Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-08
ARMY AND NAVY PROMOTIONS.
Interest Felt In the Surgeon Generalship of
the Navy.

THE PRESIDENTS ACTION IN THIS CASE WILL,
1T Is BELIEVED, INDICATE HIS GENERAL
PoLIcY-IF THOSE NEXT IN RANK ARE NOT
TAKEN 1T WILL UPSET MANY CALCULATIONS
The selection Of a successor to Surgeon Gen.
Browne Of the navy, who retires on the 10th
instant, will settle question Of great interest
to officers Of the army and navy. What makes
this particular appointment of special import
ance to them is the belief that it will indicate
President Clevelan6's policy in the matter OF ap-
pointments in the army and navy.
1t is said that the President is opposed to the
promotion of officers on the verge of retire
ment, and that he is unwilling to place at the
head of naval bureaus officers who cannot
legally serve out the four years term prescribed
by law.
RANKING OFFICERS WHO WOULD BE DEBARRED.
As already stated in The STAR. policy of
this kind would debar DIR. Gihon, DIR. Dean and
the four other ranking officers Of the medical
corps of the navy from appointment surgeon
general, and would confne the preferment to
their juniors in the service. The only medical
directors who would be eligible for appointment
ment under the alleged policy mentioned In
order of rank are C. j. Cleborne. Michael Brad
ley, ". L. Bates, E. S. Bogert. W. X. Schoield,
G.. s. Beardsley. H. VI. Wells and John III.
Clark While the selection is not necessarily
confined to the list Of medical directors it Is be-
heved that the President will not go below that
grade in filling the approaching vacancy.
EFFECT IN THE ARMY.
Should the President act in this matter &C.
eordIng to present predictions it will entirely
upset the calculations of the war prophets in
regard to existing and prospective vacancies
In the army. Col Carlin. fourth infantry.
would be removed from the list of possible
hrio IL +ba nj
of the medical corps, would stand no chance
of promotion surgeon general of the army,
and Col. McKeever and Col Vincent could never
expect to attain the Office Of adjutant general OF
the army. The surgeon generalship becomes
vacant on the 29th inst. by the retirement
Of Gen. Sutherland and Adjt Gen Williams
will retire from active service in November
next.
THE POWER As TO RECESS APPOINTMENTS
Col. Carlin, Col Page and Col McKeever will
all be retired between now and the reassembling
of Congress in regular session. Some OF the
legal lights of the service question the power of
the President to make promotions during a
recess Of the Senate. where the commissions
will expire before the Senate can pass upon
them. 1t is conceded in army circles that the
adjutant generalship lies between Gen. Ruggle5
and Gen. Vincent. with Gen. Greene a close
third. OF these Gen Vincent will be the first
TO retire. and the selection of either OF the
other two will shut him out forever. In the
navy, bureau appointments are for a term of
four years. but in the army they hold until the
incumbent goes on the retired list.
TWO IMPORTANT VACANCIES.
Some surprise is expressed at the apparent
delay in army appointments, and the most
plausible explanation offered is that the
powers that be are too much engrossed in other
matters just at present to consider purely
military affairs. Two important vacancies
have existed since the change of administra-
ton. One caused by the enforced retire
ment Of Brigadier General Carr and the failure
of the Senate to act on the nomination of Col.
Otis. The other is the vacant paymsstership,
which would now be filed BY Lieut. Dapray if
the Senate had looked more kindly on his
nomination Secretary Lamont ia taking his
time in considering these cases, but will proba-
bly, have them ready for the Presidents action
within the present month.
COMMODORE DEwEYs RESIGNATION.
Another vacancy will occur at the Navy De-
Partment this week by reason Of the resignation
of Commodore Dewey as chief Of the bureau of
equipment and repair. He resigns for the pur-
pose of becoming a member of the light house
board, vice Commodore Gilliss, who goes on
the retired list on the 18th inst. Commander
Chadwick and Capt Selfridge are mentioned as
most likely to succeed Commodore Dewey as
chief Of the bureau.