Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-24
NAVY PERSONN mel
Bill Prepared by a Joint Congress
sional Committee.
CONFLICTING OPINIONS IN TIE SERVICE
Arguments of Those Who F. vor
the Pending Measure.
THE OPPOSITION'S VIEWS

All the officers Of the navy display an
intense interest in the pending legisla-
ton for IAN increased efficiency Of the
personnel Of tho navy and marine corps"
It contemplates an extensive reorganization
of the navy as at present constituted and
is far-reaching in Its effects. The naval
affairs committees Of both houses have
agreed upon a measure, designed TO remedy
the acknowledged defects in the existing
system. This bill occupies a favorable
place OH the calendars Of the Senate and
Of the House, and will probably be taken
up for consideration In one or the other,
and possibly in both, houses next week
The two bills. while differing in verbiage,
are practio ally the same in all essential de-
tails. Their provisions have already been
published in The Star, and consequently
are well known.
Conflicting Opinions.
Recently considerable opposition to the
pending measure has developed among
class of naval officers whose interests are
said to be jeopardized by it's provisions. A
Star reporter. who investigated the matter
today, found that there were two distinctly
conflicting opinions among naval officers
as to the merits of the proposed legislation.
1t is favored by all the line officers below
the grade of lieutenant commander and by
about 10 per cent of the line officers of
and above that grade. 1t Is strongly OPP
posed by all the staff corps and by about
80 per cent of the line officers Of and above
the grade Of lieutenant commander. Each
side is constrained to admit however,
that it's position is Influenced to an extent
by personal considerations. There is no APP
parent dispute on the general proposition
that something must be done for the inn
provement Of the service. The controversy
iy a T1TS CT jralV he n <
contamination.
AS a result of a general canvass The Star
Is able to present briefly the representa-
tive views of both sides to the controversy.
The position of the naval officers favorinS
the pending measure is embodied in the
following prepared statement:
Those Who Favor the Proposed Bill.
1.-THE reorganization Of the navy person.
mel has been recommended by the Presi-
dent and the Secretary of the Navy. Con-
gress intrusted the question to joint
commission. which. having obtained the
views OF the Secretary Of the Navy and
many distinguished officers and intelligent
enlisted men, framed a measure, which 1t
is believed will effect the desired end, while
doing the least injustice to individuals
now in the service.
"Of course no remodeling of the service
can be had without interfering in some
measure with the rights and privileges
now enjoyed Dy some OTcerS.
while the Secretary included in his
original recommendation only the line or
executive branch. considering that the va
riouS staff corps were not In such urgent
need of relief at the present time, certain
representatives of these corps appeared be-
fore the joint committee and insisted that
they should also be reorganiZed. Some
wanted the line titles. while retaining
their own higher pay Others wanted
their positions chiefs of bureaus made
permanent, instead Of four-year appoint
nents. as the present law requires. These
latter were of course, the present incum-
bents Of these offices, anG it may be that
their ideas would be different were they
rot now holding the places.
Strong efforts are being made by various
staff officers and some line officers to pre-
vent any action on the bill. This is mani
testify wrong and vote should be at once
obtained on the bill, and, If meritorious, it
should pass.
The Committees Observations.
Tho joint committee In its report made
the following observations:
'Recognizing the broad principle that
navy should exist solely for war purposes,
its organization and training should be
with that one end in view Every part Of
the naval establishment should be kept in
q state of readiness for war.
1T Is found that from series of causes,
for which the officers themselves are in
nowise to blame, the active list Of the line
officers of the navy will soon be brought
Into a condition which, If not promptly
averted by congressional action. will in
lure tho efficiency of the naval service to
a degree truly disastrous. This deplorable
will be recognized when it is seen
that while in 1894 the age at reaching the
grade Of rear admiral is fifty-eight years,
this age will increase until. in 1904, it will
be sixty and one-half with only eighteen
months to serve before retirement; in 1894
the age at reaching the grade of captain is
fifty and one-half years, which increases
till, in 1904, it will be fifty-eight and one
half years; in 1894 the age at reaching the
grade Of commander is forty-eight and
three quarter years, which increases till,
in 1904. 1t will be fifty-five and one-nalf
years.
''This condition of affairs is a convincing
argument to an impartial mind that
radical modification Of existing law must
be made to prevent the personnel OF the
line of the navy, for sea service, from be-
coming inefficient from further stagnation
in promotion.
"a man of fifty-six has not passed the
age when he is useful to command one of
these huge fighting machines, provided he
is habituated to the responsibility Of COM
mand and has gained confidence and self
reliance from long experience in command,
but should a man at this mature age be
given command for the first time habits
of dependence, resulting from long years
of obedience to an immediate superior, will
have so become his nature that he will lack
the uuickness and nerve to make the rapid
decisions absolutely necessary to enable
him to direct with advantage a ship, and
especially one Of the modern type.
There is no product of human ingenuity
more complicated than a modern battle
ship, and no officer should be intrusted with
the command Of such vessel whose brain
and nerves have not been so trained as to
enable him to act in an emergency with
and decision. The success in
battle of such a ship depends almost alb
solutely upon one man, and 1T would seem
to be folly to expend $4,000,ooO or $5,o0o0o0
in building such vessel, at the same time
to economic by saving a few thousand
dollars in the training Of the officers who
are to command them"
Views of the Opposition.
The views Of the opposition. including
the staff corps and many Of the older line
officers, are embodied in the subjoined
statement anent the pending measure:
1.-THE hope that Congress had at last de-
yised a scheme for the betterment Of the
navy that would be generally acceptable
proves not to be we'll founded Now that
both naval committees have reported it,
it is being denounced by all the staff corps
and by 80 per cent of the line of and above
the grade Of lieutenant commander. 1t is
q sserted that 1t benefits only the younger