New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-06
THE NAVY PERSONNEL BILL
SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE MEAsURE-rNJUsTIC
TO NAVAL OFFICERS

SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE MEAsURE-1NJUsTIcE
To NAVAL. OFFICERS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: / am that very much has been pub
lished explanatory Of the Navy Personnel bill ard
its various amendments. and there has been a
great deal said urging the passage OF such meas
ure I will not question that there Is need of a
bill to readiust the Nav in manner that will
get rl OF embarrassments that now frequently
occur and also that wall give justice to those hun
lrods Of officers ard who have consented 70
devote their whole lives to the Government These
men Of the Navy sacrifice the comforts and enjoy
ments OF home life and society and make their
homes on the ocean, IN long cruises in foreign
waters. to protect and defend their country's in
terests for their services they receive much smaller
salaries In proportion 10 the incomes Of those OF
equal education and business capacities engaged IN
business and other pursuits on shore and who
may 20 to their homes every day instead Of stay
ing board of ship. standing watches and going
on shore when in port only when the permission -
given by their commanding officers. But IL the
present bill a just TO them and TO the people?
For instance. Il provides for the abolition or the
grade of commodore. and an Increase OF rear-ad-
mrals corresponding to the number Of commoiores
now, namely sixteen. or, what Is equivalent 10
sixteen maJor-generals OF the Army. Would any
that sixteen major generals are required
for the Army? Then why sixteen rear-admirals for
"A force less than one-hali that OF the Army? The
bill also provides for sixty captains and 100 COM
manders In other words. 100 officers available for
command and with only about forty-five vessels
when all completed. Now. allowing for forty
FIVE commanding officers at sea and forty-fve on
shore. and with 20 per cent OF this number to make
up for deficiencies by sick leaves 0his has been tho
method OF computing IN the plSp' only n'ne'y-hihe
To say nothing In the way OF criticism OF tho
proposed board of five -adrras TO select from
m.rals and those officers OF other grades to be
selected Tor transfer TO the SOCllcb reserve liSt
assuming that they may not exercise any liNorlt,
ism or prejudice. what does reserved list mean?
II simply "A temporary relief for the present
stagnaton OF promotion, and AZ an expense TO tle
people for increase OF salaries Of officers promoted
Including the increased number OF admirals-ot N
the neighborhood OF $3o00O year. How long Viii
demand Of Goner 0 s ana VII not Gongres accte
10 the demand to put the plug into the barrel ana
WAN w.sl f,.w? BIZ you'd be eod in5oi s5
a bA should be susge.teI. those officers on ,nai
lst would make a rush for The re.re- Is anG
then the latter. Ike the rear-aimlr1is .si, w@ut
some fellow from Texas. Ike Bailey. wou.i intro
enough Popuisi votes 70 get MS o. t3ro' = u
retired .st was established IN recognition %: WAat
/, due % officer, who become ncapacltated from
oa Sc contracted In the service and IL should not be
yen az axe 70 or WIN S' ar mund n pro-
fes.ionay or deficient in the ohicerke qualities FIR
ne next higher grade" a. Section y Of the b.. pro-
Y.es. The bill, In section - provides ior turner
Increase IN tho retired list 81 N, 80 captains "aO
De pftt go DE rT1r-difnlfilN NIt-1 i.'.
are .ess Than nfty-elght years u age inasunrh as
those who are passed over VII naturally Apply FOR
r.. rorn-nt under another clause rather than bs
commanded by those who may nave been several
numbers ihelr junior.
Injustice a. also done the staff officers by pro-
pose. reduction IN the salaries Of many or the hga'r
grades Their. too the Bill is 50 SIR Pa" j! Grawn On
The rank question that there VII be ;er+'ucy -
continue me observations So frequently clmqlain' !
T. What ~ STAFF askel FOR was simply that wacn
he Army has always bad. nancy. ros.'i flnk
and military TILE. This would no. caus" any tctul.
.lcr.9cc upon the pAr q tn. Inc. l. WOOL. De JUS
etc.,. :, The -taff and would make he service what
3, should he-m.li'ary throughout Sect N 10 says.
with regarl 20 staff officers. mat they snail receive
orders from the executive oilce- or officer 90 tnH
| ieck whether not they arr superior IN rank %
either II there any good reason for mm1n 10; by
| m act OF Congress that an officer OF junior rank
| may give an order hts superior
Raw. mentioned these po.n's about the SIAN onY
"a Incidental nasmuch The great fault l1 ~" bl.
los In the fact that j, VII uitimltey sal .e hS
Increase 70 the "cosi OF the Navy" that is entirely
unnecessary and would NJ, bring any ma,eria! n
crease OF efficiency 70 tho service . $4,000.
ONE INTERESTED IN THE NAVY.
New-York Aug. ?. 1896