The sun., 1894-12-26
PRoxorfoS IN TIE NAVr.
How the Prospects OF the New BHIl Are
AGected By the Question OF Cost.

wAsHISGroN Dec. est is hard 10 say what
is in store for the bill of the Joint Commission
reorRanizing the personnel Of the navy. One Of
the leading drawbacks TO it's success at the pres
ent session is that II calls for increase Of ex-
pense, mainly in consequence Of the creation
of n reservelis Although the total number Of
officers on the active list is to remain as now,
the retired and reserved lists will be so much In
creased that the number of officers will be much
greater than now, and each year these lists will
be augmented under the system Of compulsory
Withdrawals from the active list. Again, the
active list itself will call for much larger an
nual pay appropriation, because the number Of
officers in its higher grades is greatly Increased
under the present bill that of the lower grades
being correspondinRly decreased.
There has also been disposition to resist one
feature of the plan on which the committee had
relied for the purpose of reducing expenses lit
tie. This feature is the equalization of pay for
the staff. The latter have long desired TO gain
positive rank. and their ambition in this direc-
tlon has been bitterly opposed by the line. The
present bill gives them the coveted positive
rank. but at the same time puts their pay in
conformity Herewith, which In some cases
means reduction. The stan are inclined to
kick at this, and to want both the increased
honor and tho present pay. They say that II
any equalizlng is to bo done II should be un
TNtncT lIOn uOWn, DrlDglnR the Inc 10 leVtl
with the staff in the matter Of nay. or course,
the line would make not the slightest objection
to haye the equalizing done In that form; but Y
can be Imagined how much chance the bill
would have in Congress with an expensive reor-
EaniEation. made more expensive simply in order
to settle this question between staf and line.
Tho wiser plan might he to drop the equallzing
feature as being source Of dissenson; but then:
OF course. the result would he a larger amount Of
expense in the plan whole than the Joint
Commission had counted upon.
Another element of doubt a. 20 the future
attI hV ha I'M hpT
changes that have heen made in it, There have
been extensive alterations In the measure as at
the question what rank should be given TO those
who have the relative rank Of Commodore,
since this grade is abolished by the bill Is now
stead of Rear Admiral.
Of ocetps ebnve tbs or rnn yG of
mander, who havo served thirty-five years or
more, on their own application. upon three
serve list is brought n 70 sec secure s The pmi,ory
vacancies. needed in order to get the desired
The service required for promotion is three
years Tor promotion to the grade of Ensign, two
thirds of 4 being sea service; six years to the
grade OF Lieutenant; two years as Captain COM
mandinE seagoing war vessel to the grade OF
Rear Admiral; while for the latter promotion
the Captain must al lso have at least four more
years to serve In order to be placed the retired
list. 1t has already been noted that Rear Admit
dent from the Captains, n Board OF Rear Ad-
mirals selecting three names from the list for
his consideration upon each vacancy.
In the sections of the bill relating to the staff
there have been scores OF changes. Many Sec
tions of the original bill have been stricken out
altogether. Among them are the one providing
for surgeons Of the fleet, although fleet surgeons
which Is a different matter, are retained; the
one providing for assistant bureau chiefs: the
one for inserting in the commissions Of staff
officers their relative rank with the line and
on.
But while such changes suggest the likelihood
that Others will be attempted. IL is worth noting
that nearly all seem to be In the direction OF
eliminating doubt ful or IiSpliteI nninta nd
they may prove OF advantage in insuring the
OF the bill.