New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-14
NAVAL PERSONNEL REPORT.
CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE BILL NOW
IN COMMITTEE.
a REARRAXGEMENT OF THE ASSIGNMENTS TO
SERVICE IN THE lINE-TiIE QUESTION OF
sAIAT,Y-GOOD PROSPECTS OF THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNEl

PASSAGE OF THE BILL
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUNEl
Washington Jan l3-Mr. Meyer. of the House
Committee on Naval Affairs. has prepared an IN
teresting report the bill to reorganZe the naVai
personnel. introduced in the House Yesterday. Inc
report says that In considering plan OF reoigahl-
cation the committee had an earnest desire 10
increase the efficiency OF the Navy In adninstra-
tive affairs and for fighting on board snip 10 gave
due Importance to the necessity OF economy III
expenditures. avoid injustice to the corps 10
propose no change OF doubtful efficacy. ana 10
remove far possible all cause Tor co'tehuch
among officers of the several corps
Speaking Of the existing conditions, the report
/ says that from number OF causes. ior "hich
the officers are I'm no manner to blame. the active
list of line officers will soon be in state when
II rot altered b. Congressional ac'ion VIII pe
truly disastrous. and that this fact VIII DC clehr
when II is known that in few years oinceIs
will not he promoted TO the rank of admirai uhti
they sixty and one-haf years old. ana nave
but eighteen months TO serve before retiring.
Officers will thus reach flag rank with Only SIN
years experience IN the command grades II ~
shown and be unfit for the more serious r'spois'-
bilities before them. The cases OF the senior
captain and Junior lieutenant are cited 10 sho"
past and existing conditions in the matter OF
promotion The cap,ain was ensign for only
one and one-haN years n junior lieutenant Tor
the same time lieutenant for three years anu d
lieutenant commander for similar period ne
became a commander nineteen years after si@"ua-
ton at the Naval academy. The junior lieutenant
years ensign. and Las already se'Neu
nearly five years IN his present grade. Under eA-
isiing conditions he would not become Il com
manier until about nfty-hve years OF age OF doo.
thirty-tvo years after graduation. His case IS sao
not to be an exceptional one on the Importance
OF legislation to bring about cnanSe 'o' VIZ
better the report continues: ,, ,or
4
promotions to the command grades 50 that . -
their full vgor and sufficiently, young to adapt
themselves to their duties ana greater F,sp's,
bilities man Of nfty-sM mas MOI passyu w w.
when ne Is useful to command one Of tne My -
huge nghtng machines provided ne Is hantu o on
the responsibility 81 command am mas sa.i,' 49, g.,
nIence and self-reiance from long experience IN
command. but should man at TINS mature Az ."
given command for the first time. habits Of depend.
cncc resulting from long years OF oDelenCe 10 az
thai ne viii lack the quckness AMI nerve to make
the rapid decisions absolutely necessary 20 ci iPi
him to direct with advantage snip ana espeV!"'i
human Ingenuity more complicated IMAM n;oner,n
the romran Of such n vessel whose brain ana nerves
have not been trained as 10 enable nm 20 dct
The success In battle Of such ship depends Amos,
absolutely upoa one nan ana y wou' sen h ~ ng
such a ship. and a; the same time TO economize py
officers who 20 command them
Three principal causes assigned for the pres
cni conditions. The first IL that owing to an cN-
ccssve number Of appointments OF nidshlpmen IN
1871 none were made until 1916. Otfcers OF the
1871 date have retired. and the benefits from mat
source have ceased Closely analogous TO this
cause and operating in the same way. Is the fact
that the number OF of'icc-s who entered the ser
vice between 1916 and ls9 ~ considerably less than
would normally survive and the number OF Te-
tlrements from the head OF the list are below the
normal. and promotions correspondingly fewer
The large number Of designations from the navy
ho he
the subsequent appointment 81 many volunteer
o;nrcre and 90 mdshipmen Who were rush"d
through the Naval Academy In five years to MI
vacancies is given a. tho second cause OF stasna-
ton Data are given show that the service
could not absorb and give promotion 20 such 4
large number Of officers under ordinary conditions
~ waste n. act o. August. lss2. which reduced
hy twcnty-rine the number OF rear adrrals. COM
modor,s captains. and commanders. and cut or
sis heutcnnnt-commandcrs further decreased the
chances Of advancement. Concerning remedies 10
De- adopted. the report says.
