New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
ANOTHER OF BOWLER'S TRICKS
HE INFLICTS HARDSHIP ON ENLISTED
MEN OF THE NAVY.

SECRETARY HERBERT APPEALS TO CONGRESS.
AND THE SENATE PROMPTLY PASSES a REso-
LUTON TO SET THE NATTER RIGHT.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIpuSEl
WASHINGTON. May 9O-Controller Bowler has made
a decision which nhicts serious hardships on GER
tain enlisted men Of tne Navy The action OF the
Controller has been communicated by Secretary
Herbert to Congress and the Senate has promptly
nassed a resolution which will set AZ naught the
effect OF the decision II is expected that the House
VIII act favorably on the resolution and undo the
mischief which Mr.. Bowers decision has brought
about Following is a letter on the subject from
Secretary Herbert TO Congress:
This Department has just received a copy OF a
decision rendered by the Assistant Controller OF th
Treasury in the case OF Albert " Brown; s,e"atd
70 the commander-in-chie. North Atlantic squad
ron who was discharged from the United states
flagship New-York April 80. 1880. oy reason oi
,%s errn,ra,ion OF his term OF enlistment. Brown
hssing received an honorable discharge under sec
on 42 of the Revised statutes, ossI'd 10 E, - =,
st in pursuance OF the provisions OF Section i55 oi
,hs RAyised statutes The two sections referred
'.seeton ia2s Honorable discharges may be grant
d 30 seamen ordinary seamen landsmen. hrcmen.
coaiheavers and boys who have enlisted Tor 'nree
Section LIB II any seaman. ordinary seaman
Iandsman fireman. coalheaver or boy beln. honoI
ably DISCHARGED shall rc-cnlst for three month'
tbeyeaftcr he shall. on presenting his honorable
discharge or on accounting IN "a satisfactory man
ner for its loss be entitled TO pay during the said
.nroa r,on,hs c1ual 10 that u which he would have
bcen enti,iel II he had been employed In actual
service" ,,,,. l., -. -, ,,o
The controller decides that Brown is not OF the
classes entitled to honorable discharge AS pro-
vded I'm Section i26. which discharge - prere-
ouIsite 10 obtaining the advantages OF ne three
nonths extra pay provided for In Section lo'5, nor
n he were entitled to honorable discharg" Is ne
Included within the classe5 specified In section Loo
and ne holds accordingly that Brown cahnot bec
nald the three months extra pay Tor re-enlisuhs
its ELECTS ami will deprive m 'st merltotious cass
Of enlisted men Of the benefits conferred 10y the re-
yised statutes II will exclude from the dement's
of tho statutes all enlisted men wno Dy reason o1
ther fidelity and obedience, have been ADVANCED 10
a higher grade and who would appear 10 De go
necal,y deserving OF the pay ana bounty granted py
he law FOR re-enlsiment The constr lctlon 81 law
embodied in the Assistant Controllers c"'isIoh u,
thls matter f. contrary 10 the construction ''hcei
unon the law by the Department In its practcaI
admlnlstration FOR a period OF more than ior'y
years and w.,l prove injurious TO the interests oil
the service.
Under these circumstances Secretary Herbert Is
| compele! to make an Immediate appeal to con
eress The Senate has passed this resolution
That the benefits OF honorable discharge az con,
ferred by Section l. i25 OF ihe Revised statutes hi'
of three months pay upon re-enlistment aiiei hon
orabe discharge conferred by section Los upon
! seamen ordinary seamen. lAndsmcn hremen; coal
! hcavers and boys be and the same are herepy eN-
tended and made applicable 10 all enlisted persons
| In the Navy.