New-York tribune., 1896-01-25
TO SHAKE UP THE NAVY.
A RADICAL REORGANIZATION BILL BE-
FORE THE HOUSE.
BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PERSONNEL. IN
CLUDED IN ITS PROVISIONS IN
PORTANT CHANGES IN EXISTING
LAW PROPOSED.
rBY rELE ,RAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl

[BY rELE iRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Washington Jan. H-Representative Huck mas
stirred up naval circles here by introducing IN 'he
House a radical proposition looking to the reorSahi-
zation of the Navy Department and the naval per-
some. The bill makes many important changes IN
existing law 1t has been referred to the Committee
on Naval Affairs and will be considered BY the
b-commttee on rank, organization and pay, OF
which Mr. Hu.ick is chairman. The bill aoo'ishes
the Bureaus Of Equipment and YARDS ana DOCKS
the office of the Judge Acknowledgement ana ths
Marine Corps In place of the Judge Advocate
Generals office a Bureau Of Law is established 10
be presided over by a So.icitor-General The otner
bureaus provided for are Navigation. Cons'Tuc'oh'
Steam Engineering. Ordnance, Supplies ana Meu-
icine Under the Assistant Secretary OF the Navy
are placed the movements and employment OF OF
ncers and the collection and preservation of records
relating TO them The Office Of Naval Intelligence
is also placed under the Assistant Secretary. In
place of the Bureau of Yards and Docks DIVISION
ia created 1t is placed under the direction OF inc
Secretary of the Navy and its duties relate to inc
work of designing building and maintaining yards,
shops and wharves. The division Is TO nave heau
TO be known as Director of Yards and DOCKS.
The bill provides that the Chief Constructor, En-
gineer-in-Chef, PaymaserGeneral. Surgeoh-ueh-
eral So;icitor,Generai and Director OF works may
be appointed from civil life. Each bureau Is 10
haze an assistant chief and the same option Is pre-
scribed in their selection. The office OF viceadmrai
is created such officer to be appointed from the 'st
OF rear-admirals. Rear-admirals are TO be CHOSEN
by selection by the President from commodores OF
one years service; commodores from the hfs'
twenty captains the naval lists. All nag OIL
fcers are to be appointed by the president NO
captain Is to be promoted who has .ess 'hah io"'
vaars 70 serve on the active list. Boards are TO De
convened TO examine candidates Tor prono'o" ~
the grades OF captains. commander lieutenant
mander and lieutenant in the dinefeht CORPS oI nv
NAVY Such boards are be composed Of officers
- ha m lnrI
month is specified when examinations for the sew
era grades are to be he'd. one provision OF tHe o''
reads that once in two years not more ina" t"o
civilians shall be permitted 70 compete TOT appoint
ment to fll one existing vacancy In the graues Vi
captain, commander. lieutenant commander ana leu
tenant All candidates are TO be appointed III 'hr
or6er of merit as known on their examinations
For vacancies in the grade OF lieutenant gunner
and boatswans made eligible canu'uh'eS'
Civilians have equal chance with naVa' o'lceis
for selection TO the offices In the Constructors
Engineers. Surgeons and Paymasters corps. NO
change is made In existing laws re.ating to CHAP
lalns and civil engineers
Officers to be eligible to promotion 10 'he s'a'e
OF captain be not less than hfty years oi age
TO the grade Of commander. not less than forty-nVe
wears Of age: to the grade Of eutensnt-commahder'
not less than thirtyelght years OF age to the s"de
of lieutenant not less than thirty years OF age. ana
10 the grade Of lieutenant junior grade. not Tess IS
than twenty-four years Of age Inc age i"h' III
The active list OF the line OF the Navy Is to CON con,
commodores forty captains. sixty commsnders; nG;
eighty lieutenant commanders ~ asnans and
forty gunners The Constructors Corps Will number
eommanders, twenty ieutenants twelve junior lieu
tenants and not more than l2O warrant asslstahi,
be eight captains. twelve commanders, thirty thirty leu leu
tenant commanders forty lieu,enan's thiry nn meI
neers For the Medical Corps there are proposed
nd
on seons The pay Corps is to comprise six captains.
thirty lieutenants ten Junior lieutenants ana sixty
CORPS is 10 include two captains three COMMANDERS
three lieutenan commanders. three Heutenants ana
three junior eu'enants and the Corps OF Civil vn
Engineers twelve captains. two commanders TWO
lieutenant commandsrs two leuenans and d, two
fessors Of mathematics are to BE- MADE - ~.
nnf Maxa institution and placed under
vision Of the Board Of Regents; It's proposed name
is ,o the the Marne Corps are prohibited and graduates
Of the Naval Academy now in that corps may be
One section Of the biz reads: That all officers Of
the Navy shall ake rank and precedenee according
chiefs Of bureaus and rear-admirals. commodores
and directors Of works. assistant chiefs Of 6urssus
iieutenants junior lIeutenants and ensgns and war
y1ps vdss no the p
of the Navy is to be permitted to enter civil en-
sea and duy % IF ss n !1s asvs TO TO
their grade, except in cases OF sickness and where
the OF the Navy by special order exempts
an oncer from duty for period not to exceed .
serving such, the first four chapains. all civil
engineers and the first ten officers OF all the other
corps (exceptng nag oficers) shall not be required
to perform sea duty in time OF peace"
the years 1861 to 1867. inclusive. may be placed
the retired list with the next higher grade and
surplus officers made by the bill who have reached
the age Of fifty eight may retire with the rank Of
captain The bill contains number Of additional
radical propositions.