvas Whe
thorc De- no need o. increased speed The Ode
school 81 officers and many Of the youugc
have great faith In The virtues OF rigging
aiding the physical development of salons. au
some 90 30 ian as 20 say that ID makes thom bg
Ter men morally. il Is asserted that there
Jess sickness aboard mastod cruisers than q
mastless battleships. Tho difference 5 prob
by chaTFeabie 10 ventilation, the lower dot
Of Now batueahips being artiGcally suppl,
with AIR. The opponents OF masts and ward
ior thinning ships even, argue that while 10
pcdo aud guunery training require All II
Time our sailors have 10 spare from other a
iici, q De- folly 20 waste any timc upon oXorci
that can never be utilized, and that plysic
drill, which Is rapidly growing in favor IN bot
Army and Navy should take the place Of poil
eleU