\ plan which VIII effect the desired result With
VIC ayrI vbirb NH no, rreativ Increase expend-
lures II difficult devise. bvt of general methods
~ Affirming The purpose sought. those which APP
rcnr most feasible. are.
Firstly making vacancies by removing q con-
siderable number nov In tho cOlgcsied grades.
Secondly increasing tho number IN the upper
grades.
The FRS, could 10, be acromplished without inius
tice and hardship 90 number Of meriorious on
GERS whose -ery,,.s during the late war would b.
ly repaid hy har.h treatment now t. correct an
existing state Of Affairs for which they are III no
wise responsible. The second. only by making IT,
upper graies ,701-ml!y large. Ey combining tn
two. giving ~ the same tim opp 1rtunltics Tor vol
uniary r,tlr"ment and retaining ihos" VINO were
selected a. specially deserving from officers who
served ~ the volunteer service ana bl tnr creation
- a reserye list thnrc VIII b. lnlusuratel sys-
ten which Will tend to create class Of officers o.
an as" sinlclcniN Nogns an ~ IN, I'M uhi, -
p"rcnrcd 70 command our neet- ana ships. Ntcr
service and the demands ior correction o. the con
duens; y - recamrsngei M 1t tnc H.nor OF 3i
ainiirals IG. captains. %. commanders. 100: lcu-
conference.-the. =; neu'enAn's Junior sradc'
N. ensigns about. ~
Relative - the reserve list. the mos, radical II
the proposed departures from existing law, the re-
port saws. In part
This scheme viii practically divide the active list
oi the Navy Into sctg)ng ana shore-siayns NstF
the reserve list always serving shore except IN
reserve list viii have great portion Of The shore
duty. and will have promotion with those on the
the rank Of Captain, The number o. officer on
both lists Will exceed by very iie, for over twenty
years. the number now allowed for the active ns,
and when the seago.ng active list attains rs normal
size the reserve lls;s Will have dropped to about
stil proper amount OF shore duty will be left Tor
transferred. under the circumstances maintain -
status consistent with proper se'f-respect they car
and viii render adeoiate return to the Government
for such pay. Thls would be measure OF economy
retired list. which though possibly more advan,
tsgeous to the officer by leaving his time at his own
disposal for other pursuits. would not give any re-
ceve on thot list Should the occasion to expand
the list OF seagoing officers arise. in the case OF
other serious emergency those on the re-
serve list would from their continuous association
with the Navy, be valuable and natural material
To draw upon. The composition or the list IL snch
to make IT "A thoroughly honorable one. In leep-
ing with the character OF the officers who are 10
form H. and strong safeguards are providsl 20 pr1
vent undcserving officers being transferred to H. IL
Is recommended that the duties Of officers consttut
ing the reserve list include those Of ne COMMANDER
Of the Fish Commission steamers AbatrosS ana
Fish Hawk subordinates In all bureaus of the Navy
Department supernt endent OF the Naval Gun
Foundry inspector OF merchant vessels at New-Nork
and San Francisco. commander and subordinates OF
the Naval Home supervisor OF New DIRK flarbor
superintendent and subordlnates at the Naval on
servatory chief hydrosrapher and officers In charge
OF branch photographic offices. naval attaches to
foreign legations. Instructors AT colenes inspectors
~ steel and armor president and Instructors al tne
Naval War College. heads Of departments ana sub
~. IL Arlnl lnrE