The evening times., 1898-08-31
HURT BY PROMOTIONS.
Rank Injustice Under the Method,
of Reward

|
Following the promotions in the navy
and preceding a number that will be made
! in the army. the New York correspond
ent of the Chicago Record writes of the
injustice under the present methods OF re-
warding special good service, as follows:
| Commodore Philip has protested to the
| Secretary of the Navy against his own
promotion, because it is made at the ex-
pense of his comrades and friends who,
he believes, have performed their duty
| quite as bravely and ably as he. He cam
not decline the promotion, for IL he did
so it would be equivalent to resignation
| from the service.
After the war of the rebellion Lieut..
Cassels was promoted ten numbers for ex-
traordinary bravery. He returned his
commission to the Secretary of the Navy
with a letter saying he could not accept
an honor at the expense of his fellow Off
GERS. several of whom had been his class
mates at the Naval Academy. Secretary
Welles replied that before forwarding the
letter and the commission to the Presi-
dent he felt it his duty TO call the atten-
ton of Lieut.. Cassels to the fact that his
promotion was practically an appoint
ment TO the service and If it was de-
clined Lieut. Cassels would no longer be
an officer of the navy.
Lieut.. Percival Drayton had n similar
experience. He. too. learned that any
oihcer VINO declined promotion separated
| himself from the service permanently
For these reasons. Capt Philip does
not decline the life reward offered him
for extraordinary bravery but he frank
ly and respectfully calls the attention of
the Secretary of the Navy to the inius-
tice suffered by the fellow officers when
he and others are lifted over their heads
He also points out in his letter that brave
and worthy men who did not happen tn
be in the battles at Santiago and Manila
have actually been punished by the effor,
TO reward those who had the good for.
tune to be on the fleets engaged. Com
modore Watson. for example Commodore
Remey, and one or two other officers are
set back from three to five numbers and
every promotion down TO the ensign af
1ects several worthy and efficient men
Just as If they had been tried by court
martial and sentenced to be degraded in
the service "
NO reply has been received to Commo-
uoie fhiilps letter. but ii is hoped that
this frank and conscientious presenta-
one Will accuse of either envy or hun
combe, Will suggest to the President tho
proprlety OF adopting some other means
Oh rewarding bravery and good service
lhere Is good deal of humbug about
these promotions. anyhow, particularly
IN the higher grades of the service. After
the pattie OF Manila the President ad-
.ahced an the captains of Dewey's fleet
hve numbers. This set. them above most
of the officers Of Ga p,pSop.. ,na
fleets. Then after the battle of Santiaeo
the latter We're advanced in similar man.
her. which put them back in their old
piaces and actually degraded Dewey's Of
Ulcers. While men of corresponding rank
who were not so fortunate as to have an
opportunity to distinguish themselves.
out who were quite as worthy and will.
ing. suffered in both cases.
ihe net result is that Commodore
pushed back three. Capt. Clark of The
Oregon. was advanced five and ser back
four, while the net result to Cook Chad
wick, Taylor. Evans. Wilde Over. Lam
berton and other captains was about the
same. Inc new commissions are, of
course. very complimentary and highly |
priced, because 1t is written on the sheen
skin that they are advanced five numbers
for extraordinary heroism. but the state
ment Is actually untrue and carries with
IT no increase of pay or emoluInents
1t would be very much better IL our
Government should adopt the reward sys |
tenn that prevails in the European navies,
and when an officer has distinguished |
himself, give him some tangible recoc-
milton. The usual custom is to confer a
decoration which carries with 1t an an. |
nuity for life from $3.50 to $1,000 a year.
This would be appreciated by our naval |
officers because the most of them are
men OF small means and dependent almost |
entirely upon their pay; or Congress
might pass an act authorizing them to |
draw full pay after retirement, which |
would be a blessing in their old age.
Naval authorities who have been feur-
ing up the pecuniary advantages of the
promotions thus far made, find that Ad-
miral Dewey will be just $3.50 better on,
Sampson and Schley will receive about
$3.50 more from the paymaster during
the rest of their lives. and Captain Wilde, |
of Dewey's squadron. has improved his |
financial status by exactly ~"