The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-24

An Unwarranted Criticism.
In articles criticising the action of con-
sress in placing Representative Boutelle,
OF Maine, on the retired list of the navy,
with the rank Of captain. several news
papers. which ought to know better.
speak OF this as resulting in injustice
to other Officers of the navy. Whatever
criticisms may be made as to the policy
or the propriety of this congress
sionai action. certainly this par
ticular charge is without a shadow
Of foundation. The retired list OF the
navy is not limited in its numbers, nor
is there any promotion after an officer
has once retired Neither the emolu-
ments, rank nor standing OF any officer
in the active service or on the retired
list win be affected in the slightest de-
gree by the placing of Capt. Boutelle on
the retired list.
The situation is radically different In
the case of an appointment OF civilian
into the active list. or the advancement
of an officer already on that list. The
law limits the number of commissioned
Officers in each grade. There can be no
promotion from lower to higher grade
until an actual vacancy occurs. The APP
pointment of man from civil life to any
commissioned office in the line OF the
navy. or the advancement Of any officer
already in the service over the heads
Of men now his seniors, would result In
an injustice to other officers. for II would
delay in the one case the promotion OF
all those who were lower on the list than.
the especially favored Individual; and
that of all of the officers who were passed
over in the second instance.
The Democratic criticisms of the action
OF congress are also singularly out of
place. in view Of the precedent which
that party itself set In the case OF Gen.
Rosecrans. The general resigned from
the army In 1857. a year before Capt Bou-
telle's retirement from the navy. He az
forwards held many public positions. both
by appointment and by election. and was
restored to the army and retired by
Democratic congress, with the approval
Of Democratic president. after having
served as q member of congress: a case
In all respects on all fours with that of
Capt. Boutelle. Gen. Rosecrans was
partisan Democrat. but in view of his
distinguished services during the civil
war, the Republicans in congress did not
oppose the proposition to restore him TO
the rank which he had voluntarily sur
rendered many years before. Certainly
no Democratic newspaper in the country
at the time felt called upon to question
the proprjety Of the action Of congress in
the case OF Gen. Rosecrans. Az a matter
Of fact. his case was not an isolated one;
and the action upon II was Justified by
existing precedents
II IL difficult to see why an action which
was considered fully warranted in the
case of former army OFFICER should be
considered an unparalleled improperly
when extended In principle to the case
OF former navy officer. whose services
to the navy did not stop when he severed
his active connection with It. but which
in fact were far greater after ne became
a civilian than when he was attached to
the military arm. because his opportuni-
ties were greater.
Other criticisms must be framed than
those directed on the theory that the ac-
ton Of congress In Capt. Boutelle's case
was either an injustice to other naval
officers or was without precedent