New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-28
THE NAVY SADLY NEGLECTED.
pRopo-ED INVESTIGATION OF ITS NEEDS MI
LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE.


LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE
Washington March o7.-Thore Is much oiS"P'
nontment among the officers Of the Navy 'n"'
A., mo,,sod ,nvextipation of the needs Of It's entire
nersonne is not to be made during tile recess OIL No
cross Owing to the fact that there are cohs'"h'N
before Congress numerous bills dealing WIN 'he '"''
ton OF rank and pay In the Navy reso'u"o" W."
introduced In the House toward the close OF inc "''
session authorizing the appointment OF !oh' ''"'
mt,ee of the House and senate whose dn'S !, Wa :,
he To consider all matters Of interest 10 the Navy ""
IN ranort n bill such as would simplify. codify ana
rcysc existing laws for the benefit OF the GOVERN
ment AS well as the personnel When TINS ifSo'"
lion was called mp for action, Mr. Holman sui'c" 'h"
there was a provision in the Snndry 'i'h DIN 'n"
covered the subject. Without further question eha'
man Herbert withdrew the resolution OF 'he Naval
Committed IL Is now asserted by many OF the o.
ncers that Mr. Herbert perfectly aware tha' Inc
committee provided for IN the Snndry Civi bill was
not intended to deal with the military branch OF 'hc
Navy il simply provided for committee to examine
into the methods Of the executive departments hane
w. the organization OF the civil service therein.
In view of the statement made by Mr. Holman on
the floor of the House that the commission appointed
under his act would be called upon 10 perform the
same duties that were TO be intTstcd 20 the special
Joint naval committee. the entire resolution Of Mt
Holman would I've read with Interest BY oihcers Oh
the Navy. II provides, briefly, that the comh''cc
shall inquire into and examine The status oi tue
laws organizing the executive departments bureaus
divisions and other Government establishments at the
National Capital etc. This provision shows That
the commission Is not given authority 70 consider
the personnel OF the Navy nor 10 give 1t the at'cn'
ton Il deserves and this is confirmed by The language
I'm other parts of the act which authorizes the com
mission TO consider the rules regulations and methods
in the conduct OF the executive departments The
time and attention devoted by their employees 10
their duties and whether a reduction In the number
or compensation be made. That the personnel
of the Navy should have been neglected Is the more
surprising in the face of the fact that The service
has In turmoil for years on account OF the Goa
aictng grievances regarding rank, pay, promotion,
etc. 10 which Il has been impossible 10 get Congress
TO give the necessary consideration.
With one exception. every bill in the last Congress
relating to the personnel Of the Navy failed through
inacton opposition within Tie service itself having had
much to DO with failure. The solitary exception was
the bill terminating the reductions In the Engineer
Corps, and even this bill met with some strong op
position, but Mr.. Bontelle an ex-Navy cihcer and
one OF the best friends the Navy had in Con
gress saved the bill from degradation by keeping it
out Of the reorganization bill which never got out
of the committee rooms. The present condition OF
the enlisted men Is as unsatisfactory that OF the
officers but there is not much hope for rcclassihca
ton reorganization.