The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-18
THE PERSONNEL or THE VAR.
Progress In the Preliminary steps Toward
I,s Kporn

Progress In the Preliminary steps Toward
Its REORGANIZATION.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-The Senate and the
House have easily arranged the differences
which existed between them on the resolution
for the appointment OF n Jolnt Congress Com
mission to investigate tho personnel OF the
navy. The Senate desired that the Commits
sion should DO selected from the two naval
committees, Very possibly this might have
been done in any case. as matter OF co urtcsy.
and also OF better acquaintance with the sub
ject involved. At all events, the House readily
agreed to the amendment. aud ii IL likely that
the Commission will have mot and begun its
preliminary work before the end OF the month.
The reference Of the problem OF reorCaniza-
ton to a Congressional Commission was urged
by Secretary Tracy in 1892 and he showed
that in this way reforms might he expected
for the whole service. instead Of for n single
branch As long ago. indeed. as 1880 he had
recommended an increase in the number OF
the Rear Admirals from six to ten, and had
pointed out that the reductions Of the per-
sonnet in 1870 had been made when the ships
were decreasing in numbers. and those OF
1882, when the material. in numbers and ef-
fertiveness. had touchej the lowest point. The
new navy. he said called for q now adjust
ment OF the personnel. and the, condition OF
the service. in the grades from Lieutenant to
Insign inclusive were especially deserv-
ing OF attention. The average age OF
the five officers then at the head OF
the lists in these grades were: lieutenants.
nearly "a =; Ensigns. over 81, lie then " ex.
pected that the EVIL would increase during tho
inr distant the whole grade OF Lieutenants il
the navy will be COMPOSED OF men between the
ages Of - and -. They are stil in leading
strings, always com pei ed to refer even unim-
portant qdestions to their seniors. dragging
out the miserable existence OF "a subordinate
whose energies have been sapped. whose am
btion is gone. and who has learned from long
experience to ovade aud shirk responsibility"
This was very strong language. but il shows
that more than three years ago the evils still
demanding remedy were fully set forth.
Mr.. lracys view was that an officer sub
jected to such n system. passing most OF his
life in inferior positions aud much the smaller
part OF his naval career in command rank.
the most efficient service. so that the navy
would eventually DO = in tho hands OF q body OF
officers originally inferior to mono in the world.
but with a capacity that has been dwArfed
and stunted by the results OF this restrictive
Ttsted i increasiac the Iisutenant Gom m AND
ers from "a to IA. with proportionate dimi-
mutton OF the i:ieutenants and greater equal
cation OF the Ensigns and lunior Lieutenant.
lie also urged an Increase in the number OF
engineer officers. on tho ground that the en-
pleXity and delicate adjustment. required the
highest kind OF expert treatment. and that
the safety OF the ships would be- endangered
As is known. Board was appointed to con-
eider the subject thus pteSeRtNi. anu IL maize
an elaborate report: but no legislation was
secured thereon. and accordingly the matter
must he taken IN again. stu, tn" lines Of in
vcstigation have been some what explored. and
the Congressional Commission Will nUd its
path measurably cleared. In addition. secre-
tary Herbert has a plan to Law before II: and.
as has been set forth July in these columns.
his recent annual report depicted in forciblJ
language the existing evils 1t il. therefore
not at all unlikely that tho Com mission may DO
able to report ut tho present session, provided
II lasts as long as usual. The Board Of which
Mt W rad nplv
about three months for similar task. and tho
problem is familiar one.
OF course the assertion that there Is an nm
due slowness in promotion at the present time
docs not conflict with the fact that We see pro-
motions resulting from retirement. from time
IL time. The point urged is that accelerating
the flow will secure create: efficiency by
bringing officers to commanl rank earlier.
one remedy which would probably secure gem
eral approval in the service would lie an in
crease in tho number OF officers allowed to tho
higher grades since that would produce a
general rise through the list