Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-10


every commissioned officer and en-
listed man of the navy and the mar
inc cons.
That part of the bill which relates
to the assignment of line rank to
officers or the various divisions OF
tho staff contains provision that thcy
shall in no Instance assume command
of any vessel. The sectio Is as fol-
lows: THAT officers in the various
stan corps Of the navy shall hereaf-
ter have actual rank and title as now
established for the staff corps OF the
army. Such officers of the STAFF corps
of the navy shall ut all times have
1.-THE title ssid designation of their
rank. and new commissions in ac-
cordance Herewith shall forthwith
be issued to them; provided that this
provision shall in no case carry with
II command over any vessel in the
navy department. but such command
shall be exercised only by line Of
ficers.'.
Appointment OF Midshipmen.
large section of the bill deals
with the appointment of midshipmen
to positions In the line and staff and
reads as follows: THAT hereafter from
the midshipmen who successfully
complete the six years course ut the
naval academy. appointment shall be
made as may be necessary and in the
order OF merit at graduation TO MI
vacancies In the lowest commissioned
grades of the line and other corps OF
the navy To which such graduates are
eligible for appointment under exist
ing law. and that the number of said
apointments which shall he made to
the various col s of the naval ser
vice in any one year shall not exceed
10. provided that the foregoing pro-
vision limiting the increase in any
fiscal year shall not apply to mdshp-
men who may have entered the naval
academy prior TO January l. 1904,
and have completed their four years
course at the academy.
THE order of merit of graduates
OF the naval academy upon final
graduation and the eligibility to APP
pointment in the navy. shall be de-
tc'mined. MS now provided by exist
Ing law and regulation. and the as
slgnment of graduates to the various
corps shall be made by the secretary
of the navy; provided, further. that
II there be a surplus of graduates
above That necessary to fill the va
cnncies in the manner and to the ex-
tent hereinbefore authorized those
who do not receive such appointment
shall lie given certificate of gradua.
ton. an honorable discharge. AMI ono
years sea pay; ana hereafter any
midshipman whose position in his
class entities him to he retained IN
the service on his own application,
be honorably discharged at the ena
of the -four years course at the the
paval academy, with proper GER.
tiiicate of graduation. The appoint
ments herein authorized shall be made
upon July Of each year, which shall
be regard I'd tas the beginning OF the
year for reckoning vacancies for the
PURPOSES of this act"
The bill makes provision for the
retirement OF officers by STIMULATING
that when an officer has been so years
Ill the service he may. upon his own
application. in The discretion of the
President, I've retired from active SER
vice and placed upon the retired list.
Also that when an officer has served
Tor 20 consecutive years rs n COM
missioned officer he shall If he makes
APPLICATION therefor to the President.
be retired from active service and
placed upon the retired list.