The Washington herald., 1907-01-19

Secretary Of the Navy Metcalf yester-
day issued O statement to the press con-
cerning legislation in the interests of the
personnel of the navy that is really a
warning TO staff officers. or at least
those who talked about it 80 considered.
to keep their hands off and their mouths
closed about the pending personnel bill in
Congress 1t is simply another chapter
CT the vigorous fight now on between the
line and the staff OF the navy Naval
officers are divided into two classes. line
and staff The line has to do with the
running OF ships and fighting The staff
Is composed Of the medical department.
paymasters. civil engineers, and naval
constructors.
The whole difficulty of the thing is that
the stan officers want the use OF naval
titles. At IL is now a surgeon is called
a surgeon. but he has the rank Of lieu
tenant commander yet he may not call
himself a lieutenant commander SO Il
is throughout the stan. The surgeon
wants the title, and in such a way that
he can work IL. So does the paymaster,
the civil engineer and the naval contruc-
tor. The quarrel has spread itself out
over several years. but It is worse than
ever now.
Personnel Board Appointed.
Last summer a personnel board. ap-
pointed by the Secretary Of the Navy.
fixed up a personnel bill, with recon-
mendations for action by Congress. The
stan was invited 10 make recommeuda-
tions, and the STAFF officers unanimously
took their chance and asked Tor titles.
This was not what was wanted, and that
portion OF the deliberations Of the per
sonnel board was withheld from Con
gress. Consequently the staff officers
were angered. The personnel bin was
received at the Capitol. but II has not
made much progress. stan officers have
been accused Of trying 90 obstruct the
measure, out of a spirit Of revenge. be
cause they did not haze their recon-
mendatlous adopted. Word was passed
back and forth. and finally there was a
White House warning that il staff officers
tinker d with the bill before Congress
they would be cOurt-martialed. That was
week or two ago.
Secretary MetcaIrs Statement.
Something must have happened since
then, for Secretary Metcalf took action
for the first time yesterday. He IS heartily
in favor Of the measure now before Con-
gress- This is his statement to the press:
The stan board will be convened as
soon as practicable, and VIII make
recommendations Of any changes in
Far-
crease the efficiency Of the staf corps.
As the numbers and promotion in the
stan corps depend largely upon the
number and rate Of promotion in the
line. any recommendations with re-
spect 10 the stan must depend upon
the action Of Congress on the line bill
already placed before Congress by the
President When action is obtained on
this BILL the department will submit
to Congress fits recommendation rela-
tive 10 the staff corps.
The department sees no necessity for
obtaining the views Of staff officers reIa-
tive 20 the lire bill. nor the views OF
line officers relative TO the stan bill.
StaR Officers Angry.
This Is construed by the STAFF officers
TO mean that their chances OF getting
anything at all. aside from titles. and
that the intimation intended TO be con
veyed in the statement is that they
should pitch in and help push the per-
sonnel bill through, and that after that
the department would consider doing
things for the sta1. When stan officers
saw the statement they were surprised.
chagrined. and angry. Among other
things they wish to know is what the