New-York tribune., 1896-03-30
BILLS AFFECTING THE NAVY.
A COUNCIL OF ORDNANCE PROPOSED BY
SENATOR TELLER.
1T WOULD SUCCEED THE BOARD OF ORDINANCE
AND FoRTIFIcATIONs-A BILL FOR

AND FoRTIFIcATIONS-A BILL FOR
REwARDING ENLISTED MEN.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE.)
Washington. March @-Mr Teller has introduced
in the Senate a bill to establish Council OF
Ordnance The measure provides that there shall
be constituted a body TO be known as the Council
OF ordnance The council is TO consist OF seven
members to be appo!n ted by the President. py ana
with the advice and consent OF the Senate. One OF
the members s to act as chairman OF the councii.
Two members OF the council TO be officers OF
the Army. taken from the Corps Of Engineers ana
the Ordnance Department. and two are to be ohl-
GERS OF the Navy. Three members are to be civil
ians They are TO be selected with reference TO
their character and experience and acquaintance
with the principles of mechanics, meta!lurgy ana
chemistry applicable to matters OF ordnance and
gunnery. The military and naval officers are not
to be charged with any other official duties during
tire continuance Of their membership In the council
The of Office OF four members OF the council Is
to be four years. and that Of the three remaining
members three years. The choice OF the long or
short terms is to be decided by lot.
No person is to be a member Of the council. or
attached TO 1t. who has any pecuniary Interest
directly indirectly. In any ordnance device or in
vention. TIE salary of the civilian members OF the
council is TO be 5000 year; OF the chief clerk.
5000 Of the assistant clerk $500 and OF the mes
senger. $500. officers OF the Navy while members OF
the council are to receive sea pay.
The b.ll makes II the duty Of the Council OF
Ordnance to conduct in a judicial manner with
such hearings as the members may think proper an
examination into such questions relating TO the
fabrication and use OF ordnance. projectiles. ex-
plosives. and TO inventions and explosives relative
consideration. Except by specia. provision OF Con-
gress the conclusions OF the Council OF Ordnance
to control abridge the authority vested in the
Departments Of War or the Navy.
ofore assigned to the Board OF ordnance ana Forti
nca,!ons are. to he transferred 20 the Council OF
IS 70 he dissolved The bill carries $4,000 for con-
tingent and travelling expenses OF the council snd
for the salaries of its civilian members.
Representative Harmer has introduced bill in
the House the purpose OF which s TO increase the
efficiency Of the Navy by reward,ng enlisted men
for long and faithful service The measure provides
that after its passage any petty officer or enlisted
Of the Navy who has served honoraby ana
continuously for a period Of not less than twelve
years may make application TO the Navy Depart
ment for appointment any place AT a navy yard or
naval station for which he may be fitted by his
training and duties board ship The applications
are 10 be placed on file at the Navy Department
and considered in the order in which they are re-
ceved The Secretary OF the Navy is TO appoint a
board OF officers examine such applications and TO
report as to the fitness Of the applicants In cases
OF favorable report by the examining board the
Of successful applicants are to be placed upon
a list In the order OF their examination and In this
order they are receive appointments 10 the posi-
tons for which they have been found qualified as
soon as vacancies occur
The pay and allowances Of petty officers ana en-
listed men serving on shore uncer the provisions
~ the bil, are 10 be the same as previous! r.
cAivea by men holding such positions 1he service
or nettv officers and enlisted men appointed |"
shore brets IL 10 be considered a. CONTINUOUS ha'a'
service and the men selected for the places are 10
n. subject 10 the orders and regulations OF the
Navy department In the event OF war or speca
emergency. they may be ordered to duty on poata
naval vessels with ratings ana pay not Io"e, ~,
hosa hold or received by them at the time OF 'ne"
aurointment to shore positions . :, Ill
ne TO appointment as commissioner OF Wat t an, ar
cfjcers fhe hi says that petty ohIsIs :, anu IA @
',,ad no, shal form a National Naval Reserve afu
raceGve no. less than two weeks instruction eaeh
vear in target and other exercises on pos'' H"'"'
vessels