Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-10
MIR. BOUTELLE's CASE.
Secretary Longs Letter Commencing
the Proposed Retirement.

The House naval affairs committee this
afternoon submitted the report on the reso-
luton placing Mr.. Boutelle of Maine on the
retired list Of the navy. The report in
cluded the following letter from Secretary
Long Of the Navy Department to Chairman
Foss:
Sir! I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 9TH instant.
transmitting copy of the resolution Oh. j.
Res. 2ID Ito appoint Charles A. Boutelle a
captain on the retired list of the navy and
requesting the views of the department in
the matter.
In reply l have to state that II the reward
proposed in the resolution. that is the plac-
Ing of person not at the time on the ac-
tive list Of the navy upon the retired list.
can ever be appropriate, 1t would appear to
be so in the present case.
Mr.. Boutelle served with distinction as an
officer of the navy during the critical period
of the civil war; having been appointed a
master In the United States navy April T.,
1862; having served in the North and South
Atlantic and West Gulf squadrons. taking
part in number of engagements. ana
having, while an officer Of the L. s. S. Sas-
sacus, been promoted for gallant conduc.
in battle.
After honorable discharge at his own re-
quest. in January. 1865, Captain Boutelle
retained an active interest in naval mat
tiers, which he displayed subsequently as a
member of the Forty-eighth to the Fifty
service as chairman of the committee on
naval affairs his experience naval Of
hcer and extensive acquaintance with naval
matters proved of great value in the up
building of the navy, to which he untiring-
ly devoted his energies and abilities.
Congress has from time to time author
lied appointments in the navy upon the
active or retired lists in a special man.
ner. AS recent examples of direct, although
unusual. appointments upon the active list
made in pursuance of special legislation are
the cases of Lieutenants Chester Wells J.
K. Morris and j. P. J. Ryan. under the
act of March 20. 1896: also that of Lieu-
tenant James E. Palmer, under act Of
March II, 1898, and Ensign Thomas d.
Parker, under act of March 3, 1898.
In pursuance of an act approved March
q, 1871 az Stats, -, Roswell H. Lampon
was appointed lieutenant on the active
list and Immediately retired. This appoint
ment, although authorized in 1871 was not
made until 1894. AS examples of appoint
ments upon the retired list directly the fol-
lowing cases may be cited: Under resolu-
ton approved March 3, 1871 O6 Stats, GOD.
Lieut. Henry c. Keene and Master Edward
~ Bradbury were appointed upon the re-
tired list. BY act approved February q.
1873, the President was authorized to nom
mate. and, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to appoint upon the
retired list Of the navy with the rank of
master, L. r. Chester, formerly an acting
ensign in the navy"
In view Of the presidents above given
and others which might be cited and In
consideration of the exceptional features Of
the case. the department makes no objec-
ton to the legislation proposed by the Joint
resolution in question.
1t Is suggested that the title Of the reso-
luton be changed so as to read: Joint res
olution authorizing the appointment Of
S t, A. Boutelle as captain on the re-
tired list oe the navy"
Very respectfully