The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-17
THE PERSONNEL OF THE NATr.
A Satisfactory Move for Its Keorgani.atioa
Made In the House.

Made In the House.
WARRINGTON, Dec. 16.-Congressmau Cum
mings has won q substantial victory in tho
passage OF the resolution to provide for q Joint
commission to investigate tho needs OF the
navy personnel What the possible object
was OF flibustering on this measure II DIM
cult to understand. The resolution commits
Congress- TO nothing. 1t simply provides that
three Senators and three Representatives
shall be appointed to investigate an intricate
subject. which might otherwise take up most
OF tho time OF the Naval Committees to dis
cuss. The report OF the committee. when
made. may be neglected or rejected, II Con-
gress chooses. but at least there will be basis
to 60 upon for legislation. II legislation IL
deemed advisable. Why. therefore. dilatory
tactics should be resorted to for the postpone
ment OF such q time saving device is Q mys-
terry: and. In fact when Mr.. Cummings gath
cred up the reins. and. whip In hand. started
the team ahead. the first vote. to go into Com
mittee OF the Whole. prevailed By 221 yeas to
1S nays, and the resolution itself by 179 yeas
to . solitary nay. thus overwhelmingly win
ming the frat bout In the conflict
The movement to secure o revision OF the
laws relating to the personnel has been under
consideration for a long time. and perhaps IL
the officers themselves could have agreed on
the subject more progress might have been
made. And the question really involves both
staff and line. For example. Chief Engineer
Melville says that In view OF the large number
OF now vessels. with valuable and elaborate
steam machinery. there ought to be more en-
gineers. There is a movement. also. to reor-
ganize and increase the body OF civil engineers
But, Of course. tho main purpose is to obtain
a better system Of promotion In the line. II
may be OF interest to note the effort for this
purpose which was IN ade by the Board OF which
Capt X; L Phythian was senior member: To
the finest line officers in the service. was to
svery line OfiiesI from the hishest Admiral to
tor % bottom in the following manner: First
by dismissiDg, entirely from the service those
fault, Secondly retiring those who through
no fault Of thsiT 9wp, were 81, nnnt ior sea and
shors duty out Of the line OF promotion, those
who were well suited for suen duty. but not SO
This being done. the list would be In a nor
NAL condition for the application Of a general
plan OF promotion. except that part en- bIacing
e anG 7 TRS hsse H We're SeH S
Srsrs that ps5 AND ths ~ 1Ss TSs to
allowed TO retire with tho rank and retired
pay OF the next higher grade; II sufficient
II not, the Board would place as many on per-
manent shore duty, out Of the line Of promo
Next, the number OF Rear Admirals would
&c from Of that %
ers from "a TO $50, and that OF Lleutenants
from 200 to $50; while by reducing that OF the
junior Lieutenaats and Ensisns eombinei
from 500 TO li3 there would be exactly the
plenty Of room for promotion,
The officers left on the active list. as already
spoken Of after THEY'VE ed Ing out process. would
ity. and the result would be- about $50 vacan-
ciss AT the lotion OF the new active list, In
u nG stsnnnts The o1.sEs 81 shsss s sWo
grades retained for the new navy list would DO
Lisutenants. and all OF them on shore would he
manent shore duty Younger ofIicers then
would TO promoted. but would also, for num-
than The present allowance Of sea duty;
since there would lie vacancies in the lower
grades for a number OF years An exception
TO the foregoing rules Was made IN IdNoF OF
volunteer officers
Alter all these special remedies had accom-,
ts as follows Ensigns promoted to Junior
lisutenAnts after three years service. twoand
one hall OF which must have been at sea on
cruising vessel Junior lieutenantSto Lieuten-
ants by seniority; Iisutenants 10 lieutenant
Commanders by senioriJ LaepIen tJ om-
ing Commanders from NUMBER OF Lieutenant
Commanders at the head OF the list equal to
twice the number OF vacancies And there
we're other important rules for this grade. No
Lieutenant 4 commander was to be promoted
who had less than eighteen years TO serve.
IieutenAnt- 4 commanders oyerslAughe were to
tie ali lowed to retire. provided they had served
thirty years
Kesuming. promotion from Commander to
Captain was to be by seniority from Captain to
Commodore annually, ny selecting from num-
Der Of { aptains at the head OF the list equal 10
twice the number OF vacancies on the CommO-
dOTe's list No Captain having less than i've
years to serve was TO be promoted. Captains
twice oyerslAughed were to be retired. Finally,
promotion from Commodore 10 Hear Admiral
was TO TO by seniority.
As to retirsme.t, all O1ieers were to he re-
tired alter fOTty-slN years service, Captains
and Lieutenant Commanders who would ue re-
tired under the i've years and eighteen ysaTs
clause II not promoted during the year were
also 20 receive chance to be promoted Ii
was evident that none Of the Lieutenant Conn
manders on the new list would bs debArred
from promotion by the eighteen years clause.
Ihas seemed worth while 20 give this inter-
probation OF the Ilan, - made b. naval oiti-
Ger NOT member Of the PhythiAn Board. be-
cause II shows the views that prevail among
many officers OThsrs II must be said. oppose
various features 81 this plan, Including the
substitution OF selection Tor seniority. while
secretary Tracy also suggested soms mOdih-
cations OF IL. But II tho Senate cOhcuTs in
the resolution for the new Com N ssIOn a plan
on which secretary Herbert has been sBg gagged
vii be pat before IL