New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-03
my LGRAPM 10 TIE TRiEINF.I

TARY RETIREMENT SO As TO squire
MORE SPEEDY PROMOTIONS.
Inr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIGrxEI
Washington. March 2.-Secrecy IN relation 10 me
proposition Of Secretary Herbert TO improve the
condition OF the line officers of the Navy SID
mittel Yesterday 10 the Joiat Committee on the
Naval Personnel was removed to-day The scheme
has for It's object the attainment of command
rank by officers of the line AT reasonably cary
age by a system of voluntary and involuntary
retirement of officers OF and above certain grades
Accompanying the proposition is an argument snow
ing the unsatisfactory condition of the naVaI per
sonnet to-day; the causes which brought about the
present congestion in promotion. and the remedy
suggested to bring abou; needed changes and re-
suits The bill proposed by the Secretary hAh'9
the following recommendations
That the active list of the line Of the Navy shall
be composed Of % rear-admirais. 60 captains lV
commanders a Heutenant-commanders. go ieii-
tenants 80 leutenanis of the junior grade and the
number of ensgns sufficient TO maintain the totai
number Of officers Of the active list OF tho iIne III
Guiding thu officers appointed from the Voluh''e'
service now fixed by law
Officers appointed from the volunteer service
shall continue on the active list in addition TO the
number stated for the grades in which they no"
are or TO which they may be promoted. r1ul re-
moved by casualties process OF law; Dut 'HeE
are not TO be subjected TO the involuntary retlre-
ment provided for in the bill. Thrty-hVe i tne
number OF vacancies In he grade oi e"S'S" "'''e
may be filed each year
THO grad. of commodore Is abolished. officers
On the active list and entitled 10 the relative rank
Of commodore CHE englneer-n-chief' payhlaS'''-
general surgeon general and chief constructor are
TO receive the shore pay OF rc1r-adinlrdlS anu wv
pay OF retired commolorcs j. not 70 De "Hee''''
| Volunteer officers may. upon application 10 the
| Secretary of the Navy AZ any time be retired upon
- per cent OF their sea pay arl "ihc'TS 81 ''e
grades Of captain, commander ana H"uteh"I''oo''
| mander may. after thirty years service '' '0"
| sidercd "a applicants FOR voluntary retirement"
The principal departure from existing law 10 Sc
cure the necessary number OF vacancies 10 insure
The. promotion 81 officers is found In section whch
proyldcs that should it b. found that the vacancies
from casualties ard retircm'n's pursuant 10 exist
| Ing law are not sufficient . cause slNtee" prom"
| tons yearly to the grade Of commanders ana N'e-
| teen to the grade ~ lieutenant commanders "P
plicants FOR voluntary retirement shall be- 'oIen
I'm such order as The President may direct ~ '"'N'
| the necessary number OF vacancies
| should the number OF vacancies so Greater De
| SIN insufficient the Secretary 81 the Navy S''"
c,nvau. "A board Of not less than i've rear aiuTals
| which, considering only the efficiency OF '"' 80
| vice shall recommend tnr retirement ot 'ho"E"
! officers :, brius the number 90 NacIncl"S III '"e
grades mentioned 10 the required Amii. -, n'r.
than four captains ana coininan I-i3 H'lH ' I'm.
| thon three lieutenant COMMANDERS Sha'i n ~, ~.
selected FOR retirement ~ any one $'tE .t,',, re-
the hin i To be construed 20 annn tnr ,NS'.U7 ~
| ,tii--ueufs for examination or ofIt'f~ bI'Nt'''
r,,',i',' o,rc.rs f5lnI uron examination to i''
,, .,,nary or l.fr lent ln OH, rlk" qia.'-
! Ties required for The next higher R"'' az ~ ~
! r.fIrrl Win their existing rank ard ou"-h1li "'
! their sea pay Vnr,'i ',D'',,,,.s'l ,,i,hout ray
~ Thn statement prepared hy Secre'ary l'rrnert
which accompanies th" lr9I%r,'' ~ ,,sn, en-
h,rro9''t'T ' ,,,crt of The Navy ari the causes
| diu'n OF mn ON, vie,i,., sf,euailOn IN thr
! "hloh pIDH te -.
! i, ais, contain strong arguments showing ~.
,,.,,,.r a,5 inheritance % remedial legislation AZ
~ ,,,,.,,,. "a. stafus Of such ofc'r~.
tnr nm lii ~ he secretary IS .xplanatOry 81 the
pn" I'"l'i" ~ ''N
c1,nlti'i,S. TIL ,,,, d, .h. command era les have
w me me "l'''I9 - " " ,t.ir ,rfly.. srrylc. 10
passed. lArg- l'pFFh 81 ~. - a., ,.t,s nav. al
tnoIr tr!l l, ,,rr trot5ron OF ,tcr service 10
s,1,,rlin,ir ranks Such a condition IT, not "nt ."