Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-13
MIR. Sullivan for the Canal.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIV

Mr.. Crumpacker 0nd) gave notice at the
opening of the session of the House today
that he would call up the contested cleo
ton case of Brown agt. Swanson Tuesday
next
Under the special order adopted Monday,
the House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr. Hopkins Ql) in the chair. and
proceeded to the consideration of the naval
personnel bill
All attempts to fix a time for the concu-
sion Of the general debate failed, and Mr.
FCss tillJ. Who was in charge of the bill,
took the floor. with a general argument in
support of the measure. SINCE 1882, he said,
we have devoted ourselves to building a
new navy. but little or no attention had
been paid TO the personnel of the navy.
Men We're as important as ships. The basis
OF the present bill was bill drafted by a
board of naval officers. at the head of
which was the then assistant secretary of
the navy, Theodore Roosevelt, and COM
posed of officers of the line and staff. After
IL was presented to the committee on naval
affairs a year ago extensive hearings had
been given, and as result of their investi
CATION the committee last May had agreed
upon the pending measure. which was sub
Stantiaily the bill drafted by the board.
This proposed change in the personnel of
the navy was revolutionary. he admitted
hut il was necessary to keep pace with the
WUuGcrfui eNDiutiOn In the construction and
nature of our modern warships.
Mr.. FOss said the naVy'S greatest experts
today in several branches Of staff work
were line officers. The increase in the
number of officers provided by the bill was
% We had acquired 19S additional vessels
during IL war with Spain. Most of these
of course. would be disposed of, but some
of them would be retained. Besides. %
ships We're now under construction. These
vessels must be officered. Under the ANAL
gamGtion plan fewer officers would be re-
quired than under the present system as
atty officer could be assigned to duty in the
engine room or on deck
Mr.. Foss gave notice that he intended at
the proper time to offer amendment to
abolish prize money in the navy. The
experiences and lessons of our war with
Spain, Mr. FOss said. had strengthened
every line in the pending bill Engineer
officers during the late war had frequently
held responsible duties in the line, and vice
versa The voluntary retirement feature
also reinforced by the experience Of
the Its purpose to give officers
command rank at forty-iye. Dewey was
sixty At Manila. but he had command rank
az thirty-fOur. and It was his twenty-five
years experience in command that made
him the brilliant victor at Manila. The
same Was true Of Sampson. SChley. Clark
Evans and the other great sea captains Of
the late war
MIR. Low IN. " opposed the amalgama-
ton Of the line and the engineer corps
Their duties Were widely disSmilar. he
Sftlu. anu lHt -HlCltHCS Oh ttle service would
not be promoted by their amaIgamation
Officers OF the line and staff. he said had
agreed" 10 the pending bill because of
advantages it contained, but they did not
approve Of the proposed amalgamation
and in support Of this statement he read
the testimony Of Capt. CrowniDshieId and
Others hefpie the committee.
AIR Low said he believed in specialized
services. Its advantage had been demon
strated during the late war. when the en-
Einaer II the Oregon had been able to force
that ship during the pursuit of Cergera's
feet beyond her rating
Mr.. Dayton (W- Va followed in support
Of the bill. He said the people of the coun-
try were in sympathy with and heartily in
support Of e. cry proposition which would
tend TO strengthen the navy and increase
tts efficiency.