New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-18
THE PERSONNEL BILL PASSED
ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE WITH M
PORTANT AMENDMENTS.
INCREASE OF THE MARINE coRPs-PRIzE
MONEY ABOLISHED-A JUDGE-ADVO-
GATES CORPS CREATED


MONEY ABoLIsHED-A JuDeE-ADvo-
Gates CORPS CREATED.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE House to-day
passed the Naval Personnel bill without division
on the final passage, thus accomplishing what
the officers of the Navy have striven for in
more than decade. BY its provisions the line
and the engineer corps are welded into an
amagamated line, staff officers receive positive
rank, but their command is limited to their own
corps, and system Of voluntary and compul-
sory retirement on three-quarters pay as OF the
next high rank Of forty officers a year Is estab-
lished, which is designed to remove the conges-
ton in the lower rank at forty-hve. The bill
also practically equalizes the pay Of naval Off
GERS with that of Army officers
Three important amendments were adopted.
One creates a judge-advocate's corps. another
abolishes prize money. and third provides for
the retirement on three-quarters pay Of enlisted
men and petty officers in the Navy after thirty
years service But the most important cnange
in the bill as reported was the adoption. after a
hard fight, OF substitute for the section re-
lating TO the Marine Corps. by which that corps
Is TO consist of six thousand enlisted men and
petty officers. with general officers and stan.
This will increase the Marine Corps by l.3OO
81 100000 q year.
Several unimportant bills were passed oy
unanimous consent before the Personnel bill was
taken up.
OPPOSITION. FROM MR. BAILEY.
Consideration Of the Brown-swanson contested
election case, from Virginia had been set for to-
day. but was postponed until Thursday In order
that the House might proceed with the Naval Fer
sonnet bill. The House accordingly went into COM
mittee Of the Whole and resumed consideration OF
that measure Mr.. BAILEY Dem. Tex) moved 70
strike out from Section the following proviso
And provided further. that nothing contained In
this section shall be construed 10 prevent Inc retc
ment of officers with the rank and pay OF coiniho-
dore.
II the rank of commodore, he said. was abolished
in the active list by the BILL why should 1t be con-
tinued in the retired list? He reiterated his oppo-
sition TO eliminating the time honored rank OF COM
modore from the active list. but II 1t was TO 30
out OF the active list certainly should not be re-
tanned in the retired list.
Mr.. FOSS (Rep, ILL., called attention to the ract
that commodore was a courtesy rank. and not an
actual rank before the Civil War. Perry Decatur
and Barron were captains. but by courtesy were
called commodores.
Mr.. LOUD (Rep., Cal). In critcisng the bill. said
that the complaint that naval officers under the
present system did not reach command early
enough was due TO the fact that there were not
enough ships. Advancement was as rapid IN the
Navy as In the merchant service. He made some
sarcastic references 10 the deepsea sailors on the
committee who lived in West Virginia and other
interior States
Mr. CUMMINGS dem, n. ". member Of the
Naval Affairs Committee said that he sympathized
with Mr.. Baileys position before he investigated
the subject but had become convinced that II
would be we'll to restore the old ships OF the line
and sink our modern ironclads and take the Navy
dred
personnel OF the Navy It was one hundred years
ago.
Mr. Foss said there a misunderstanding
about the purpose Of the bill It was not proposed
to abolish the title, but only the grade OF commo-
dore.
Mr.. Bailey called attention TO the fact that the
title was only preserved in three instances. each
for the purpose OF increasing the pay OF an officer
BAILEYs AMENDMENTS DEFEATED.
Mr. BaiIeys amendment lost so TO III He
then offered an amendment 10 strike out from Sec
ton (proyidine orsicompusory retiremeno the
provision for retirement of officers with the pay and
rank OF the next higher grade.
The amendment was lost. Y 10 49, whereupon MT
Bailey moved to strike out the whole section He
said tina, in principle he opposed the whole retire
rnent system
r The amendment was defeated, 50 to 81.
Mr. SOUTHARD Rep.. Ohio. on behalf Of the
committee, offered an amendment creating regu-
OF one Judge Advocai General with the rank OF
captain: one assistant tudge-advocate. with the
rank of commander; one deputy judge-advocate.
with the rank OF eutenant-commander and two
Judge advocates with the rank of lieutenant. APP
pontments 20 this corps may be made from the
Army Marine Corps or from civil life promotions
to be by seniority.
The amendment was adopted without division.
Mr. Foss offered committee substitute for Sec
ton IA, providing that boatswains. gunners. car
penters and sailmakers shall after ten years from
date Of the warrant be commissioned chief boats
wains chief gunners. etc. TO rank with and after
ensigns and that they shall on promotion have the
same pay and allowances now received by second
llentenants IN the Marine Corps. II adopted.
Another amendment abolishng prize money for
the capture destruction Of the enemy's ships in
time Of war also adopted without debate or
IL Mr.. Cummings offered committee amendment
GERS after thirty years service on three-quarters
nav service IN the Civil or Spansh-American war
TO be computed double time. II was adopted.
OF THE MARINE CORPS.
Mr. MEYER Dem. La, on behalf OF the com
mittee offered substitute for the sections cover
ing the Marine Corps. Under 1t the Marine Corps
would consist of one commandant, with the rank
of maior-general; one brigadier-general. five
colonels five ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ten majors. SIX
captains sixty first and sixty second leutenants
practically doubling the number OF oiAceis pro
filled so far as possible. BY seniority from the ac-
tive line commissions in the present corps Not 20
he vacated Vacancies after promotion are 10 be /
filled bv transfer from the line OF the Navy not
a bove the grade OF junior lieutenant from tn0se
uhn served as second leutenants in the Marine !
Corps in the war from meritorous non-commis.. |
Stoned officers or from civil life. Only portion or
,nn offcers are 10 be appointed before January l.
1000 The staff Of Marine Corps is 10 consist OF
an ad{utant and inspector. quartermaster a pay |
oaster each with the rank of colonel: an assistant
adiItant and inspector assis ant quarterInas-
ters one assistant paymaster, each with the rank
M m aior and three assistant quarteTmasters WIN
the rank of captain. In service with meets senior
ofticers arc 10 hold the rank next above their rank
In the CORPS. It provides for six thousand pettS /
officers and enlisted men. In response 10 an ,Ii
st.renr then the Marine Corps by thirteen hundred
nsen ard ipcrease the cost 8, 300 600 .--.,.,.,
MIR STEELE (Rep Ind thought the commiittee
was demanding n good deal Of the House IN asklSS