Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-12
PROMOTIONS IN THE NAVY.
One OF the Obstacles to Advance
ment Removed.

The Question of the Use OF Alcoholism
The Case of Engineer William L. Mint
ger of This City.
A recent New York Sun special from
Washington is printed below. The
engineer, William Il. Mintzer, referred
TO lives In this city:
Naval officers are meeting with more
obstacles in the way of promotion than
the navy has ever before known. All
grades seem to encounter some trouble.
and to-day case came out which ex.
tends the list to tho engineer corps. So
far the chaplains have escaped, but this
may be due TO the fact that they are not
subjected to examinations. There are
already before the President the cases
of several officers who have been re.
ported upon unfavorably by examining
boards, but where there are thought to
be mitigating circumstances which may
let some of them through. The case Of
Commander johnson was the most i'm.
portant, and on its disposition hung tho
promotion of three commanders who
have passed their examinations, but
have been deprived of commissions as
captains for six months or more. The
Stevenson case Keeps number of officers
below him out of promotion who are
getting irritable because of the failure
of the department to make some final
disposition of it, The case of Com.
mander johnson was finally acted upon
by the President this afternoon, he hay
ing approved the report of his examin-
ing board, recommending the promotion
TO the grade of Captain. Action was
taken by the President once before on
the case, but IL was adverse to johnson,
and the findings of the first board were
sent back for reconsideration.
Commander johnson was examined
by board, which unanimously urged
his promotion. The report was approved
by the Secretary and forwarded to the
President, and it was expected that
Johnson's appointment as captain would
be sent to the Senate. The President,
however, never takes the report of q
board on the promotion of an officer as
final when there is any doubt of his
qualifications for advancement, and be-
gan a search into the records Of the de-
partment on Johnson's career in the
service. He found that In the medical
reports there were several enteries Of
alcoholism against Commander johnson,
and In some instances he had been sent
to hospitals for treatment. On these he
based his objections to promoting him,
aud directed a second board TO inquire
further into his record. This board made
Il searching inquiry, and ended by unan.
imously passing johnson the second
time. The Secretary approved tho find
ings and forwarded them to the Preyi-
ttpN t.a but fi,aKr al IL
Enacted on until to-day. Tho report
was accompanied by statement from
the board thai, while the medical records
showed that johnson has been tren.ed
for intoxicaton several times, II was not
while he was on duty, and, as his wsr
record was fine and his service In the
navy good, he was qualified for promo
ton. The President was In doubt, how
ever, and held the matter up for q gued
while. Frank Jones Of New Hampshire
and other friends NJ johnson intercedei
in his behalf, and the President decided
% let him through.
| The latest case TO come out is that of
| Passed Assistant Engineer William A.
| Mintzer, who was examined nj Phila-
delphia for promotion to the ssade OF
| chief engineer, found plysyy.lly dis.
qualified, and later ordered u appear
before the retiring board here. This
board took issue with the Philadelphia
board, and reported that Mintzer was
| physically able to perform his profess
ional duties, and should be advanced.
Tho department had nothing else to do
hut TO order him before the promotion
board of doctors of this city, which cor
roborated the findings of the first board,
and held that morally and physically
Mintzcr is disqualified. This board buses
its objections on the ground that Mint
ger testified that he was the victim of
drink, and that he could not do without
it. The disagreement of tho doctors on
the physical condition of Miutzer will
probably result in more examinations
before the secretary takes final action.
AS the retiring board says he should not
be retired aud the promotion board ssys
he should not be promoted, the secretary
will be left to decide what the status Of
Mintzer's case is. The last board has
sent its report to the secretary, coupled
with statement that if the officer can
abstain from whisky he is competent to
do his duty. Mlntzer says that he can
do his duty just as well with drink, and
that he should not be deprived of his
promotion. Officially, he is found
morally unfit for promotion, us tS.
board holds that there Is something
morally wrong with an officer who can
not stop drinking, Mintzer has filed
protest with the secretary, who will
have to decide whether Mintzer shall be
promoted, retired, or his moral conduct
| Lao hal E.ua.N Il Z.