New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-02
A BILL AFFECTING NAVAL OFFICERS.
REDUCTION IN LINE OFFICERS AND AN IN
cRrA~F IN ENGINEERS PROPOSED.

, REELECTION IN LINE OFFICERS Anu AN i'
CREATE IN ENGINEERS PROPOSED
Washington. Juno (spccol,.-'rhc fact that '"e"
nm, NOW before Congress several bills ahecuhs' vi
rctIy or Indirectly. tho officers Of the Inc a'd III
Engineer Corps OF the Navy IS apparently no oo'uo'
70 the Introduction OF other propositions 10 nuu! Wv
ropl nav and status Of such officers. for Mr' "'''
OF North Carolina has Just prosecuted to inc nVu,e
an additional bill relating to these officers hu ''.,
emolumens. While the author OF tie nc" o,',, n.y.
vos introduced by request is not made puohc' n'o
officers assert that IN view OF proposed ruu'"V'
~ IO4 in their numbers and an Increase OIL i'f III
IN. number OF engineer officers. and because OF ue i'
that the bin reccntlJ introduced and glVihs ee''
officers actual rank and command Is Ns"i""''' VIZ
p,ed BY limo officers, 1t IS evident thal cns',''.
,iiccrs have caused the Williams bill TO be puSc w
orlor that Il may divert attention rom 'ue NV
,ortoht and objectionable ill now being discussed
in the House Committee on Naval Anmfs' "i.'V
ever the object of the new measure, It's 'ru"'
a. tbis time Is unfortunate and injurious. as is tell
dcncy Is 10 Increase the animosiU existing Det"cc"
thc line and engineer officers, and to deinons'i"
tll further TO Senators and Representatives 'ha' oo
tcntons and differences exist between onccrS Vi '"o
Naval Service.
The Williams bin provides that the grades and
,nmhors ., line officer, shall be us follows: Vice
odm,rols Ga rev gradc. 6; rear afmiras. w.
cop,oin. 4O commanders. 60: lieutenant COM
| manders I0O ncutcnants, 300; subheuteh'in's Va
now grade) 100; that vice dmrais ana reiir-hi-
mros shall receive the same pay ard cm0unch's 10
| thosc now prescribed By law for rcarndmlrals ana
comrnodores and shall take rank respectively "iti
major Generals and brigadcr gcnenls In The Army
that subIcutcnants shall take the pace rcgar'ins
rort dutv and nav rs now provided for llcu'eahtS
~ tbc t,nor Grade: that after the passage OF The Dill
and until the number Of captains shall have bcen IT.
| duced 10 forty aud the number Of commanders re-
| duced TO sixty but promotion for each wv
vncancies shall be made in those gr1des ana that All
crsrns on the active list shall become sub-hcutehhhts
upon the passage Of the BILL
For engineer officers the bill provides that grades
and numbers shall be rs follows: chief engineers
wb rank Of captains 10; chief engineers with rauk
q, commanders Is; chief engineers with rank oi
lieutenant commander. 80; passed assistant engineers
with rank of licutcnants 800; assistant engineers WIN
rank Of sub cutcnants 30: that the actnal rank con
nrrcd by the bill shall not give engineer officers INC
dyht 10 exercise command except In their own dc
portmcntS but by virtue OF their COMMISSIONS 'hoS
| may command enlisted men Ike other officers
| The bill also provides that vacancies occurring II
the lowest grades OF line and engineer officer slGll
he filled by the appointment Of graduates Of the MAYA
| Academy that the number OF appointments 81 Hhu'
each wear to the line of the Navy shall De eluhi
| ono. hall the number " vacancies occurring IN 'ha
| grade until that grade l. reduced In numbers u
100 and under the further provisions Of the bill any
officer Of the Navy who has been thirty wears III ih'
| service may, upon his own application, M inc ula
erection Of the President, be placed upon the reuree
list with the rank and retired pay Of his grade arc
chiefs OF bureaus OF the Navy Department shall have
The rank and ray Of rcnradmirals while holding suci
| Offices.