New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-15
PHILIPS FLAG HOISTED.
THE COMMODORE TAKES COMMAND OF
THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.


REAR-ADMiRAL BUNcE GREETs HIS SUCCESSOR
AND RETIREs-NAvY PRIZE MONEY AND
ARMY INCREASE OF PAY DIS
CussEp BY CAPTAINS ON
TIE INDIANA
Rear Admiral Francis NJ. Bunce, who was re-
tired on December 81 last, but was retained
in service as Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. went into retirement yesterday forenoon
about 10 o'clock. and succeeded by Com
modore John w. Philip. late commander Of the
Texas. The usual formalities were observed
the retiring Admiral being greeted with salute
OF thirteen guns as his flag came down from the
Vermont eleven guns being fired as the Com
modore's flag with its enc white star, was run
UP in its place Four companies OF Marines
under command of Colonel Huntington. were
paradad and all the captains of vessels at the
yard, and chiefs Of the yard bureaus were
present In full uniform at the Lyceum Buiidhs
when Commodore Philip. accompanied by Leu
tenant Commander j. ID. J. Kelley, his chiet
aid arrived In carriage which had peeh met
at the gate by Lieutenant ]. A. Bell, Junior aid
TO Admiral Bunce, and escorted to headquar-
ters Commodore Philip was met at the bullu-
ing by Captain George W. Sumner. captain vi
the yard who escorted him into the presence
Of Admiral Bunce and his aids. Commander
~ B. Mansfield and Lieutenant Bell.
In Admiral Bunces private office the orders
transferring the command were exchanged, ana
Admiral Bunce issued his last order as Com
mandant of the yard. directing the change OF
flags on the receiving -ship. AS he left the
building. after saying goodby to the attaches
the Navy Yard Band played Hail to the Chief
while the Admiral stood at salute He then
went TO the house on the hill. and Commodore
Philip at once took up the duties of his new
Office Admiral Bunce will go to his home III
Hartford. Conn. tomorrow.
After the formalites had been finished Gap
tain Henry c. Taylor Of the Indiana, gave
luncheon party board his ship. which Is AT
the yard Gathered about the board were men
whose names are familiar all over the world
among them being Captains Sumner, ChadwicK
Ludlow Evans and Folger Commander Dunlap
and Lieutenant Commander Rogers burihs
the course of the luncheon conversation turned
unon the incidents and phases of the recent
trouble with Spain, and reference was MADE 10
the subject Of prize money awarded to the Navy
in time of war. and in that connection to the in
creased pay given to the Army in time or war
Much of the conversation on these lines was
prompted by utterances in Congress yester-
dav. Captain Folger In the conversation, re-
marked:
THE matter of prize money TO the Navy OF
course is a matter of law, though doubt some'
what If the public at large, though perhaps
knowing this fact fully consider II when SUMS
in dollars and cents are being discussed.
And II would undoubtedly surprise the pup
lie" remarked Captain Evans, III the TACT "eae
generally known that the Navy would innhiteV
prefer such increase the Army receives our
ing war as against the present system OF prize
awards to the Navy. The amount OF prize
money in any case does not amount 10 ahyth'hs
for the Navy as whole, but, much or ittie' II
comes from the enemy and not from our own
people"
"And q better understanding would be had II
tho nub,ic knew the fact that the Navy would
prefer to have the prize money law aboisheo III
any case" interposed Captain Chadwick ~
Then Captain Taylor spoke, saying me
matter should be looked at in this way: during
the eight or nine months in which we nave peeh
technically and pracucahy AT war , WV" 70 tha
the 20 per cent extra allowed by law 10 tne
Army during wartime amounted probably, III
round numbers. to Slj.0OOopO. me prize noheS
of the war amounted to about Soo"V" froo o
hIv the public does not always stop to consider
that half Of this amount went TO the Govern
ment. while about $10uOo. the residue ai'er
having the expenses OF adjudication, VIII De
awarded to the Navy. or course ~ Is peilecty,
cIear IN MS that we--that is. the Navy-would
have been vastly better off had we been under
The 20 per cent increase law which prevails III
the Army" 49,, ,.. -.
'The Navy would. Il matter OF fact, nave re-
coired nrobably about four times as much as the
prize money awarded TO IT," interposed captain
Chadwick. ,,
"The really vital point. however remarked
cantain Ludlow, lies in the equities and eco
Monies of the methods OF recognizing the TWO
services II the public knows, IT perhaps does
not attach due Importance to the ihrt ,ral .nle
norton OF prize money which goes to the Govern
ment is Immediately turned into the Navy pen
sion fund and helps TO pay the Navy pensions.
In the case of the Navy, therefore, the punnc
rn,, not only nays the prize money, but also
the Navy pensions in large degree Thus our
,,.r neonle are considerably relieved Of taxation
for Navy pensions. co.,
toin FoIger In a conclusive way, that we would
he better off to share the same regulations as
the Army with regard TO any extra paymeh,
during war letting the prize law be abrosateu
-. n. NO ORC concerned"