The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-03
PROMOTIONS IN THE NAVY.
The Board Of O1lcsrS Appointed 10 Con-
slider This Make q Report.
CHANGE IN THE OLD PLAN SUGGESTED.
Promotions 20 tho Grade of Commander
and Commodore to be Made Once
Xear-Washington Notes.

last TO examine into and report upon the
present stagnation of officers in the line Of the
navy and recommend such measures as it may
deem desirable TO regulate promotion with
view to increasing the efficiency Of the navy
has submitted report to the Secretary. The
board expresses the opinion that too few
officers in one part Of the list and too many
IN another both work in the same
direction: both operate 10 check pro-
motion from below Selection of some sort
and by some rule must be applied says the
report. ii command rank Is 20 DO reached at
81 age when responsibility can be assumed
and readily formed and the habit OF command
efficiently acquired. A selection by age Is
already operative in almost every naval ser
yice. In our own form, more than twenty
fye years back. the retirement If officers at
sKty-twO has been practical selection against
them and IN favor OF their juniors" The
board says IL believes that under some form
Of qualifications selection bv age or by
length OF service based on average ages seems
O. be the best means suited 10 obtain the
great desideratum. the one thing absolutely
essential TO an efficient servlce-viz.: Com
mand at a specified minimum age assuring a
career as captains and admirals of an average
of SUFFICIENT length 70 give a well-formed
habit OF command and practice In handling
ships among the officers OF those grades.
Evils or PROMOTION.
Unless selection in some form is practiced
Il necessarily follows from O proportion of Of
fcers under command rank 20 those holding
II that with the best distribution of numbers
among the grades promotion by seniority
alone will gradually advance the age at which
command Is reached until condition of block
will recur similar 20 that now existing The
latter is simply an enormous eXagReTation,
carcature of the evils resulting from promo
ton by seniority alone
For these reasons. therefore, because the
good Of the public service demands at present
q large reduction IN the numbers IN certain
part of the list, and because the character af
tie whole i'm point of efficiency for the sea
service should be homogeneous, the board
advises that at az early q date as possible an
examination OF the list be made for the pur-
pose of preparing o new organization upon
the basis of the grades and numbers. and
which are as follows Rear admirals, 10;
cOmmOdOres. 10. captains CO.; commanders,
20 heutenaut-commanders l3O; ieutensnts,
200: heutenants lJr. ensgns), 40; tOtal, 720.
This revision should be made by board so
constituted as 20 insure adequate professional
knowledge of the whole list and empowered
% ask medical opinion in cases where doubts
OF physical ability exist
THI MAIN PROVISIONS.
lur nam provisions in the instruction Of
tits board should be:
First That il tshOuld recommend TO fill the
grades Of the new organization with the most
eti lent men, taken from present line OF the
navy. keeping always IN view the high stand
ard necessarily exacted from the dates OF 1860
O. 1907. inclusive by the reductions which
those must undergo.
Second While the board shall be abso-
lutely tree TO choose according 10 It's judg-
ment. the order of seniority now existing
may not be changed in assigning positions on
tie list With that exception there shall be
no restriction as 20 the grade IN the new or
ranizatlon pen % any officer of the present
Third From the officers not chosen TO til
the gIa les OF the new organization the board
shall nominate a reserved list on the Quallfi-
cation for duties now known as shore or
other duties which NAV be employed on
duty other than In vessels of the navy COM
mlsslOned for sea service. at the discretion OF
the Secretary Of the Navy. Officers on this
LIST may retire 40 any time on their own ap-
phcatiOn provided that the number of re-
tremeuts in any one year shall not exceed
ten. This provision is rendered necessary by
tie reduction in the active list which may be
expected from the reorganization, and rs IN
tended 20 insure a sufficient mum of officers
ior the numerous necessary shore employ
menis while the list is again filling.
Fourth In the case OF officers not placed
upon either the active or retired lists the
board recommends that they be placed upon
the retired list upon three-fourths half OF
flrlougl pay. or tlat they be wholly retired
according IN It's opinion to the merits OF each
case
OUTLINES or THE PLAN.
The present board does not regard as prob
able that the reorganization here recon-
mended will result in reducing the acoumula-
ton 80 iTe uently spoken OF between 1860 and
l'5l 20 Dimensions 50 nearly normal as to
insure proper flow Of promotion
The following are the general outlines Of
pan bv which the board believes that promo
ton based Oh this principle, can be satlsfac-
torly made Promotions 20 the grade OF
commander and commodore shall be made
once year 20 nll all vacancies that have Oc-
CURED during the previous twelve months.
Two months before the date fixed for making
le annual pr0mOuOnS BOARD Of Omcefs
email he convened whose duty shall be TO
nominate captains and lieutenants-command-
efS Tor promotion 10 commodore and com
mander.
From the head Of the list Of captains num-
Der Of names equal TO twice the number of
vacancies IN grades OF flag officers shall be
considered. 10 these shall be added for con-
hderauon the names OF all other captains #
any who If not promoted on this occasion
WiA be due 10 retire by expiration of time
OF service limit before the time Of the next
olnual promotions.
irom the list Of names thus formed the
board shall select those who are to fill the Ok
lsuhg vacancies IN the grade of commodore,
tLc best 10 lie chosen without regard TO
seniority. but among those promoted the order
list.
HEIIRTMENTs.
captains who have been twice considered
hhd not promoted and those having less than
I'VE wears % serve before final retirement
slal be on the retired list. Promotions from
tAe grade OF lieutenant commander 20 COM
Mander shall be made IN accordance with the |
Same rule, except that ieutenant-cOmmanders
noi promoted shall not be compulsory re-
tred They shall. however, be permitted to
IouIe alter thirty years service upon their
O"u application; provided that lieutenant
.,DManQers who entered prior % 1868 ana
VIZ s.aI so elect 70 retire shall be retired
WIN the rank and retired pay of the next
pigAei grade. Promotions from commodore 10 |
tul.IiI, from commander 10 captain from
lieutenant 20 Lieutenant commander. from |
tIhof Lieutenant shall be made by seniority. |
me board. having adopted as principle that |
.eh@th OF service instead Of age should o the !
standard for final retirement. recommends |
lnat the rule hereafter be that officers. grad |
uates oi the Naval Academy. shall finally re- |
yIe rom the service forty-six years after the |
uAto oi their entrance thereto. the date Of |
enuy IA anomalous cases being fixed as pre- |
N9usiy suggested
Ids period Of forty-sx years has been |
reached by the consideration that the Govern |
.1eht Is entitled % forty years service from |
'1e 9ihcers after graduation. - which Is |
|Aueu SIX years OF connection with tho |