New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-07
NAVAL PERSONNEL REFORM
DRAFT OF A PROPOSED BILL LAID RE.
FORE SECRETARY HERBERT

~ ooMEs FROM OFFICERS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO
THE MEYER BIr.I-sOME OF ITS PROVISIONS
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrprNEl
washington, jan 6-The senior officers n, ,ha
i"e vi .he navy through their representative Com
mouore matthew's laid before Secretary Herbert 70.
Jay the draft OF proposed bill to reorganze the
Naval personnel 1t was said In these dispa ,ches a
snort time ago that there were serious differences
IN the line. and that number OF the older officers
"ao wi'norawn from the regular association and
FORMED separate organization Some OF the
seniors oppose the well-known Meyer BILL believing
mat measure to be unwise in many provisions and
Others are against it because 1t creates reserve
list to which they might be transferred
Inc suggested measure contains a number OF new
lucas IL provides that the personnel Of the Navy
snail consist of executive branch a medc,
branch an accountant branch, an engineer branch
chaplains. naval constructors professors OF rnathe
mates, civil engineers. naval cadets and enlisted
men Inc active list Of the executive branch Is
10 consist OF ten rear-admirals ten commodores
sixty captains. seventy commanders one hundred
lieutenant commanders and a number of lieutenants
heutenants junior grade and ensigns sufficient
MAINTAIN the total number OF officers on the active
hs' exclusive OF those appointed from the volunteer
service at the limit fixed by law Volunteer
omcers are to remain on the active list until
moved by retirement casualty and TO be In addi-
ZION to the number at present authorized. The
special age limit provided for in the proposition Is
not 10 relate to these officers. Promotion in all
grades is to b. by seniority. subject to prescribed
examinations Thrty-hve is fixed the number
or ensgns that r1ay be appointed in any year
from graduates Of the Naval Academy Cadets
to be admitted to the Academy who between
the ages OF fifteen and eighteen years. All cadets
are TO be subject to the orders OF the Presden; anl
! to the Disciplinary Laws and Naval Regulations.
warrant officers include boaswains. gunners. car
penters. slilmakers and mates Their number Is
TO be fixed by the President
Ensigns commissioned in any year after the propo-
sition becomes law to he examined for pro-
motion to the grade Of Junior lieutenant within
three months prior TO their completion Of four years
service. No ensign Is to be eligible for promotion
who has not had three years duty sea. two Of
which must have been spent board a regular
cruising vessel of Sickness will be accepted
as sufficient excuse for ensign not TO comply
with this exactIon Ensigns must undergo exami-
nations relative to their physical. mental, moral
and professional fitness before they be pro-
NOTED. They are TO be advanced in the order OF
merit. and all found TO meet the requirements are
&c be promoted on July OF each year. Those who
fail in their examinations are TO be dropped
Junior leutenants who have completed cruise
Of three years such also to be examined for
promotion at the end Of four years service in that
grade. and II found qualified in all respects may be
advanced to the rank of eutcnants or The Total
six years service prescribed, not less than FIVE
must be exclusive of staff duty.
Promotion 10 the grade OF rear-admiral. commo-
dore. captain. commander, Lieutenant comma ndcr
lieutenant the active list is to be by seniority
subject TO required examinations fixed 10y law.
After the grades established the senior captain
is not TO be advanced If he Is ffyeight years
OF age Captains these limits 10 be
retired with IS cent Of their sea pay Exceptions
made In the OF captains who have served
faithfully for forty and who found physi-
cally unfit for service account OF wounds re-
ceived in tbs line of duty Such officers 20 he
made comint dores AMI then retired Sea service IA
prOVGel n to a IieutpnaniS
must have cruscd for five years. Lieutenant
manders two years additional as executive officers.
commanders two years more az commanding officers
and captains four years in command.
This a section o. the pr01os.t which the
older officers believe viii br ng about number o.
vacancies IN the line Section ANY Officer - the
Navy who has served who sfal have served T
faithfully thirty years MAJ. upon hts own appl "a
ton and IN the discretion 81 ;hc Prosden'. o. re-
tired from active service and placed uFon Tie re
tired ls; with thrcequarters OF the sea nay % -
grade. and any officer below ihe rank @! 'apiain +
who has served shall have served ioncraoy b
:hirty-fve years may. upon his O"n apiI atom /
and In the discretion Of the President. Ne retired /
from active service and placed upon the rc;i'"d ESi
OF the Navy with the rank and retired pay OF he
higher grade created
reserve Est is thus: ANY person Who has been /
tororaby discharged from the Navy after passing I
the final graduating examinato NJ the naval Acad
envy. any one who shall have paes-d SAID exam I
.naiion and shall have received said honorable dis
charge may upon application Do commissioned by
the President In the reserve list in the lowest grade
OF tho branch o. the Navy Marine Corps for !
which his services may be adapted n case Of war
Any person wto has resigned OF been honoTab} Is
charged, who shall resign or be honorahiy as
charged from any commissioned grace OF IN" navy !
or Marine Corps except a person VINO res gins or
has resigned to avoid charges OF misconduct or v'o-
iation Of Naval laws or regulations. and except !
further a person VINO resigns or has resigned in or
der TO avoid active service In tine OF war may
upon application be commissioned BY the president
in the reserve list in he grade from Which ne re-.
for the reserve list must be OF gpod mora cnrraie
Officers OF me reserve si s MAJ mo no nod ANY, ssa
or emoument In time OF peace. Du' the! Sa1' IT,
sup} se same 40 manner as Officers Of The active list
and when employed IN time o. war eithe; as~ore
sea. officers OF the reserve hst shal %, en-
lied the pay and allowances as oifc ,h
of the same grade on ne aciye nI' all he sTbect
Il the laws and regulations for the government OF
grsdes IN reserve list in The brancA to which they
beons snch pr9me,'Hns Voicers OF ;he rye
ils shall be commits stoned by and win tnc huN.I
sH aw "r the appoin,ment Of officers active
list and Their nT ram anH egscr An otiicer Of
the list may be dismissed from ine 49,
an oalcer ana gentleman pr9vded a% at rial ~
couri-martia IN such case sna no, pc -,
wear the uniform OF ,her grades upon ocras 3Ns o.
ceremony TIE Secretary o, 'n rras nE Tes to
carry into effect the pr0vis ons .! this secl on
Relative 10 the staff officers. the proi os'on say.
'Tho activa list OF the staff Of the Navy shd1 com
prise the medical braNch. accountant Drdnch, ehsd
ncer branch chaplans prof ssors OF nataci,s tcs
naval constructors and civil. onH.heers Stail o.
fcers shall BE- entitled by v!rue OF th,r rahh 10
command in the executive branch or any branch tX
cept that TO which they belong AZ orders issurI
by the executive officer the oflcer or me u''k
OF Government Vessel. In the performance OF IN ir
respective duties sha.: be construed as me oiderS
~ the commanding officer. and shall be ob-yed ac
cordngy The titles OIL officers shal nilcate mi
dut,es md The branch which they be.Ong. Al
ofcsrs shall be addressed by their tites. provided
that officers below the rank OF commander may b,
address nv their titles mister. or doctor, "a
mav he appropriate. No officer shall :ose status