The Mena weekly star., 1908-01-16
A NAVY PERSONNEL BILL
Measure Introduced In Senate Which Will Make Many Important
 Changes if Passed.
THE PAY OF OFFICERS AND MEN RAISED
The Bill, Which Is the Product of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs, Proposes 8 Settlement of Several Vexatlous Questions That Have Caused Recent Trouble.

Washington, Jan. 10.--A bill, whose passage, 1t Is expected, will work many important changes in the per sonnel of the navy ana greatly in- crease it's efficiency, was introduced Thursday by Senator Hale, chairman of the senate committee on naval sf. fairs. It proposes . settlement of the vexatious question aR to whether the members of ths stan corps shall have rank with the lins officers, puts an end to the creation of bureaus by the secretary of the navy and gives sub stantial raise in pay to every eom- missioned officer and enlisted man of the navy and tie marine corps.
 There is sn important section re- lsting to the appointment of midship- men to the line and stan corps, and also 6 provision calling for the retire ment of officers of certain age.
 The first section of the bill 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 be made direct to the secretary af the navy. There ix then added the provis- ion that mo permanent board of any kind shall hereafter be appointed by the navy department, or continued In operation unless expressly provided for by law, but, from time to time. the secretary of the navy may con vene boards for temporary service connected with the pending business of the department"
 That part of the bill which relates to the assignment of line rank to of rcsrs of the various divisions of the staff corps contends that they shall la no instance assume command of any vessel It Is as follows:
 "The officers in the various staff corps of the navy shall hereafter have actual rank and title es now estab- lished for the staff corps of the army. Such officers of the stan corps of tho navy shall at sll times have the title
 
 commissions in accordance herewith shall be forthwith issued to them; provided, thah this provision shall in no case carry with 1t command of any vessel of the navy department. but such command shall be exercised only by line officers"
 A large section of the bill deals with the appointment of midshipmen to po- sitions In the line and staff.
 The bill makes provision for hon orsbls discharge and one years sea pay for those whe do not receive such appointments Midshipmen may. upon their own application. be honorsbly discharged at the end of the four years course at the naval academy with a proper certificate of gradus ton. July of each year will be re- garded as the beginning of the year | for reckoning vacancies for the pur- poses of this act.
 The bill provides that when an of hcer has been 30 years in the service he may upon his application, in the discretion of the president, be placed upon the retired list. Also that when an officer has served 40 consecutive years as & commissioned officer he shall, if hs makes application therefor to the president, be retired from ac- tive service and placed upon the re- tired list.
 The bill requires that any naval Of ficer now or hereafter serving as a chief of bureau of the navy depart ment, shall upon retirement have the rank, pay and allowances of such bu- reau chief Under the bill the pay of all commissioned officers, warrant officers, midshipmen and pay clerks in the navy and marine corps, is in creased 25 per cent; non-commis- stoned officers, mates and other petty officers, musicians and other enlisted persons in the navy and marine corps increased 40 per cent, this pay" be ing exclusive of allowances and com mutations.