The Washington herald., 1907-01-12
WAR ON OYER TITLES
Navy Officers Of Line and
Staff Engage in Struggle.
PRESIDENT TAKES A HAND
Informs stan Men If They Attempt
to Obstruct Passage of Personnel
Bill They VIII BE COurt-martiaIed.
Question of Rank Cause of Row.
Legislation Improbable at Present.

There is merry war on between the
officers Of the line of the navy and staff
officers over titles that seems certain to
develop into the biggest struggle the
navy has ever had. Matters have already
gone SO far that "A personal representa-
tive of President Roosevelt has informed
stan officers that if, in their fight for
titles. they attempt to influence legisla-
ton. or obsruct tie personnel bill now
before Congress. they will be court-mar-
tailed. The staff officers contend that Of
fcers Of the line are openly endeavoring
to influence their Congressman. and yet
they are not threatened with cOurt-mar-
tiaL The fight centers on the personnel
bill drawn by a board appointed by ex-
Secretary Of the Navy BOnaparte. The
line officers are anxious for it to go
through and are working hard for it, but
its provisions do not look after what the
staff officers claim to be their rights.
There are two classes OF officers in the
navy, those OF the line, from the grade
Of midshipmau up TO that Of admiral, and
staff officers. the latter being officers Of
the Pay Department. Of the Medical De
ton and the civil engineers coming uu-
der the Bureau of Yards and Docks IN
other words. the officers who have to do
with actual fighting are line officers, and
the others. including pay officers, sur
geons. civil engineers. and naval con-
structors. are STAFF officers. The engineers
used to be staff officers. but they have
been made a part Of the line Of the navy.
No Titles To stat Officers.
staff officers. under existing laws, are
not given titles, such Us ensign. leuten-
ant. lieutenant commander, and captain.
as are staff officers in the army and they
claim that they should be given them.
They have relative rank, but not the title.
Thus an assistant surgeon has the rank
Of "a second Lieutenant "A passed assistant
surgeon the rank of a lieutenant. senior
grade. q surgeon the rank OF lieutenant
commander medical Inspector the rank
Of q commander. q medical director that
OF a captain. while the surgeon general
has the rank Of rear admiral But none
of the officers in these grades are permit
ted 20 use the titles. If an officer is a
medical inspector he is called Medical In
spcctor So-and-So. and not commander.
In the army a surgeon. for instance. is en-
titled 20 the title Of major.
Last summer when Il was determined by
the Navy Department that something
should be done about the commissioned
personnel of the navy the staff officers
were asked for suggestions. a personnel
board. headed By Assistant Secretary of
the Navy NeWberry. was appointed 10
take up the entire matter. The staff Off
/ GERS who were consulted, h-wever, did not
follow the line expected. Il was supposed
that they would coufiue their recommeu-
datlous to matters concerning promotion,
/ increased pay and such things bat in
stead all Of them turned in recommenda-
ti0ns that they be given the right 20 make
use OF the titles. The line arose against
this, and since then there has been a hot
fight on. There We're other reCOmmenda-
ti0ns made 10y ihe staff officers. and these
were granted. but their suggestions that
they be given the titles was held back and
not sent TO Congress with the other con-
cIusions of the personnel board.
stan Officers Given Few FayOrs.
The staff officers We're given some
things. but they wanted the titles more
than anything else. II seemed that the
personnel legislation was blocked because
of the squabbIe. President RooseveIt's S
personal aid, Lieut.. Commander Albert
L. Key, who Is very much interested in
the personnel bill. and anxious 10 see it
pass, has been at work on the staff Of
fcers. It is said that he was sent to them
by the President.
But the staff seemed obdurate, and they
want TO get the titles TO which they be-
Heve they are entitled. II is believed that
the staff officers are attempting to OBJ
struct the personnel bill as it now stands
before Congress. Because of this, the
White House warning was given that
courts-martial would follow such at
tempts.
In the meantime. it is claimed that line
officers are working with members of
/ Congress i'm an effort TO get the personnel
/ bill through. Many officers believe that
/ there will be no personnel legislation AT
/ this session OF Congress. The President
/ is very much interested in the measure