The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
\ KILKENNY FIGHT Is BEING
WAGED AMONG OUR NAVAL
OFFICERS.
Some Discrimination Among the Privates
That Exists in the Navy and Not in
the Army to the Great Injury of
the Navy.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-The officers Of
our navy composing the two branches
known as the Zine" and the "staff'' form
q body which in one respect at least CLOSELY
resembles the most prominent feature
of church choir-always at dagger points
with each other and always ready for a
quarrel. At present this propensity is
liable to lead them to the fate of the
kilkenny cats If they are not very care
full, or to speak more plainly, their con-
tentions may result in the defeat of the
Dill for reorganization of the personnel
of the navy. This is a thing that is great
" desired by the naval authorities and by
the officers of the service, especially the
young men who see in it their only prac-
ticai chance for speedy promotion. The
trouble seems to be this: From the origi,
nal organization of the navy there have
been the two classes in the service above
referred to. The officers of the line have
a positive rank and receive certain COM
pensation. The staff officers are given
what is known as relative rank, but
their pay is greater than that given to
line man holding the same rank. This
has caused the dissatisfaction-to the staff
ofhcer the question of rank and to the
line officer the question of pay. The bill
equalize both rank and salary and here
is where the trouble lays. The staff men
do not want to give up any of their in
CREASED pay ana the line men do not
wish the other class ranked with them,
as they have always looked on them as
a Kind of inferior race of men. Thus the
bitter fight has gone on, and in the end
may result in so thoroughly disgusting
congress that they will decide not to
make any change at all.
Aside from this quarreling in naval
ranks the bill stands an excellent chance
of being passed. 1t has had the careful
consideration of the house naval com.
mittee, which has prepared favorable
report soon to be introduced. In order
to relieve the congestion in the higher
ranks of the navy, which, 1t is said re-
suits from large numbers of officers
from the rank of lieutenant commander
to captain, and who are graduates of
classes from 1S60-GS, the report recon-
mends:
First-To make vacancies by removing
a considerable number now in the con.
gested grades.
Secondly increasing the number in
the upper grades.
The first could not be accomplished
without injustice and hardships to
number of meritorious officers whose
services during the late war would be
lily repaid by harsh treatment now, to
correct an existing state of affairs for
which they are not responsible. The
second only by making the upper grades
abnOrmally large. BY combining the two,
giving at the same time opportunities
for voluntary retirement and retaining
those who are selected as especially
deserving, from officers who served in
the volunteer service, and by the crea-
ton of a reserved list, there will be in
augurated system which will tend to
create a class of officers of an age sutfi-
GENTLY young and the same time eX
perienced, to command fleets and ships.
The committee seems to be of the
further opinion that the comforting of
actual rank upon staff officers will not
have any injurious effect upon elf
cheney Of the service so long as their IL
ties remain distinctive of their duties
and the authority of the several corps
remains as now established by law and
the regulations of the navy. 1t will re-
move the hong existing cause of strife
and contest in the service, and it is
therefore recommended that an actual
and positive rank be conferred upon all
staff officers, and that equal pay be
given to both line and staff officers of
equal rank. The report also recommends
the promoting of the colonel commandment
OF the marine corps to the rank OF DrlEa-
der general and adds an additional colo
mel for duty on the Pacific coast to the
list.
1t further says the opportunities for
the advancement of the enlisted men of
the navy are more difficult than exist
under many governments of Europe,
and yet, Notwithstanding his qualifica
tons and zeal, n commission is denied |
him. Promotion from the ranks are fire.
quent in the army, and these opportuni |
ties have undoubtedly attracted the bet |
ter element of our young men. Our |
vessels are manned by foreign seamen. |
American boys will not enlist if an Off |
GERS commission is beyond their reach.
retired list is therefore recommended |
for the enlisted men of the navy, SINH
lar to that of the army, and also that the
oath of allegiance and citizenship now
in force for the privates in the army be
hereafter applicable to seamen.
o.