The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-20
THE NAVY LIVE MIL.
Its Features as acknowledgements for
Service REORGANIZATION.

Itp Features as lot
Service REORGANIZATION.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The bill agreed upon
at the recent meeting of the Naval Line Com.
mIttee. held in the Arlington Hotel. differs
from the one which the same committee ad.
vocated several months ago in several rartic-
ulars. its purpose being to endeavor to remove
some of the objections of officers who would
suffer under the original bill. or who for other
reasons did not approve its provisions.
AS It now stands, tho bill abolishes the grade
Of Commodore. making the present officers OF
that rank:Rear Admirals. and len-ing the other
seven grades in force. Then it redistributes
the present number Of officers among the seven
grades. so AS to secure many promotions. In.
stead Of Tx Rear Admirals and ten Commo.
dores on the active list. as now. there will ee
sixteen Rear Admirals. Instead of forty-1ve
CAPTAINS and eighty five Commanders. there
will be sixty Captains and seventy Command.
ers. The number of Lieutenant Command
ers Ia increased from seventy-four to one hun
dred. while that OF the Lieutenants and Junior
Lieutenants remains at 250 and 20 respe ,tive.
". But az tho total effect thus far is to add
twenty. six-oflcers, n final provision Is that,
instead of 40 Ensigns, as now. there shall only
be enough to keep the active list at its pres
emit aggregate size: and not more than thirty
five are to be SO commissioned from any one
ANY Captain or Commander. who served
during. the civil war may. upon hts.own appli-
next higher grade, provided that the number
Of such retirements shall be limited to twenty
five and shall all be made within a year.after
also be made after thirty years servt ce.. Jas in
the army. but only forty officers can havo the
advantage OF this provision.
If.in any fiscal year there should not be va
cancies for sixteen promotions among sea-go-
ing ing officers officers Of Of III, the Grade Grade Of Of GGmmandsr and
mander. on or about June l Of that year, a
Board Of from three to Eve Rear Admirals
that month shall recommend for removal from
the active list enough officers In the GRADES of
CAPTAIN. Commander, and LAMENTATIONS
CURED. The selections, shall be based on the
good of, the service and the fitness OF officers
have credi able records shall be retired and
the others either retired or discharged. When
ever officers are examined for promotion; those
grade arc TO be retired with the rank and one
half Of he sea pay they then hold,
teined in the bill and the hump" is TO fur
nish 9sScupnnts for it. Any officer who en-
TO this list. is 20 retain his seniority. and be
eligible for promotion on the reserve list
s Tssasf him ' is p G%nes on fnH r reserve ss ofi n q
cannot be promoted to flag rank and they may
sBRly fSs transfer Tes1s OF ,s to sso 6 5sfi = list an ,b af, ter
except that Of Chief Of Bureau in tie NAVY
DeUdTtuleut, SOWulhnIdEJ ol y navy yaru or
station. Captain OF a navy yard. on the Board Of
INSPECTION and SURVEY. on examining and re-
They may also be assigned to duty in the Coast
Survey, in the Fish Commission, and In State
nautical ships. In time OF war they may be
employed on other duty at sea or on shore, as
the President may direct.
IL a Captain has less than three years to
rerve he cannot DO made n Rear Admiral, but
II he is ut the head OF his grade with a vacancy
above him. he will be retired with the rank Of
Rear Admiral and the retired pay OF n Cap
tain: And after the promotions consequent
on this bill, no officer can become II L eutenant
unt:l after six years Of service as u COM
til after three years as ensign. two-thirds OF
such service since the commission as ensign
being sea service. When the sea service is IN
sufficient. the officer next in rank, II qualified,
shall be promoted.