New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-30
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES,
EXAMINATIONS FOR PROMOTION.
RrAP.ApMIRAL LUCE's sELECToN-COL. AIMS
wORTH'S PROMOTION-MARINL CORPS
OFMCERs- WORLDS FAIR.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE IRIsUSE.l

rBY TELEGRAPH TRIsUNE.1
Washington May 29-The senate has passed the
bill amending the Act OF october l. 1890. relating
TO the examination OF officers of the Army prior TO
promotion and in accordance with the provisions
of the amended bill. officers Of the Army entitled
6y law to examinations by u board composed ennreN
OF officers who appointed from civil hfe or VINO
were officers OF volunteers only during the war;
NAV BY written waiver filed with the War Depart
mont relnqush such right, Ia which case
Tho examination OF such officers shall be
conducted BY boards composed as may be
directed by the Secretary OF War Ihe
amended bill has the approval OF secretary hh'n''
who stated in a recent communication to the senate
Committee on Naval Affairs that. as the law now
stands its practical working not only entails an I'M
usual embarras sment and expense upon the Govern
ment because Of the fact that AT times 1t is difficult 10
collect sufficient number OF officers OF tins class III
convenient place. owing 10 the necessary dispersion Oh
the Army throughout the country. but That the class
OF officers now excepted by law resent It's inviiious
distinction being prepared by education and expert
ence for examinations conducted by Army omcers re-
gardless Of anteccdents.
The selection by the President Of RcarAdmiml s. b.
Luce. retired, as Commlssoner-Genein to represent
the United States at Madrid this summer, during the
Exposition to he held in that city IN commemoratlOn
Of the 4OOth anniversary OF the discovery OF America
hns put an end dlgndcd contest, which has oeeh
going on for the last few days among NUMBER vi
distinguished retired officers OF Inc AriIN anu Navy
who desired this honorable and important duty Rear
Admiral Luce Is OF the most accomplished ollccsh
the NAVY lie is particularly famous the father 50 to
speak OF the Navp, apprentice system which has now
become the pride OF that branch OF the pubic service
and ms the officer who in 1889, while In command d
the North Atlantic Squadron by the exercise oil great
rmness secured the release Of the United States coast
ing steamship Haytan Republic from the authorities
at Port Prince. Hay,i. By whom that vessel had III
1898 been unlnwfully seized and held.
since his retirement from active service In March,
1885, RearAdmral Luce has lived In Newport, H. L.,
where he has devoted bis attention chiefly 10 literary
pursuits ana the cultivation OF friendships formed dur
Ing the period Of his command at that station.
In answer 10 the resolution OF the Senate asking
whether bids for the construction Of any naval vessels
on the Great lakes had been rejected for any reason
other than those usually regarded by the Navy De-
partmcnt rs good grounds for such action secretary
Tracy has stated that In only one case has thus been
done and that In the award OF the contract Tor
the construction Of the steel practice vessel when
bid had been received BY tho Department from ship
builder at Bay City, Mich. and tho contract WIS
awarded TO firm In Elizabetlport, n. j., whose
bid was 5000 higher than the one rejected.
Tho ground upon which the Bay City proposal was
rejected was the fact the stpulaons OF The treaty
with England would not allow the construction OF
wsrship the Great Lakes. Secretary Tracy adds
that two other proposals received from shpbullders
ON the lakes been rejected, but In both these
cases the bids were rejected because Eastern firms
bid lower.
The confirmation BY the Senate Of Major F. c. Aims
worth as chief OF the Record and Pension Division OF
tho War Department with the rank, pay and allow
aoSr< OF a colonel, has settled which has OK
cited unusual interest In military circles. During the
hast Congress bill creating the Record and Pensions
Division and appointing Major Ainsworth as It's
chief was passed but, on the ground that naming
a person in q bill for appointment to particular
once owes tho appointing power to Congress and
robs tho Executive Of power delegated to him by the
Constitution President Harrison vetoed the bill This
session the same bill, emitting the name OF Major
Aipxwortb was introduced and. there being no
apparent objection 10 IL. was passed In both
senate and House by large majority.
within few days after the biils approval
the President sent in the nomination OF
Major Answorth to be a colonel, confirmation promptly
following, without the formality of reference 10 u
committee for consideration. during his long ex'
perience rs the Chief Of the Record and Pensions
Division Colonel Answorth has bern a Jealous ana
faithful official. and. assistant . the Pension
Ofh,e 10, r;ndcfed intelligent ani Va uabe services.
Toe House bill relating to III, examination ana pro
motion VI the officers q the Marine Corps, subnittci
on Saturday BY Mr.. Meyer substitute for the
VIDE that hereafter promotions to ga1c Of com
missioned officers bsOw the gra1c CT comm niant 81 al
b made under the same conditions now or NAV
hefcafter BE- prescribed for commissioned officers }!
st II not less than five officers. three Of whom. when