Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-07
srAGNATIoN, IN THE NAVY.

Commodore Mntthetts' Bill for It's Re-
lief Submitted TO Secretary Herbert.
A measure for the relief Of the stagnation
in the navy. prepared by Commodore Mat
thews, as the representative Of the senior
line officers, has Been submitted to the Sec
rotary of the Navy, with a request that II
be forwarded to Congress with such COM
ments as he chooses to make The bill is
most comprehensive in character. covering
every branch of the naval service, including
the marine corps and the enlisted force.
Naturally, the bill viii not receive the APP
prevail of the yoIngeH officers of the line,
inasmuch as it's terms Are at great variance
with the bill recentiyIprepared by a COM
mittee of the younger officers. The line is
divided on the subject of a naval personnel
bill between the officers of the grade of
lieutenant commander and above on one side
and these below the grade named on the
other.
Provisions of the Bill.
The new measure retains all the ranks
and grades now provided for the line, in
Guiding that Of commodore, which most
tills have sought to abolish. The number
of rear admirals is limited to 10: commo-
dores. 10; captains, 90; commanders, 80;
lieutenant commanders, 100, and a number
OF Junior officers to maintain the total num-
Der of officers now allowed the active list.
The bill limits the number OF appointments
to the grade of ensign each year to thirty
1--WE, and fixes the ages for admission of
naval cadets between fifteen and seventeen.
No ensign shall be eligible to promotion un-
til he has served three years on cruising
vessel All Junior grade neutenants and
ensigns who have completed eight years
service shall be promoted to the next higher
grade on passing examinations, the service
at the Naval Academy being included. Pro-
motions to the grade of rear admiral, COM
mndnra nantajIa Onmandar HRntPpQnf
commander or lieutenant shall be by senior
ity, subject to examination. The senior
captain however, shall not be advanced to
the next grade If he be over fifty-nine years
Of age. Any captain, however, who has
served forty years in the service, and VINO
becomes ineligible by age to advancement
or Is found physically disqualified, shall be
advanced grade and then retired with 70
per cent Of the sea pay of that grade. Cap
tains below the fifth number of their grade
and commanders shall be retired upon reach
ing the age of ffty-eight years. subsequent
to June 30, 1899. Promotions from the low
err grades are to be made with the following
restrictions:
Lieutenants must serve five years at sea,
not more than half of which may have been
on the staff of an admiral: lieutenant COM
manders, two years as executive officer:
commanders two years service in vessels
on active duty; captains, four years service
in ship in commission. In case an officer
is debarred from promotion by reason Of in
~
if qualified. shall be advanced.
A Reserve List Provided For.
The bill also provides thirty years re-
firing clause and also. reserve list for all
corps. This list is to be composed of men
who have been honorably discharged after
graduation from the Naval Academy or who
may resign from the navy. These men, on
application to the President, may be COM
missioned and held in readiness for service
when their services are required They are
not to be paid a salary, however, nor en-
ployed in any naval duty, but shall be sub
ject to the orders of the government in time
of war. The bill does not provide positive
rank for staff officers, and requires that
those above the grade Of commander shall
be addressed by their titles, and those be-
low as mister. doctor or whatever else that
may be- appropriated The bill limits the
number of appointments from the Academy
to the engineer corps to fifteen, and changes
the title Of the chief naval constructor to
that OF director of construction. The chap
lains are well provided for and the rank of
the topmen increased. The leader of the
Marine Band Is to have the rank Of second
lieutenant, and the term of enlistments is
changed to four years,