New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-04
NAVAL OFFICERS AND OUTSIDE WORK.
OBJECTIONS OFFERED TO THE SYSTEM IN
..ocI.I, nI ppAMQrINN

| OBJECTIONS OFFERED 10 TIE SYSTEM IN
voGuE-sLow PROMOTION IN THE NAVY.
| Washington May 3 SreclalJ.-I is not unlikely
that a number OF naval officers now employed by
| private business firms will in the near future have 10
! give up their or less lucrative engage
| ments on shore and 10 their stv-
cral duties on board ship. No less than Six
| teen OF these officers are now on leave OF
absence with paw and are regularly connected with
business concerns which supplying the Navy with
various kinds OF materials required In the construction
| and equipment Of modern ships. The practice Of
granting leaves officers for this purpose began with
| the beginning OF the work OF rehabating the Navy
and has gradually grown 10 its present proportions
| The early idea that II would be- OF great ad-
vantage the Government TO have the ben"ft OF an
officers professional knowledge and experience ut
manufactures In connection with the development OF
armor projectles, machinery and tools. This was
the when the manufacture of such materials was
nm "infant industry" but II Is asserted that the
| children can stand alone and nurses are no
| longer necessary
| Public attention has been attracted to such en-
ployment OF naval officers and several protests have
been lodged against II by persons In private NE
MANY naval officers also protest against the pracuce
and arr,,e that those who the blue educated
| and paid for a particular purpose. and that II they
find their calling distaSteful not Sufficiently lucra
tive they should resign and not force others 10 per
form their legitimate duties ashore ana anoat IL Is
| understood
engaged on the list" and that AT no distant day he
! will take some action. Some OF the where
officers are privately employed mcrOrOils ones,
! under arrangements connected with which the UoV
I eminent Is actually receiving fair return Tor
privileges extended. 1t is doubtful. however II the
Department afford TO discriminate when the work
of decapa ton begins. The salaries received by these
| officers from private employment vary from about
81 100 to So 900 year In several cases II is said
that officers also share In the profits Of the companies
| by which they employed.
II has been maintained for years by naval officers
| Of this country that the zeal-kng feature OF the
present organization Is slow promotion In time Of
peace officers have opportunity for promotion ont
| side Of the usual "waitng for dead mems
shoes as they express IT.. There are officers In the
| grade OF cnsgn-the lowest commissioned rahk-wh"
are hlrty-ivc years old Officers rarely ever reach
tie grade OF lieutenant nowadays until they about
forty Commanders rank Is only attained when MY
years creeping on and when an officer is 100 often
| physically as well mentally not at his best Be
tween the ages OF twenty and hfty Officers OF The
Navy necessarily hold subordinate places, and only
occasiopaly by accident other good luck achieve
| the distinction and responsibility Of command over
| a ship and its crew. comparison OF promotion III
the United states and foreign naves at this Time Is
appropriate and interesting. Such comparison VIII
show that the growls" Of naval officers are not I'M
reasonable. As commanders rank IS the ambition Of
| every officer comparisons with grades when carry
| with them Independent authority are given.
| Comparisons OF promotion in lower grades are even
more discouraging to United States officers. Except
| ing Spans representative, the American ndnirnIS
entered the service from about four 10 sixteen years
| before their foreign comrades. Admiral Howard o.
| the Argentine Republic. entered IN Loo: AdniirhI
MarnagIh Of Italy. IN 1851 and Admiral De Ilbra:i
! Of France. In 1ojl. Admiral Ghcrardi was hardN
| Young salt IN IeiG Among ia" captains and con:
manders the comparison f. more unavorahl" 10 Am"ri
| can officers. Captain Sicard, OF the Man'ohoino'
Joined the Navy IN ISL and Captain Watson OF "a"
san Franc-cO. and Captain Casey. Of Ill" Nrwhrk'
| I'm 1856 Captain ppOn commanding the Maglclriihe
| entered the English Navy IN 1867; Captain il"c
commanding the Tartar, In loGj. and Captain lanili
| ton commanding the Blake. fl l-GG Captain -
Iibcro commanding the Giovanni Bansan. and tapialh
| 1,ollc commanding the Dognli. entered ihc Italian
Navy In 600 When this comparison j. extended u"
subordinate officers II Is that the Americans are
| with few exceptions middle aged men. Will The
| foreigners are yOung ard more active The aN"raer
ng Of American subaterns IS forty that OF the foreign
| officers thirty.