New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-05
THE LINE AND STAFF FIGHT AGAIN.
IT COMES Up ~ THE SENATE IL THE SHAPE OF
4 ELL TO REoRGANIZE THE NAVAL


4 ELL TO REoRGANIZE THE NAVAL
PERSONNEL.
Washington Dec. (SpeciaD.-The Cd bght be-
tween the line and staff OF the Navy was reopened
in the Senate to-day. when senator fai" intro
duced a bill to reorganze and increase the person
mel of the Navy and the Marine Corps The bIl
contains many good as well as bad features. II
will meet with opposition on the part OF certain
line officers and of staff officers without exception
Officers OF the Marine Corps regard the measure as
half loaf" and will support 1t. The Dill Is
that agreed on by the Senate members OF the Naval
Joint Commission of the last Congress Briefly. II
pro,ides that the course at the Naval Academy
shall be five years; that candidates for admission
shall be examined in May o: each year; ina, the
age OF admission sha, be between hitceh ana
seventeen years: that cadets found deficient In
conduct shall not he continued at the Academy;
tina, cadets shall be regarded as part OF thu Navy
and be subject to the disciplinary laws and regu-
Iato,s affecting that branch. For the line sixteen
rear-admirals sixty captains 100 commanders,
sevcnty-fou leutenalt-cOmmanders, 20 He'll
tenants seVenty-hve Heuicnants, junior grade,
and "A number of ensigns sufficient 20 maintain the
force at that fixed by law are provided FOR.
Not more than thirty-nve officers are TO he com
missloned In any year. The grade Of c)mmo-
dore is abolished, and Officers in that grade on tn
active list are 10 be made rear-adm!rals. Oifcers
OF the staff who have the relative rank of com
modore are to be made post captains. The pay OF
officers having the rank OF commodore il Hot 10
be affected by the act ami the status Of those or
the retired list is not be changed. II vacancies
among seagoing officers OF the line do not Annually
resui, in sixteen promotions 70 the Srtde ei com
mander and twenty 10 The grade o. Ieutenan, con-
mander candidates fer a reserve Est, when Il
provided for 20 be placed on that Hst, ana
candidates voluntary retire mcnf are To te re-
tired create the stated number OF vacancies:
should there still remain iEsufti lent number OF
vacancies 10 cause the number Of promotions gwen,
OF from three to five rear -admirals which, having
view the greatest good OF the service ana tht.
special fitness Of officers ordered before H. shall
recommend the transfer to the reserve us Oh
number OF captains, commanders ana lieutenant
commanders 10 make good the deficiency.
The reserve list is to be formed of officers who
entered the service between the years lsnt ana
1861. and now on the active list who Apply Tor
not equal a specified numo r. hoard Of rear-ad-
rnlra!s is to recommend what officers should be
placed on the list promotiol on TIE ~ Is an-
Officers transferred to IL viii not TO sen or COM
mand important stations. The stan is TO receive
what its members call left handed rank" that is
and each grade Is 10 have the rank o. CORE
spending rank in the Inc" the number of staff
officers is reduced somewhat. Their pay is made
70 be that OF line officers OF the grade. This
the staff last year and will this year. The rank
given chiefs OF staff bureaus Is that OF post
hgh;. All staff officers are 20 be addressed by
their professional titles not those indicated by their
military rank. They are not 20 assume command
afioat ashore. but under their Inc commanders
ments. In matters OF discipline they are TO be
subject TO authority Of all officers Of the line on
duty.
cclones, twenty captains. thirty first lieutenants
and twelve second lieutenants.