The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-14
HoBsoN's PROMOTION.
How It Was Brought About and
What It Really Amounts To.

THO nroroo+ion. so called of Naval Con-
s+r,1c+or Hobson is far from being what
he and his friends expected 1t 10 De- Inc
nomination advancing him from numper
one on the list of assistant naval con-
structors to number eight on the naval
construc+or's list was apparently pushing
him I'D fourteen numbers, but as ne had
already advanced five numbers ana De
came a naval constructor June 70, 1855
through the usual process OF promotlon'
his advancement is, therefore, only from
NO II to No. 8, as reward 1or unpdr d.
leled heroism.
Tt has been understood ever since the
whole country heard of his exploit and
plansswere being devised of how to prop
erly reward such service, that Hobson
preferred entering the line corps, and II
was quasi officially announced that his
place would be last on the list or lieu
tenant commanders. In this event and
without the intervention of the navy per-
sonnet bill Just passed Hobson would have
become a rear admiral in ten years hence
at the age of 80 On June q last the Pres
ident. in a message to Congress-, recon-
mended that the thanks of Congress be
extended to Hobson, and his fellow heroes,
and that the gallant leader be transferred
to the line and promoted to such position
therein as might be determined. Hobson
received the thanks of Congress very
did not follow, and now he gets only an
advance of nine numbers in the naval
constructors corps, equivalent to pushing
nine of the constructors down one num-
Der each. The service he rendered was
in the line of duty as line officer and
not that of a naval constructor, hence his
new place should be in the line corps.
The entire line, however, was opposed
to the advancement of Hobson, and the
Crownins -Sampson-Coope combine,
which represents the ultra line sentiment
against the staff, appear to have chiseled
the Young hero out of his merited reward.
without the passage of the navy reor-
ganization bill Hobson would have re-
ceived no substantial reward by over
slaughing nine constructors. He would
only reach the relative rank of comman-
der in 1901 and that of captain in 1920
Hinder the operation of the new navy per-
sonnet bill the number of naval construct
ors with the rank and pay of captain is
increased from two to five, commanders
from three to five and the others are
raised from lieutenants to lieutenant
commanders. Under this law Hobson will
have the rank of commander at once and
that of captain on March 4, 1901, upon the
retirement of Chief Constructor Hichborn.
AS the chief of Bureau of Construction
rs selected from any one of the twenty
two constructors his chances of becoming
chief of that bureau with the rank of
rear admiral are somewhat Uncertain, and
even if he should be fortunate enough to
head the constructors corps he will be a
rear admiral by rank only and not a COM
mander in chief of a fleet. That Mr.. Hob
son becomes captain by rank in less
than two years is only because of the
workings of the new bill, for, as the re-
cent recommendation for his promotion
shows, he was only to be promoted nine
numbers over the heads of other con-
structors, with no increase in rank or pay
the latter two only to follow upon re-
tirement of those ahead of him:
The Washington clique worked their
game to perfection and even went so far
as to have Hobson ordered to the Phil
ippines where, 10000 miles away from
washington, he would be powerless to
check the plot to steal away his merited
reward. In ten months hence, however,
Congress will again be in session and
Hobsons friends will make an effort to
right the wrong and place him in the
corps for which he rendered such signal
service and for which he would not have
been selected but for eminent fitness
above all the other young line officers in
the Sampson squadron. A j. +.