The times., 1899-01-19
THURSDAY. JANUARY 19. 1899.
The Naval Personnel Bill.

The Naval Personnel Bill.
The naval personnel bill, which passed
the House of Representatives on Tuesday,
is generally 10 be commended.
1t disposes finally OF the contention
between the line and the staff es-
pecialiy between the Engineer Corps and
The line. Il aims to do justice to both
sides while providing for much-needed
reform. Engineers now in the service
who have not been thoroughly educated
fer purposes of line duty will be allowed
TO ill out their full careers as engineers;
but, hereafter. the course at Annapolis
and 4; sea will be so arranged that the line
and engineer officers will have a common
education and interchangeable duties;
and man 10 hold a commission will have
10 be equipped equally for duty in the
coming tower. as navigator, or behind
the guns or in the engine room. The ser
vice will gain greatly by this change: the
engineers Will have positive and not re-
lative rank and will not be confined for
all tine TO q life below stairs. It IS
good solution 10 an old and knotty prob
lem.
Under all the conditions the grade
changes proposed in the bill are satisfac-
tory. The sentimental objection to abol-
ishing commodores has some basis, and
would have more if the famous Americans
who have passed into history under the
title had not enjoyed il merely by cour-
tesy. Decatur was not commodore 9th
erwise; neither was Perry. Both We're
merely captains in command OF more than
commoGores. That kind Of distinction IS
continued, and the actual grade is kent
alive in the retired list for sufficient rea-
sons. With the passing Of the rank all our
present cOmmodores will become rear ad-
mirals. the bill providing for eighteen.
which just covers the list. 1t is a grea.
pity that. in the movement TO modernize
our navy and 10 secure for American off
GERS Of certain command the considera-
tion due them when in the presence Of for
eign squadrons. Congress does not go a
step further and adjust our naval organ!-
zation 10 that of other great states. We
shall not have commodores in future 10 ba
sent TO the social rear when in the COM
pany Of rear admirals from Haiti. Liberia.
or Monaco, but the reform has not been
pushed far enough. Since our rear ad-
mirals, although perhaps commanding
great fleets or stations, will still be in
ferior in dignity TO the vice admirals and
admirsls with whom they viii come in con-
tact, it is simply ignorant provincialism
10 limit exaltation in our service to the
lowest regular flag rank recognized by all
civilized nations. Perhaps in the near fu-
H7r Nc ba--
il broad and intelligent enough TO recog
nize this consideration, and TO act on IT,
For the present, and remembering the
personal limitations of many OF our Iegis-
lators. lot US be thankful for small mer-
cies.
The other features OF the naval person
mel bill, or most of them, are in the line OF
progress. We are glad to see the brave
little 'midshipmite" once more crowned
with the title made glorious in all the wars
OF the Anglo-SaXon race, and some others
Grand old Farragut would have scorned to
crawl through the "hawse hole" If he had
expected to be branded cadet by and BY
and as for young Casa Blanca. we know
that he would have regarded his sensa-
tional finale as a burning shame if it had
not been the heroic death of a midship-
man. rather than that Of a cadet, term
which, if it mean anything, means moth
tng connected with the history of bloody
war on the high seas.
The changes proposed in the Marine
Corps again are for The better II not for
fhe best. The force of six thousand men
it would seem. ought 10 have a major
general TO command 1t. Originally the bill
provided fer one such officer and two brig
adiers. Il was objected. however. that as
Il major general never would be able TO see
assembled marine command commen-
surate with his rank, il would be improper
to establish such an Office. SO the major
general and one Of the brigadiers have been
eliminated, and, unless the Senate insist
upon a rensertion, there viii be but one
general officer, brigadier, to command
the corps. 1t does not seem TO have oc-
Cured TO the wise obJectors that ma
rine brigadier is no more likely TO exer-
else field or water command over an actual
brigade of marines than q major general
would be Of a division: but let that pass.
The commodore has gone and his army
equivalent, the brigadier, will shortly Join
him, except as may relate to a courtesy
title applied 10 colonies in command of
more than j regiment.
Finally, the naval personnel bill does
away with prize money and head money.