The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-08
The Naval Personnel Bill.

tells how he was led to draw it up;
Colonel Roosevelt, who, as assistant
secretary of the navy had much to do
in pushing it along tells how he got the
discordant elements in the navy TO
agree to it, Commodore Philip for the
line and Chief Engineer Melville Tor
the engineering branch explain why
from their respective standpoints the
bills adoption would improve the per-
sonncl of the service, and Congressman
Fose of the house naval committee
speaking as representative OF the
people, gives reasons why the people
should not only assent to but demand
the bills enactment. Let US, then,
consider what this would mean.
At the present time, speaking rough
ly. about 40 pcr cont of the inhabit-
ants of an American war slip have
nothing to do with the lighting part of
the ships work and aIe only nominally
in suhicction to the commanding OFF,
cnr. These men are in charge of the
machinery of the ship: they come un-
dor the command of the ships Chlef
engineer. The chief engineer and the
engineering officers under him are in a
branch of the naval service entirely
distinct from the executive or fighting
branch; they report to II separate
chief at Washington; they are held
responsible only for the correct work
ing of the mechanism of the vessel;
they are in q sense civilians in a mill
tant calling. From this cleavage be-
tween the ships maChinists and the
ships sailors 4 good deal of friction has
resulted and a good deal more is bound
to as the machinery of navigation be-
comes more and more complicated un-
lees steps are taken to prevent it. A
ship, like house, cannot well have
two masters or shelter satisfactorily
two families.
In the bill now before congress i, is
proposed to amalgamate both branches
into one and to put every naval cadet
in future through a course of training
which shall not only make him a good
sailor but also d capable engineer: nj
least sufficiently ConVcrsant with the
ways and use of machinery so that if
he should rise to the command of a
ship he would know how to direct the
movements Of the boilers and engines
as well as how TO manoeuver the ship
and fire the guns. In this way there
should not be an officer on board ship
who would need to be helplessly de-
pendent on any other officer # called
during action to take command. To
the argument that this would destroy
specialization and make naval jacks of
all trades it is replied by the advocates
of amalgamatiOn that naval officers are
invariably encouraged, after they re-
ceive an all-round foundation training,
to pursue some particular branch as a
speciality, and the growing importance
OF the mechanical features OF ship con-
struCtion ana navigation would suffice
to develop always enough specialists
in engineering 20 supply the current
need. We know az it is that our navy
has some OF the brightest specialists in
the world, and we can see no reason
why under the conditions proposed ii
should not continue to have them.
There axe other features IN the pend
ing bill. As tho navy stands promo
ton ordinarily is by seniority. Once
in 4 long time in an emergency, rub
ordinate officers are jumped to a high
command. as was true when Captain
Sampson Was made commanding rear
admiral. But under normal conditions
the only hope which an ensign has OF
becoming a captain ur better is based
solely upon the longevity or brevity
of existence Of the men in lire above
him. II thus happens that our com.
mandihg otl,cers receive as a rule nC
opportunity 10 display their executive
qualities until they have reached thC
age Of fifty ar over, 2 time in life wher
originality and the quality Of initiative
are generally upon the decline. "NC
one in private life very aptIy say!
Commodore Philip, would think o
managing Il large and important bust
ness by arbitrarily discharging all o
his employees when they reach Ger
tain age, ana filling the highest posi-
tions with the employees longest in ser
vice. irrespective Of their special fit
ness for them, When presented in thi'
way the idea seems perfectly absurd
and yet this is exactly the system un
der which the navy is organized to
day"
1t is proposed to enable officers t,
attain command rank at the age of 4
years. This will be accomplished b,
examining for retirement each year
certain number of officers who haV
been in the service twenty or NOR
years. This examination is to oe con
Quoted by a board OF high naval Off
GERS and viii! take into account tn
state of health Of those examined, thei
temperamental qualities, ETC., as wei
as their seamanship, and professiona
skill, with view to retiring those of
ficers only VINO are least adapted {
responsible commands Inasmuch a
retirement will be on the usual pay
viii not be cruel but in some case
would very likely prove welcome. Re
tirement is made now at an age limit
the only difference being that the good
the bad and the medium officers ar
at present retired indiscrlminately
These features with an equalizatjo
of pay between the army and nav
(our naval officers now receiving les
pay than army officers Of correspondent
grades and a few minor provision
constitute the Naval Personnel bi