The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-12

some OF the Sweeping Changes which II
Proposes Ia the Navy Personnel.

Senate. at request. by Mr. Hale has ALREADY
| proved, as might have been expected. a sourc,
| OF angry comment from those who would b,
unfavorably affected by IL. As It cuts dowr
the staff corps and abolishps the marine corps
| the latter are pointing out how there nigh
also be fewer limo officers. taking foreign ser
vices for comparison. 1t is limited that one
result may be that the two parts Of the navJ
personnel. instead OF pulling together foi
mutual benefit will so antaRouize each othel
that neither will receive what it hopes for
Some line officers regret that this measure
has been introduced.
The changes proposed by Il are. rs has
already boon mentioned in these columns
very radical. Tho abolition Of the grade oil
Commodore has often been proposed before
and probably would DO gladly accepted, II. as
is now provided, the number OF the Rear Adj
mirais should be increased to twenty. since
there are now but six Of the latter grade and
ten Com odores, II is evident that all the lat
ter and four OF the Captains would become
Rear Admirals to start with. and that there
alter promotion would be directly from the
grade OF Captain to that Of Rear Admiral, which
would te great gain in rank and pay Under
such circumstances tho limo would probably
DO glad TO drop the grade Of Com m odore. which
lie now exceptional among navies. II Is some
times cherished. II is true. as distinctively
American. yet 1t was derived from England,
which. however, long ngo dropped II. This
point. of course. is primarily Of Importance to
the line, yet It also affects the staff since those
OF the latter who would be entitled to tho rela.
tive rank OF Commodore would receive the in
creased relative rank OF Rear Admiral
Mention has already been MAIDS Of the other
main features OF reorganization proposed for
the line in this bill. 1t may be notsd that in
a1Jitlon IN tho rhnn1aa in the N ~, hora ~ oar-
tain grades so as to secure more promotion. IL
provides FOR opening tho pay corps to limo
officers. who nre to be assigned to duty ns pay
masters. az tbs Secretary Of the Navy may di-
rect giving bonds in tue sum Of $50 900 for
the faithful perfOr nance OF their duty. IL
may also be noted that in carrying out tho PRO-
motions provided for in the line advances are
to be made by seniority and without mental
examinations. although officers must be physi-
cally and morally qualified After the prelimi-
nary reorganization has boen effected tho ex-
animal ons now provided by law will BIO re-
CURED for promotion. As has already been
remarked. the NUN Der OF Roar Admirals Can
tains. Lieutenant Commanders. and Lieuten-
ants Is increased. and that of Commanders
and Of the junior Lieutennnts and EnsiGns Is
decreased The general result being to make
many promotions.
Referring now to the staff corps. as has pre-
viously been noted. they arc heavily Gu. down.
The Engineer Corps is to he greatly reduced
but there will be established q corps OF war
rant engineers and ordnance. machinists.
This project has long been one OF dispute be-
tween the engineers and the line. Tho latter
urge that in foreign services there are many
fewcr commissioned engineer officers In pro-
portion to the vessels in comm ssiOn than in
our navy, and that 2 force q sEilled mechanics
Il there substituted. The Engineer Corps has
argued against n similar Arrangement for our
own navy, urging the Importance OF highly
complex M are found IN modern war ships.
The present bill. after arranging for reduc-
ton in the number OF commissi on ed engineers.
who are 20 perform duties Of designing AMI
constructing engines and OF superintendnG
the machinery OF such sea-going vessels as
the Secretary OF the Navy Inny direct, pro-
ceeds to form the warrant, corps. The Presi-
ms many warrant engineers and ordnance ma
chinSls as he may think proper, but not more
any one year. Boards are to be assembled TO
examine candidates and the bill prescribcs
their qualifications 81 ago and SO on. They
nuai increase OF $50 up to 81 5Ou. and may to
retired ON thrre-iourths pay at the. age OF
chief warrant enGinee assigned to "a vessel
will have 10 per cent all!tiom Of SALARY. Thus
the commissioned engineers and intrusted to
The corps 0; civil engineers, which q short
time ago Ind ambitions to enlarge itself. and
even now has pettioned Secrei AIRY Herbert
Tint the next vacancy AS Chief o, the Bureau
its number, would be aboiis he q. tog her I'M
der this hill, and the same is true OF the grade
OF professors OF mathematics. The corps Of
chaplains is 20 be reduced TO fourteen. The |
Nnvnl Observatory. Is to he transferred from
Iii SH' an PSaeS The Sa1onR
This last proposal will please the astronomers. |
OF II is to he noted that the House Committee |
on Naval Affairs has lust made an adverse re- |
rort oil I'LL providing for this change OF |
name and control, and praises the results OF |
the present system, 1t admits. however. the |
ne. 4 OF detailing a worry competent naval oiii- |
ser rs supeIntendent OF the observatory. and |
says that when such man IL found the rule |
limiting tho term OF shore duty should lie re- |
axed sothathe may continue in charge durin:
The Marine Corps Is to be abolished. and In |
rs place the enlisted force Of the navy will lie |
increased. "A partial substitute however. Ia |
men 10 serve at the navy yards and shore sta
ions. and 70 he recruited from the enlisted
service Of tho watchmnn Will DO considered ,
naval service and he l. 10 receive $40 month. |
md may Ee retired after = ixsd number Of
gradually wirhdrasn from the sea.soins ships
he Officers finding occupation in shore duties
hn corTs OF watchTeT. IL should he said that
his question ri the substitution of bueJaekets
or marines ~ the ship gunrd has long been
Rses ;av"Ens II, in the belief TINT II will cause
he enlisted men %t ne navy to respect them
IrEuc strongly for the present system.
The various changes thus proposed are to TO
lis commission or warrant or reducing his
ank, the plan eIng that Of ccaslng To- mako
ew appointments whore CORPS are to bs ro-
need or abolished. The following provision is
so noteworthy;
nHCsr. on The active list OF the Marine Corps, who
ouplr cd the SIX years course at ibc 4. :. AavAl |
cddemy IA the year - aud those lun!nr IN them.
hereby Transferred To the arUNs list u the line al
he navy g. take Iank with their cIlSsmst,s accord
lg 20 stai dinS A. the hua graiAatDu 4" he dslri-
llnel from heir records b, the Academic board ~
he Ma Al Academy
similar provision for transfer 20 the lire
made Tor assistant engineers who crat!u-
ted in lSS and subsequently,. while engineer
Hdets Who complete the six years course
Sithin four years after the passage Of this act.
MI are not selected fer the Engineer Corps !
ray DO eligible to tho line.
Ihe PROV isinns for sundry changes IN ray and
DR. giving To Rear Admirals IN command Of
Gets or squadr"Es an allowance tor official
pteTta inments ARE mainly OF personal inter
II 10 the officers, The proposal 10 give tho
nlisttd Tsn Of the navy "A retired list aud the
Tivilsgs Of naturalization and continuous ser
lee accorded 10 the army has long been urged
Secretary Herbert Is expected 10 send. in a
Dw days, t. the IOlnt committee % Congress i
Inch has charge Of the organization question
is own plan. That viii undoubtedly be taken
: "A basis II consideration. II possible and II
understood 10 he quite Different in regard