Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-10
SENATOR HALE'S BILL
For Changes and improvement Of the
Navy Personnel.


important changes in the personnel of
the navy and greatly increase its eff
cheney, was introduced today by Sena
tor Hale, a chairman Of the Senate
committee on naval affairs. 1t pro-
poses a settlement of the vsxatious
questions AZ to whether the members
Of the staff corps shall have rank with
the line officers; put an end to the
creation Of bureaus by the secretary
Of the navy and gives a substantial
raise in pay to every commissioned
officer and enlisted man Of the navy
and the marine corps.
There is an important section relating
to the appointment Of midshipmen to
the line and staff corps, and also
provision calling for the retirement CT
officers Of certain age.
The first section Of the bin deals
With the bureau question by granting
authority to bureaus now existing to
continue to transact the business as
signed them and requiring that all re-
ports and recommendations shall b.
made direct To- the secretary Of the
navy. There Ii then added the pro-
vision that mo permanent board OF
any kind shall be hereafter appointed
nv the navy department or continued
IN operation unless expressly PROVIDED
for by law hut. from time to time. III"
secretary Of the navy may convene
boards for temporary service connect
ID with the pending business Of the
department" That part of the hill
which relates to the assignment OF line
rank to officers of the various divisions
of the staff corps contains provision
that they shall in no instance assume
command Of any vessel. That section
Is as follows:
THAT officers in the various staff
corps Of the navy shall hereafter have
actual rank and title Al now establish
cd for the staff corps Of the army.
Such officers Of the staff corps of tho
navy shall at all times have the title
and designation Of their rank. and new
commissions in accordance Herewith
shall be forthwith issued with it COM
mand over any vessel of the navy de-
partmcnt, but such command shall be
exercised only By the officers"
4 large section OF the bill deals with
the appointment of midshipmen to po-
sltions In the line and staff and reads
az follows:
THAT hereafter from the rlidship-
men who successfully complete the six
years course at the Naval Academy
appointments shall be made as may
bc necessary and in the order OF merit
at graduation TO I'll! vacancies in the
lowest commissioned grades of the
lire ard other corps of the navy TO
which such graduates are eligible Tor
appointment under existing laws, and
that the number of said appointments
which shall be male to the various
corps Of the naval service in any ono
wear shall not exceed IS: provided that
the foregoing provision limiting the in
crease in any fiscal year shall not APP
Ply 20 ,nidshipmen who have entered
the Naval Academy prior to JAN l. l9Oa.
and have completed their four years
course ut the academy. That the merit
OF graduates of the Naval Academy
upon final graduation and the eligibil-
ity TO appointment in the navy. shall
he determined as now provided by ex-
listing law and regulation and the as
signmept OF graduates to the various
corps shall be made by the secretary
Of tho navy:
provided further. that If there be
4 surplus Of graduates above that
Necessary to fill the vacancies in the
manner ami extent herein before au-
thorizc0. those who do not receive
such appointment shall! be given a GER
tIficatc Of graduation, an honorable
discharge and one years pay and here
after midshipman whose position i'll
class entities him to be retained in the
service. may. upon his own application,
he honorably discharged at the end of
the four years course Mt the Naval
Academy. with Il proper certificate OF
graduation. The appointments herein
authorized shall be made upon uiy /
OF each year. which shall be regarded
as the beginning of the year for recl1-
"ning vacancies for tho purposes Of
this act
The bill makes provision for the retire
inent of officers by STIMULATING
THAT when an officer has been 80 years
in the service he may. upon his own ap-
rlication. in the discretion of the Presi-
dent be retired from active service and
placed upon the retired list. Also that
when an officer has served &C consecutive
wears as a commissioned officer he shall,
II he makes application therefor to tho
President. be released from active ser
vice and placed upon the retired list"
The bill requires that any officer of the
navy who Is now serving or who shall
hereafter serve as chief IF bureau OF
the navy department and shall subse-
Quently be retired. shall be retired with
the rank. pay and allowances authorized
by law for the retirement of such bureau
chief.
The following section of the hill pro-
ritles substantial increases of pay to men
throughout the navy and marine corps:
That the Fay of all commissioned Off
GERS. warrant officers, midshipnen and
pay clerks IN the navy and marine corps
is hereby increased - per centum and the
pay of all non-commissioned officers.
= mates and other petty officers musicians
and other enlisted persons in the navy
and marine corps is hereby increased %
per centum:--
Provided that the word pay as used
In this section shall be exclusive of all |
additions in the form of allowances and
communications !
A FALLING OFF.