New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-30
NAVAL, OFFICERS OBJECT.
THEY ALL HAVE SOME FAULT TO FIND WITH
TILE PROPOSED DrIJ REFORMING


1r.,,r,,on Julv % (SpeclaD.-The Joint commit
90. NJ the Senate and House Committees on Naval
Affairs has finished It's Inquiries into the neehs OF
the naval personnel. and agreed 70 scheine Oh re-
organization. 4 report on the subject VIII Nv In''
before the regular committees In 70" Gays Inv
scheme includes both officers and men the prop
os,t,on relating 10 officers IL not altogether saus
,.o,o-y to those concerned. A number 81 llne
omcers object TO certain features OF the measure
while the staff IS arrayed against sections more or
less seriously affecting themselves Unless '"e
pronostion is modified by the regular committees
u 70 doubtful II anything Is accomplished III '"e
nav Of remedia. legislation during the present
o,s,on ~ congress Captains OF the line object
800 particularly 10 the idea OF selection 10 the
grade Of admiral. They also are opposed 10
the Idea that they shall have three years sea service
in their grade before being eligible for promotion
The reserve list IS opposed by the commanders
and lieutenant commanders for two reasons. II Is
s,,d that the removal OF active efficient officers Is
Inconsistent with the object In view ana mat the
manner Of "seecng OUT officers OF excellent char-
ac,er and records is unjust
Whether or not these officers and the captains
will get up any organized opposition 10 Inc JOINT
committees proposition remains TO be seen The In
d,cations are that they will. There Is little doubt
that staff officers will earnestly oppose the scheme
az the Joint committee Serious objections relate 10
the idea Of reducing the pay OF medical. pay and
engineer officers TO that Of line officers OF equal
grade The proposition cuts GOWN the pay vi en-
gineer officers In certain grades over $4,000 year.
The nav OF other STAFF corps is similarly reduced.
! The proposition seems TO be an unfortunate one
AT this time There q number or theories as
10 why IL was started Some say the officers in that
| "himp' of the line originated II with the under.
standing that stan officers would oppose II and
Tins prevent the passage OF any Legislation Others
say that the idea IS an economical one. got up to
| offset a very large increase IN the expeilltures
necessary 10 carry out the line re9rganza ton.
Whatever the object. the fact remains that The
| idea has brought on, 50 much opposition on the
part OF STAN officers 10 delay II not prevent. the
Adoption OF any legislation: The proposition also
! cuts down the number OF officers In certain STAFF
corps II gives them positive rank. but denies
| them the right 10 military command or 10 ati-
thority over line officers This latter feature will
| occasion further opposition.
/ AT its last meeting the joint committee added the
civil engineers and professors OF mathematics 10 thc
| military branch. All stan officers OF the military
branch are now have positive rank, that Is. they
are 10 rank with certain officers OF he line ac
| cording 10 seniority. They be addressed by
| their tties as given In their commissions Neither
| anoat nor ashore are they to assume anv military
| Command but under the commanding officer OF q
ship or station they to have all necessary au-