The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-18
Passed Without Division by House
Yesterday.
MEASURE NAvY>HAs BEEN FIGHT
ING FOR FOR DECADE.
several Unimportant Amendments
were Adoptea--Biil Carries Provision
EnIsrging the Marine Corps to
5000 Men.

0,OoO Men.
Washington, January l7.-The House to.
day passed the naval personnel bill with
out division of the final passage. thus
accomplishing what the officers of the
navy have striven for during more than
a decade. BY Its provisions the line and
the engineer corps are welded into an
anal gainated line; stat officers are CIV
en- positive rank. but their command Is
limited to their own corps and system
of voluntary and compulsory retirement
on three quarters pay Ms of the next
higher rank of 40 officers year IS estab-
lished which Is designated to remove the
congestion In the lower ranks. The bill
also practically equalizes their pay with
that OF army officers. These important
amendments were adopted. One creates
Judge advocates corps. another abolish
es prize money and third provides for
the retirement on three-quarters pay CT
enlisted men and petty officers In the
navy after 80 years service. But the
post important change In the bill as
reported was the adoption after a hard
fight of q substitute for the organization
of the marine corps by which the corps
Is to consist OF 5000 enlisted men aud
petty officers with general officers and
staff This will increase the marine corps
by 1906 men and increase the cost of Its
ma ntsnancs 81 ,500.c0 seyeral unim
portant bills were passed by unanimous
consent before the naval personnel bill
was taken.
The desk of the late Mr.. Dingley was
still draped in black and covered with
beautiful roses and lilies when the House
met today at noon. Immediately after
the reading of the journal air. McCleary,
Republican OF Minnesota, on Behalf OF the
bakery and currency committee mndo
statement to the effect that the vote ON
the currency bill reported at the last SEES
sion had been irregularly taken In the
committee and be therefore asked that
the bin be recommitted.
"1his does not mean that the bill Is
TO be abandoned; !" asked MIR. Richardson,
Democrat Of Tennessee I. as:s---
The other side has promised currency
REFORM" continued Mr.. Richardson,
and | would like 10 know II the bill is
again to be reported.
a. am neither "a prophet nor the son OF
prophet responded Mr.. McCleary.
| Mr. Mitchell, Republican OF New York,
explained that there had been some ir
regularity in the vote and In order To avoid
any show of unfairness TO the opponents
of the bill this action had been decided
upon. Three was no objection and the
bill was recommitted
Mr. Mercer, Republican of Nebraska
asked unanimous consent for the .ooDsid
Grafton of the bill for the aid of the ex
position of Greater America, to be. held
at Omaha, Neb., but MIR. Richardson OBJ
jected because the bill had not been con-
sdered by a committee of the house. The
house went into committee and resumed
the consideration Of the naval personnel
bill Mr.. Bailey moved to strike.out
from section the following pIoviso:
And provided further that nothing
contained in this section shall be con
strued to prevent the retirement of OIL
GERS with the rauk and pay of commo-
dore.'
"The rank of commodore" he said
was abolished in the active list by the
bill; why should 1t be continued In the
retired listF'
Mr.. Bailey denied his opposition to
eliminating the time honored RANK of
Com modore in the active list, but II IL
was to go out of the active list it certain
ly should not be retained in the retired
list.
Mr.. Loud, Republican OF California,
In some criticism o. the bill, said that
the complaint that naval officers under
the present system did not reach com
manu- rank early enough was due TO the
fact that there were not enough ships
Advancement was not as rapid IN the
navy as in the merchant service.
Mr.. Cummings, Democrat OF New York,
u member of the naval committee, said
that he had sympahized with Mr.. bailey's
motion before he had Investigated the
subject but he had become convinced
hot had ba old oh m
OF the line and sink our modern iron
clads and take the navy as it was 100
years ago, AS to retain the personnel of
the navy as 1t was 100 years ago.
Mr.. Foss said there was misunder-
standing about the purpose OF the bill 1t
was not proposed to abolish the title,
but only the grade OF commodore
Mr.. Bailey called attention to the fact
that title was only preserved In three in
stances, each for the purpose OF increasing
the pay OF an officer. Mr.. Bailey's
amendment was lost 60 to liz.
Mir. Bailey then offered an amendment
10 strike out from section (tbe section
providing for compulsory retirement),
the provision for retirement of officers
with the pay and rank of the next high
e. grade"
Mr.. Foss said that an inducement had
to be held out to officers to voluntarily
retire,
Mr.. Bailey said he hardly expected such
frankness from the gentleman in charge
of the bill. "You SEEK" he declared,
ito place premium on retirement from
the service"
The amendment was lost 72 to ~.
MIR. Bailey moved to strike out the
whole section.
The amendment was defeated, 80 to 81.
Mir. Southland, Repub lican OF Ohio, on
behalf of the committee, offered an
amendment creating regular judge I'D
yoeate corps. BY the terms of the amend
ment the corps is to consist of one judge
advocate general, with the rank of cap
tain; one assistant judge advocate with
the rank OF commander and two judge
advocates with the rank of lieutenant.
Appointments 20 this corps may be made
from the army or marine corps or from
civil life, promotions to be by seniority
The amendment was adopted without
division. MIR. Simpson, Populist of Kan.
sas, moved to strike out the provision
,Abpiishing the two years sea course for
naval cadets Ii was defeated
Mr.. Foss offered committee substitute