Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-02
PERSONNEL OF THE NAVY
The Joint Committee Making Preparations
to Investigate It
Changes In the Status and Organise.
ton of Both Stan and Line
Omcers Needed.

sonnet of the navy, has begun its prepara-
lions for work in hand and a determine
ton is expressed to make the investigation
as thorough as may be practicable. with the
hope of being able to make some recon-
mendations which will remedy such evils
as now exist. The need Of the reorganiza-
ton to which this investigation looks is
not new. Its importance has long been
recognized by the Navy Department and by
Congress, but 1t has remained Enacted upon
because Of a want of time and a failure to
secure concerted action.
1t Is proposed to try to find a proper
means for the reorganization Of both stan
and line Of the navy as well as to provide
a means of promotion for the enlisted men
and to find a means other than that of
seniority of service for securing promo
ton.
The STAFF Corps.
Much conflict Of opinion exists as TO the
organization and status Of the STAFF of the
navy. this being especially true of the en-
gineer corps. Some contend that the pres
ent authorized force Is greater than Is need
ed; others that the number is inadequate and
should be enlarged. The former class argue
that skilled engineers are needed, mainly
Tor the purpose Of construction and scientific
work on shore. and that separate corps of
oOAAS ShohicCiS, uTdWn from the ma
chinist trade, would prove sufficiently ef-
ficient under the general supervision of
The line officers. The committee will try
TO decide between the two factions and
make recommendation in accordance with
the racts as they are found to exist
Officers of the Line.
The advocates Of a change in the reeula-
IONS controlling the line officers. including
the Navy Department officials. contend that
-
De made to prevent the personnel from be-
comirg totally inefficient from congestion
and PARALYSIS
They say that owing to ya-ious causes the
retfrements are very slow, and chances for
PaoIiouon consequently few. By the act of
ioo- reductlon of twenty-nine was made
IA .ne number OF rear admirals. commo-
uo-es' captains and commanders. This put
stop TO promotion In taking away SO
many possible vacancies: and these being
al the head of the list. the effect was felt
W Snrough every grade. During the war the
naval Academy was crowded because of the
tnen felt want of educated naval officers
ana cadets were passed through to gra Qua
tion with the utmost -apidity. In 1865 there
were 400 midshipmen in the academy and
this number practically held up for ::everal
years. The requirement for their services
suddenly fell Off and the navy was unable
TO absorb and provide Promotions for the
graduates. Fifteen of the graduates of
1853, the foremost men in the class became
In 1872, at the age of twenty-four. lieuten-
ants, and at the age of forty-six they still
hold the same rank.
Slow Promotion.
AS an Illustration of the way the present
system works. 1t is calculated that of the
eighteen line officers of the navy at present,
who entered the service prior to 1860 there
Will be twelve remaining ten years hence
or the 295 who entered between 1880 and
1851 il iS 6Sfiroa tod hot ~
OF 1904 there will be still alive and in service
$50. The senior of these $50, who will be at
the head of the date of 1860, will be the
seventh commodore, and the junior who
VIII be at the foot of the date of 1867 will
be the forty-ffth lieutenant commander
The latter officer will have been in the SER
wee thlrty-hve years, and IL entered at the
age OF sixteen will be fifty-one years old.
II me rate OF advancement at this point
OF the list be placed at ten per year tand
this is large allowance this officer will
reach the grade of commander thirty mine
and one-half years after the date of entry.
and at the age of fifty-ive and half yea IS
ne Will nave six and one-half years more of
active service.
They argue from this and other similar
Illustrations, that the present system of
promotion by seniority, of rank only. pre-
vents IN many instances the promotion OF
many officers who should be advanced IN
rank on account of merit, and the PRINCIPAL
end in view with the committee will he Inc
finding of means of bringing about a
change in this respect.
The Enlisted Men.
There will also be an effort to p-ovide q
means of promotion for the enlisted men O,
the navy, as it is believed that this will
prove a strong incentive to more efficien,
service. 1t is pointed out that the chances
OF preferment Of this class of our seamen arc
fewer than in many European countries
The committee will go into these and Other
questions, and hopes to be able after a
thorough inquiry and consulate with
those who have given attention to the sub
ject, to report bill which will receive the
sanction Of the Navy Department and @,
Congress, and thus become law
The joint committee is composed Of SEN
ators Butler, Blackburn and Hale, and Rep
resentati ves Meyer. Money and Wadsworth
The Meeting This Morning.
The joint subcommittee held q prelim.
mary meeting this morning in the room Of
the Senate committee on naval affairs. all
the members being presented Senator But.
Ter acted as chairman. The committee de.
voted itself today to a general exchange of
opinions as to how best to proceed to ac-
complish the work required of it by the
resolution under which the committee was
appointed. There was no division of opin.
ion as to the Importance of a complete re-
organization and the securing of a new
system, and while the members manifested
thorough appreciation of the probable
difficulties of putting the personnel of the
navy upon an entirely satisfactory basis
all expressed desire to examine into the
question thoroughly with view to i'm
provement. 1t was decided to call upon the
Secretary Of the Navy for suggestions and
advice, and later on in the investigation to
summon experts and take testimony bear
ing upon the subject in hand. The COM
mittee adjourned to meet at the call of the
chairman.