Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-01
A Senate Resolution Introduced to
Overcome Its Result.

Mr.. Bowers, assistant controller of the
treasury, has rendered decision which up
sets a practice that has obtained In the
navy for the past forty years. This action
following SO soon after his decision hold
Ing that naval officers have no legal au-
thority to assign the whole or any portion
of their salary to their wives or families
has caused a general chorus of protests
from the naval contingent. In both cases 1t
became necessary to appeal to Congress for
relief, and the right to make assignments
has already been made clear and indisput-
able by specific legislative enactment, and
a measure for the remedy of the other ques-
ton In dispute has already passed the Sem
ate.
The latest trouble is explained in a letter
man of the committee on naval affairs, in
the following words:
This department has just received a copy
of decision rendered by the assistant con-
troller Of the treasury in the case Of Albert
W. Brown, steward to the commander-in-
chief, North Atlantic squadron, who was
discharged from the United States flagship
New York on April 80, 1895, by reason of
the expiration of his term of enlistment
Brown. having received an honorable dis
charge, under section 1906 Of the Revised
Statutes, desired to re-enlst in pursuance
of the provisions of section 1913 of the Re
vtsed Statutes. The two sections referred
to are as follows:
Section 1926. Honorable DISCHARGES NAV
be granted to seamen, ordinary seamen.
landsmen, firemen. coal beavers and boys
who have enlisted for three years.
Section 1913. If any seaman, ordinary
seaman, landsman, fireman, coal HEAVIER or
boy, being honorably discharged shall re-
enlist for three months thereafter he shall,
on presenting his honorable discharge, or on
accounting in satisfactory manner for its
loss, be entitled to during he
months equal to that to which he would
have been entitled If he had been employed
In actual service"
The controller decides that Brown Is not
of the classes entitled to an honorab dis
charge as provided in section 1925 which
discharge Is prerequisite to obtaining the
advantages of the three months extra pay
provided for in section 1873, nor II he were
entitled to an honorable discharge is he in
cluded within the classes specified in sec
ton 1913" and he holds accordingly that
Brown cannot be paid the three months
extra pay for re-enliSting."
This decision of the controller is far
reaching in Its effects, and will deprive a
most meritorious class Of enlisted men of
the benefits conferred by the Revised Stat
utes. 1t will exclude from the benefits of
the statutes all enlisted men who by rea-
son Of their fidelity and obedience. have
been advanced to a higher grade and who
would appear to be especially deserving Of
the pay and bounty granted by the law for
re-enlstment. The construction of law en-
bodied In the assistant controllers decision
in this matter Is contrary to the construc-
ton placed upon the law by the department
In Its practical administration for a period
of more than forty years. and will prove in
furious to the interests Of the service
In consequence of these representations,
the Senate has adopted resolution pro-
viding That the benefits of honora BILE dis
charge as conferred by section 1926 of the
Revised Statutes, and of three months paw
upon re-enlistment after honorable dis
charge, as conferred by section 1873 upon
seamen. ordinary seamen, landsmen, fire
men. coal beavers and boys be and the same
are hereby extended and made applica BILE
to all enlisted persons In the navy"