New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-13
NAVAL OFFICERS ASK LEGISLATION.
A PETITION TO BE FORWARDED TO CONGRESS
THROUGH SECRETARY HERBERT.

THROUGH SECRETARY HERBERT.
washington Sept u (Special)-The commissioned
officers warrant officers and naval cadets OF the
Ae,,,ic s,a,ion in anticipation of the next session
of Congress- have forwarded petition 70 the Sec
rotary Of the Navy requesting him 70 urge 'on-
gross to pass certain legislation In behal OF 'he'"
selves and their comrades The petition has been
approved by Rear Admiral McNair' commanding
the Asiatic Squadron, and as 1t comes 10 the Navy
Denartment through official channels 1t VIII re-
ceive respectful consideration. The petition Is
ove,,v in sense II favors neither line nor staff.
but suggests legislation which would be OF ad-
vantage to all naval officers. Most OF the memo
riosts on the subject of legislation forwarded 10
the Navy Department propose class or corps pe"e-
fits only As a result they are generally pigeon
holed the recommendato tons being advantageous
to the few and detrimental to ,he many. wise
counsel has evidently prevailed among the of1cers
If the Aslatlc Squadron. Their request urges an
amendment to the law governing naval retire
ments that prescribing the kinds and amount OF
pay of officers, and separate act authorizing the
retirement of enlisted men.
Relative TO the retirement OF officers, the petition
recommends tnat existing law be 50 amen led DIS TO
provide that when officer has served forty con-
secutivc wears in the commissioned branch he SHALL
II he makes applicable therefor 10 the PRESIDENT
he retired from active service ana placed upon the
retired list. and that when an oiiicer mas peeh
thirty years in the service he may. upon his own
anpcation in the discretion OF the President be
similarly retired. With respect 10 the pay or
officers it Is recommended that Section lCss OF the
Revised Statutes be modified as to read that the
pa OF all officers of the Navy wio have been re-
tired after fortynve years service AFTER reaching
the age OF sxty-two years or who nave Deen VI
NAV be retired after forty years service. or who
may be retired after thirty years service upon
their own applioa alton TO the PRESIDENT, or on a'-
tanning age Of sixty-two years or on ot
incaracity resulting from long and fathtui service
from wounds or injuries received In the Hne OF
duty or from sickness or exposure thereih' sha'',
when not on active dlty be equal TO % per cent OF
IN. sea nav now provided by law for the grade r.
rank which they held, respectively, at the time OF
the retirement is further proPSsrd .as me nor on
active duty be equal to ne-half the sea pay men
toned for the grade or rank neu ny '"e"' '''P'
In relation to the establishment of a retired i,st
for enlisted men the petition suggests the adoption
rHary H. 1885, so as make that law read In effect
thirty years in the Army, Navy or Marine
Corps he shall upon appcairon 10 we With the
rank held by him at the date OF retirement,
and receive thereafter 10 per cent OF inc pay
and allowances of the rank upon which he was
retired II is proposed that service with the Army
in the field in the Navy or Marine Corps IN ac-
during the war of the Rebellion. is to be counted
as double time in computing the thirty years neces-
4 circular letter in relation to the petition from
officers on the flagship Omaha has been sent TO a
number OF naval officers in this city The letter ad-
vises that a similar petition among officers on duty
here he drawn up and forwarded through oncial
channels the Secretary Of the Navy that ofncers
favoring tie proposition sign the petition. IN order
tnai so far as possible, unanimous expression OF
tho Opinon e the service may he laid before the
au,horitie. The letter says with respect to the
legislation recommended; The Justice OF putting
The Navy on an equal footing with the sister ser
vices in tho respects indicated needs no comment.
and as there is reason to believe that Congress IA
wiling 10 enact any measure for the relief OF stag.
nation i'm promotion that is acceptable TO officers OF
all ranks and all corps. II IS thought that II SUI
IN the measure proposed is obtained the amend.
ments suggested will be adopted. The proposed
DESTROYS Of retiring and to all of their juniors who
would gain numbers by such retirements At the
same time its workings could produce absolutely
M unfavora bile effect upon any officer OF any corps