The Washington herald., 1908-01-10


partment shall be transacted by bureaus
and officers Of the department as they now
exist, and all reports and recommenda-
tons of such bureaus and officers be made
direct to the Secretary of the Navy No
permanent board of any kind shall be
hereafter appointed by the Navy Depart
ment. or continued in operation, unless
expressly provided by law, after the
passage of this act; but from time 70
time the Secretary of the Navy may con-
vene boards for temporary service.
The second section bears particularly
on the recent controversy over the detail
Of a surgeon 10 command a vessel. After
stating that navy staff officers shall have
the same rank and title as now established
for army staff officers, the section pro-
vides further that this provision shall in
no case carry with It command over any
vessel Of the Navy Department, but such
command shall be exercised by line Offl-
GERS.
Too Many MidShipmen.
Section relates to the graduation and
appointments q midshipmen to the vari-
Gus corps, and in explaining that section
Senator Hale furnished some valuable and
interesting information He said that mil
lions had been spent In building, provid-
ing for, and maintaining Naval Aead-
eny second to none in the world as to
magnincence and completeness. A course
Of education was provided that could not
! be surpassed. He stated that at present
there were at the Naval Academy $50 mid
shipmen and 3l2 at sea, making in all l,l6i
midshipmen in the service. 200 more than
all other line officers in the navy. There
are now 523 ensigns and AZ other line Of
/ fcers, and this state of affairs crushed
out ambition in the lower officers. As II
1 is now. il would take a midshipman from
I 25 to 80 years TO reach the grade of lieu
I tenant commander unless some unusual
/ emergency arose.
/ The section provides that the number
/ OF appointments which shall be made Il
the various corps Of the naval service ii
/ any one year shall not exceed seventy
/ five This will not affect midshipmeT
/ who entered the Naval Academy prior L
/ January 1. 1904.
/ The order of merit and eligibility Of ap
| pOintment remains as now, but the section
/ provides further that if there are mor'
/ graduates than needed TO fill vacancies
/ those who do not receive such appoint
ment shall be given certificate o
/ graduation. an honorable discharge, an'
/ one years sea pay, thus enabling them L
engage in any civil pursuit
GallingeF Champions Middies.
Senator GaIlinger objected to this fea
ture. saying he couldn't see why tn
United States government should fit up
magnificent institution and give youni
men a fine education. and then hav
them turn it 10 good advantage in civi
/ life.
Section 4 relates to retirement afte
thirty years Of service, upon TIL
officers own application and in tn,
/ discretion of the President 1t PRO
vides that any officer of the navy VIII
is now serving or who shall hereafte
serve as chief Of a bureau, and shal
/ be subsequently retired, shall be re
I tired with the rank, pay. and allow
ances authorized by law for the re
tirement of such bureau chief.
Section proposes to increase tn
pay Of all commissioned officers. war
rant officers, midshipmen, and pa,
clerks in the navy and Marin
Corps 20 per cent, and the pay of al
/ noncommissioned officers, mates, ant
other petty officers, musicians, an
other enlisted persons in the navy an
Marine Corps. 40 per cent provided tina
the word pay shall be exclusive o
all additions IN the form of allowance
and commissions
Would Bring Harmony.
In concluding his remarks. Senate
Hale said he felt certain that shout
this bill become a law. the influx int
the navy would be a safe one, the in
/ crease of pay and other provision
would create peace in the navy and d
away with the petty jealousies an
vexatious questions that are now con
( tinUally arising.