The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-18
SUCCESS AFTER THE
Work OF 4 DECADE.



following section were the vital ones In the
bill. Voluntary retirement from the lower
grades would not only prevent staSnaIion.
but i, would 10 economical II that officers
would be retired IN the lower grades in
stead OF remaining in the service being
rushed through the higher grades and then
retired in tie highest rank az lhree-quar-
tiers pay.
Cummings In supporting the poposed
retirement system. said: This bill IS 10
prorso.e the efficiency OF the navy. and
looking at the preparations Of RussEs, Ger
many and France. / say you viii need an
efficient navy within the next ten years
The amendment was defeated ). TO Il.
Southland, OF Ohio. on behalf OF the
committee, offered an amendment. which
was adopted, creating a gular Judge adj
vocate general one assistant advocate. one
deputy judge advocate and two judges.
simpson, Of Kan. moved TO strike out the
provision abolsAing the two years sea
course for naval cadets. Ii was defeat
81.
Foss offered a committee substitute fer
section IA, providing that boatswains. gun
nsrs, carpenters and sailfnakers shall after
three years from the date III the warrants
be commissioned chief boa,swaiDs. chief
gunners, ETC.. 10 rank with enslgns and
that they shall on promotion have the
same pay and allowances now allowed sec
ond heutenants IN the marine corps. II
was adopted.
Another amendment abolishng prize
money, capture or destruction Of the enc
myS ships in time OF War was adopted
without debate or division
Cummings offered committee amend
ment for the retirement of enlisted men
and petty officers OF the navy after thirty
years service on three-cuarters' pay, SER
vice in the civil or Spanish-American war
TO be computed as double time.
Simpson asked why enlisted men were
not placed on an equality with officers and
retired as OF the highest grade. Cummings
replied that the object of the amendment
was TO place the enlisted men OF the navy
on an equality with those OF the army. 1t
was only officers who had served In the
civil war. Or who were forced out OK the
service who were retired as of the next
higher grade.
Cummings. amendment was adopted
Meyer OF Iowa. on behalf of the commit
tee. offered substitute for the sections
covering the marine corps. Under 1t the
marine corps would consist OF one COM
mandant with the rank OF major general.
lieutenant colonelis, ten majors. sixty cap
tains. sixty first and sixty second iieuten-
ants. doubling the number OF officers pro-
ytded for In the original bill.
Vacancies are to be filled as far as
possible by seniority from the ac-
tive line commissions in the corps
motion are IL be filled by transfer from
the line OF the navy not above the grade
of Junior lieutenant, from those who Sery-
ed as second lieutenants IN the marine
corps during the Spanish war. from meri-
torious on-commissioned Officers or from
civil life. Only portion Of the officers
are to be appointed before January l, 1900.
The staff OF &he marine corps Is TO con-
sist of an adjutant and Inspector, a guar
master. a paymaster. each with the rank
of colonel, an assistant adjutant general
and inspector. two assistant quartermas-
tiers. one assistant paymaster. each with
the rank of major. and three assistant
quartermasters with the rank of captain.
During service with fleets senior officers
are to hold the rank next above their
rank in the corps. II provides for 600
petty officers and enlisted men. IN re-
Spouse to an inquiry, Meyer said the sub
stitute would strengthen the marine corps
13oo men and increase the cost 10000.
Steele OF Indiana thought the commit
tee was demanding good deal of the
house in asking its support for suostt-
tute which had not been passed on by the
commission which drafted the personnel
bill.
Meyer said the late war had demonstrate
cd the necessity for an increase OF the ma
rine corps.
Bennett Of New York moved to strike
from the substitute the provision for
a major general. The men of the marine
corps were scattered. he said, and never
modified. The commandment was simply
a bureau officer and was not entitled to
the rank OF major general.
Pierce OF Missouri opposed the subsu-
tute. For the reputation and good name
of the committee and his party I'm the
house he believed the substitute would
be voted down.
Meyer said that in the preparation OF
the substitute the army organization had
been followed but on solicitation he ac-
cepted the Bennett amendment, striking
out the provision for a major general. The
substitute was adopted, S. TO So The bill
was then reported 10 the house.
Ia dor al zayk mt n m fnn
marine corps substitute and IL was taken
by yeas and nays, and the substitute was
adopted I27 TO 1. The bill was then pass
ed without division. Saturday, January
Is was set aside for paying tribute 10 the
memory OF the late John Simpkins OF
Massachusetts.
At $50 p. m. the house adjourned
CQNHQNED IIQIQR TO STOP.