New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-30
PROMOTION IN THE NAVY.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PHYTHTAN PLAN.
A RETIRED LIST THAT WILL REPRESENT ACTUAL
MERIT
rRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUsE.l


fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUsEl
Washington. oct 2o.-No doubt the President and
tbe secretary of the Navy have observed with interest
the discussion by the press OF the Phythan Board re-
mort on the sagnaiion OF promotion In the Navy II
en- tbev must both have realized that the sentiment Vi
.bo country is overwhelmingly in favor OF reorSah-
zation on the general lines laid down III inc report
There WAS AZ first some little opposition, but IL soon
became evident that this proceeded either from tota
-,orbonson NJ the Phyth!an proposition or from
do 70 advocate certain personal interests at the eX
,eo ~ tho general GOOD OF course such Opposluoh
mt necessarily be without weight, and as was TO DC
oxpected its practical manifestation mas virtually
ceased. . ,,.,
There still remains, however, point as 10 which
great misunderstanding prevails ana that IS the ate
Of the cost involved in the adoption Of the phyCnah
Man Many persons honestly believe, and others Tor
nurnoses Of their own affect TO believe, that the opera
zion ~ the plan will entail vast expense upon ue
copntrv Ii is an everyday experience IN Critics
where the subject is discussed 10 near u salu 'aO O
gross will never to such an enormous reureu ns
as IS contemplate in the report, and upon ti7 t9
opponents OF the project rely for the ohiy ar5Nne
they can use with any hope OF producing an enec.
mt q, momeut's examination will show that tile plea Is
uttcrlv without force In the first place, the Phy'han
Roard do not propose to retire all those who are AT pres
emf ON the active list The idea Is 10 drop s"ch a
are unworthy OF recognition and TO put upon INC
reserve and employ in various lines OF shore uuty Il
rnber of others But even if the entire active list
were TO be retired promoting grade I'LL under the
rank Of Admiral the cost Of the retired list wouh MOI
,boD no as great as that Of the active list is now
Take a captain drawing active pay. promote MN 10
commodore and retire him. and the country would save
inst $3.50 per annum by the operation III Is cheaper
therefore to carry out the Phythan scheme ana reue
everybody unfit for active service than to Keep them
in the active list even in lower rank. Inc bo'lu
report in fact. is as much in the interest OF mere
economy as I'm that Of efficiency 1t not Only proposes
TO provide the service with young active ambitious
and competent commanding officers. hy TIE siilpie
nrocess OF removing the superannuated. sptless ana
ncompetent but it shows the way to do this at less
cost than the existing arrangement involves
For the existing arrangement must necessarily lead.
In the course of few years, to enormous retired
list composed chiefly of rear-admlIals. The system
now in operation seems TO have been devised for 'ne
cole purpose of retiring on Iear-admlrals pay all
officers who can manage to live long enough Aln'osV
no reward is held ont to energy. devotion, talent sn
purpose and endeavor The standard is not MERIT out
mere vitality Under the plan proposed by the Phyuah
Board. the retired list Will be far less expensive
Officers will be retired in the lower as well as In the
higher grades, and consequently upon much smaller
paw They will not be rushed through in few years
from commander to rearadmira and TIM retire on the
pay Of rank in which they never rendered an hour
service. They will, on the contrary be promoted Dy
the standard of their merit only and their retired pay
will represent what they have actually done to earn It,
IL j. lnconceivable that member OF Congress VINO
really cherShes sense OF obligation TO his constituents
or his country can for moment consent to the per
petuatOn Of the present state of things. Every officer
I'm the service was put there through the nStrumentaly
Of the Representative Of his district and has the right
therefore to look to him for protection. on the other
hand, the country expects Congress to promote its
welfare in every possible way. From both points OF
view the National Legislature is In duty bound 70 give
10 this question earnest and intelligent cOnsdera
ion The Phythan report presents clear, COM
prehensive and practicable solution OF the problem
The Secretary Of the Navy should embody its recon-
mendatons in a bill and Congress should see that the
bill is enacted into law The press without reference
TO party or section, has approved the measure heartily
The good OF the country demands It's immediate
adoption