The record-union., 1899-12-04
OPERATIONS OF
NAVY Department,

| Continued from Sixth Page.)
portant that such reserve, represent
ing the whole country and related di-
rectly to the national naval establish
ment. should be fostered and made
ready for call.
| REWARD OF OFFICERS.
| The department renews it's recon-
mendation of last year for a change
| in the present law for rewarding Off
GERS for conspicuous conduct in battle
and for extraordinary heroism. The
injustice of the present system is ap-
parent. The promotion of an officer
over the heads of other officers oper-
ates as reduction of the latter in
rank and also delays them in securing
| the increased pay which accompanies
regular rise in grade. In other words.
| the promotion is made not at the ex-
/ pense of the Government. which
should bear it, but at the expense of
! the unfortunate officers who are over
| slaughed and who are thus punished
| although faithful to every duty and
| only unfortunate in lacking the oppor-
tunity for conspicuous conduct or hero
| ism.
! The spirit of the navy is so good
| that l am sure this is painful to the
officer promoted as we'll as the officer
| reduced. The department therefore
again urges that legislation be enacted
providing that advancement in rank
for services rendered during the war
with Spain shall not interfere with the
| nrOnnfiOn nf off of GO
entitled to promotion, and that officers
SO advanced to higher grade by rea-
son of war service shall be carried as
additional to the numbers in each
grade to which they have been pro-
NOTED. The department submitted to
| Congress at its last session a bill sub
stantially to this effect, which is print
ed as Senate bill No. 5,OO6 and to
which attention is invited
While those engaged in the battle of
Manila have been deservedly rewarded
and no men Ever deserved reward
more richly--those who took part in
the operations al Santiago, displaying
the same conspicuous conduct and ex-
traordinary heroism, have received no
recognition whatever for their great
services except the recommendations
for promotion by the President, which
have lapsed, not having been acted
upon by the Senate.
The department believes it due to
these gallant men to suggest to you
! that their services be recognized and
equal justice done them, and that. in
accordance with the statute in such
cases made and provided, you recon-
mend that the thanks of Congress be
given to the Commander in Chief of
/ the North Atlantic squadron and to
the officers and men under his COM
mand, as they were given in the case of
the Commander in Chief and officers
and men of the Asiatie squadron. The
North Atlantic squadron was charged
with great and exacting duties, includ-
ing the blockade of Cuba, cooperation
with the army, and the pursuit block
ade and capture or destruction of the
Spanish squadron under Admiral Ger
vera, all which it discharged with sig
nal efficiency. 1t was a campaign of
great scope and enormous responsible
tiles, and was brought TO a successful
and glorious contamination, which ter
minated the war by the destruction of
the Spanish sea power. 1t was mark
ed by unsurpassed precision, brilliancy
and vigor. That the men who by
such achievements earned their coun-
try's gratitude have received no re-
ward from its Government is an omis-
sion which it can not be doubted will
be cordially and generously repaired.
If reward by the present system of
promotion is abandoned, as above sug-
gested, the department renews it's sug-
gestion embodied in Senate bill 5.OOj.
introduced at the last session of Con-
gress. which provides for medals of
| three classes-one for conspicuous con-
Duct in war, one for extraordinary
heroism, and one for general meritori-
Gus service-the first to carry with it
a percentage of increase of pay. based
upon the rank of the recipient, and cal
culated to take the place of the in
/ crease which would be the result of
promotion were that form of reward
/ continued. 1t is believed that such
medal, worn during life and transmit
ted as an inheritance, will be far more
grateful to a deserving officer than
promotion in rank at the expense of a
comrade.