The state herald., 1898-12-02


quiry to summon and obtain the ties
timony of civilian witnesses; that ma
val courts be empowered to use depU
sitions of witnesses; that secretary b,
empowered TO remove charge of deser
ton; that enlisted men be retired aftel
three years service; examination oil
men for promotions: repeal CT law on
classification of vessels: use by gov
/ ernment of improvements patented by
naval officers, courts TO fix compensa
| ton.
The secretary further recommends
! that the transport service be placed In
charge of the Navy Department. The
secretary recommends that the bill
drafted by former Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt be passed.
The bill provides:
l. For the amalgamation of the of.
iiccrs of the line and the engineer corps
Of the navy.
= For an increase of 90 officers In
the new line of the navy.
J. For Il regular and constant flow
of promotion.
!. For Il rcadjustment of the num-
bcrs In the different grades of the con
Struciion corps.
.. For the retirement of officers who
served crcdibly during the civil war in
the next higher grade.
Il. For n change in the title of naval
cadet 10 that OF midshipman.
l. That the course nj the Naval
academy he decreased from six TO four
years.
\. For the appointment Of 100 war
rant machinists.
y. That the pay of the new line of
the navy shall he the same as that Of
officers of the Marine corps or infantry
of the army.
10, That the term of enlistment be
increased TO four years. and that all
enlisted men of the navy shall have all
the privileges now granted by law to
enlisted men OF the army and marine
corps.
IL. For reorganization OF the ma.
rinc corps.
This measure" the secretary contlp.
ucS, ''it is believed. meets the views of
the great body of naval officers, lis
essential fairness Is recognized by all,
aud In The opinion of the department
Its enactment will result In incalculn
blc benefit TO the service
Under the caption Rewards Of OH.
GERS" Secretary Long SAYS:
'Thc injustice Of the present system
Of rcwardlng officers for conspicuous
conduct In battle and extraordinary
bcroism j. so apparent thar the depgrt.
mcnt desires To set before Congress the
facts In full and To recommend n
change In the present law on this sub.
jcct.
AS n result Of the recent war, Ger.
tain officers Of the navy who deserved
reward, and who under existing law
could have u In no other way, were
promoted over the heads OF their broth.
or officers. who. 10y reason of the ne.
Cessliy of their services on other duty
not less Important had no chance Ia
participate In the battles of Manila and
Santiago. This worked hardship In
many cases, and In some insinn, IS pre-.
vented officers who are Of great desert
from the chance Of reaching the high.
est grade OF the navy.
To correct this the department rec.
ommcnds legislation to the end that
some other system Of reward for merit
he adopted, 80 that In rcwardng one
officer Injustice shall no, h. done 10
another and also that In those eases In
which officers have during the present
war been jumped. II shall he provided
that this shall not operate to their dis,
advantage, and that they shall stIll
have their regular promotion ms before.
Bllls have been drawn for both these
objects, and will be submitted TO Con.
grcss."
Toward the end uf the report Sccre.
tnry Long recommends the Increase of
the navy In the following text:
''rhe navy should he lncrcascd. the
development Of lis various branches
should he homogeneous. and the In.
crense In ships should be accomplished
by gradual incrcnso In officers ana
men. nnd In naval stations. conllng sta.
lions, repair plants, etc.
''Thc Naval Board on Construction
recommends the following;
81, Three scn'gulng shcnthed and
coppered hnttlcshlps Of about 1850
/ tons trial displacement. carrying thu
! heaviest nrmur aud most powerful ord.
! nance for vessels of their class. and Ia
| have the highest practicable speed and
/ great radius NJ action. Estimated cost,
exclusive Of armor and armament, So.
I 10000 each.
"s Three shcnthod aud cOpporcd
/ nrnorcd cruisers of about i2.ODO tons
trial displacement. carrying the heay,
! hest nrmor and most powerful ord
nance for vessels ~ their class. and "a
have the highest practicable speed and
! grcni rndlus of nc,lon. Estimated cos,
exclusive Of nrmor and armament. 81,
/ DOp,OUg,
20. Three shenihcd and coppsret
! protected cruisers " about 600 tOn'
l trlnl displacement; ~ hnNc the higlcs
! practicable speed aud great radius o,
action. nnd 10 cnrry the mos, powerful
[ ordnance suitable for vessels Of ihcll
l clnss. Estimated cost. exclusive o
! armament nnd nrmor, -, 10000 cnch
81 -Four shenih"l mud copperc,
cruisers Of nhout $50 tons trial dis
placement. tO hnyo the highest spec,
compatible with good cruising lunll
lies. grrnt radius of action. and 10 carr,
the most powerful ordnance suited Il
vessels OF their class. Estimated cos,
exclusive of armament, S,iii ,so'
rnrl,
with tile territorial acquisitions q
The present yrnr. " the Philippines mr.
nlsu annexed ~ the United Stnios, III
outlying irrrlturiF p1szo4ilons win h
N groni nnd extended That this In
rfrnzr uf naval force VIII he necessary
aud. ~ twu ur three years will he ~
uulfrd for the construction uf the ship
enumerated, appropriations suilicicn
for beginning them now should h
nndp now Otherwise the nuthoflzn
llpn Of the second " the above recon
inohdnllons NJ The coming session o
Congress would he enough"
n CUBAN MAYOR.