Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-05

/ ddent that . 0urp0 OF this character could
bs.s 81 s sss g
and that after . comparatively brief ap-
prenftce1hip 1t our several navy yards
under the instruction Of oalcors belonging
would b. fully quaiiasd ID replace these
1 o0lcer8 upon the rotir0meuf OF tho latter IN
| all forms OF shore duty.
recommend - . further measure OF re-
hef that the number Of warrant uachinists
| now allowed by law b. increased by at least
ne-third. and to render service In this ca,
pacfty attractive to the ciasD OF men we de-
sire TO obtain for It they should be rendered
eligible not only for commissions in the line
on the same terms 90 other warrant officers
but for appointment to the lowest grade oi
the suggested corps Of marine engineers. Of
torily a very thorough examination to es-
tablfsh their qualifications"
More Chaplains Needed.
The Secretary says that the good morals
| and also the health and general welfare. as
well as the contentment of the service
would be promoted by considerable In
crease In the number Of chap.ains in the
| navy. provided the service could be as
| sured Of obtaining only thoroughly suitable
| men for these important positions.
He does not think any increase In the
present number Of permanent chaplains Is
desirable. but recommends that moderate
| be appointed annually to serve soma five
years. and that all vacancies in the perma-
nent force be filed by selection from those
who have been found exceptionally useful
and efficient during this period OF proba-
| ton.
'In every case" says the Secretary, "a
person selected for this Office should have
the Endorsement Of the superior ecciesias-
| which he may belong. A chaplain selected
because he has been failure in parish
work and his friends do not know what
else to do with him is much worse than
useless in the navy.
II call this matter to your attention ana
that of the Congress more especially be-
cause, while the general condition of
morals in our navy is fairly satisfactory,
certain grave lapses have been from time
to time brought to the Department. atten-
ton which empha size the necessity for
such service among the men as only jealous
and capable spiritual advisers can efficient
ly render
Civil Establishment.
AS remedy for the want of stability and
other evils in the civil establishment OF the
navy, Secretary Bonaparte suggests that
there be organized a small civilian force.
to be recruited from the most competent
men in its civil establishment, and which
should have relative rank and right OF re-
tirement on the same basis as the other
noncombatant branches of the service. The
number of those admitted to this force
should be very moderate, he says, since 1t
would contain only men thoroughly quail
fed by character, attachments and expert
ence for permanent employment; but the
mere possibility that faithful and Jealous
service might be thus rewarded would be
strong incentive to the c.ass OF men the
service is now losing to remain in the en-
ploy of the department. For minor clerical
positions. involving routine duty and offer
ing little prospect of promotion, the Secre-
tary says he has endeavored to encourage
the employment of women against which,
he says, some measure of more or less IN
reasonable prejudice seems to exist on the
part of some officers.
More Enlisted Men.
The Secretary strongly recommends that
provision be made for an addition OF oOoo
men to the enlisted personnel of the navy
as indispensable to provide proper compile
ments for new ships
Desertions and Determinations.
In the Secretarys opinion desertion is due
substantially to two causes either bad men
or bad officers "a certain percentage OF
the recruits secured for the service" says
the Secretary, ARE and always will be
INSISTS unsuitable either for any useful
employment or at least, for employment
Gates an appreciation of this fact on their
part, and may be described, so far as the
service Is affected by 1t, as process OF
healthfu excretion. When, however, a
ship loses men with good records in any
considerable numbers from this cause, the
fault. In my judgment, is usually with the
officers or some one or more among
listed men in uniform he says:
IT recommend that the Congress make
any refusal ON the part Of the proprietor
OF theater or other place Of amusement,
an innkeeper, OF a common carrier, to fur
nish accommodation to an orderly and we'll
behaved person in the naval service able
and willing to pay for such accommodation
an offense against the United States, pun
ishable by fine and Imprisonment"
The Marine Corps.
Another recommendation Is that the ma
rlne corps be increased by 1900 officers
and men. as absolutely necessary for the
efficient discharge Of it's duties. He also
suggests the propriety Of placing major
general at the head of the marine corps
retaining the present grade of brigadier
general as second in command He recon-
mends the repeal Of the statute requiring
transportation of naval stores in American
bottoms, which, he says, seems to cause
only trouble and expense to the government
with no compromising advantage.
Preservation Of the Constitution,
Secretary Bonaparte rejects as Hl-advised
several suggestions looking to the preser-
walton OF the old frigate Constitution as a
national relic. He points out that the
vessel now bearing that name is not the
vessel with which Hull captured the Guer-
riere. only a small portion Of that vessel
being contained in the present ship To ex-
hibtt the Constitution as the genuine "Old
Ironstdes' and charging a fee to inspect
her the Secretary says would mot only
Ill accord with the dignity of the govern
ment, but would amount to obtaining mon
ey under false pretenses" He says also
that 1t would be absolutely useless to re-
build on her old lines with new materials
Thinking, however. it wise and becoming
to commemorate the victories OF the old
Constitution, he suggests that the present
vessel be broken up and that all available
known parts Of the old ship be used In the
construction OF a f1rst-class armored er1is-
er or the type of the West Virginia. but
larger and swtfter, and named the Consti.
tuition. II for purely sentimental rea.
sons" says Secretary Bonaparte referring
TO the present Constitution, at Is thought
that this supposed veteran of our old wars
Is entitled to a warriors death. she might
be used as target for some Of our ships
and sunk by their fire."
Fighting Among Midshipmen.