Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-29
LONGER SHIP DUTY
Naval Personnel Bill Will
Lengthen Active Service.
NOW READY FOR CONGRESS
Expected It Will Be Sent in With
Message Next Week.
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY
Provisions Of Reorganization Plan
and It's Effect on Officers Ex-
planned by Mr.. Meyer.

secretary meyer has completed the
preparation of bill for the reorganiza-
ton Of the personnel of the navy. The
bill probably will be submitted to Con-
gress by the President next week to-
gether with message advocating it's
adoption.
Designed to increase the efficiency of
the service, the principal provision of the
bill permits officers to reach command
rank long before they reach the age of
retirement, through earlier entrance to
the Naval Academy and greater length
of service in the higher grades than is
possible under existing conditions The
advance of younger men to command
rank will be made possible by the retire
ment of ten per cent of each grade above
that of lieutenant commander.
Secretary Meyer has issued statement
in explanation of the various provisions
of the bill. I'm drawing up this meas
ure," says he, "a necessity that was
kept constantly in view was that there
was to be no immediate increase in ex-
pense. nor, number for number, any even
tual increase.
"A limit is set for the enlisted force.
which is not to be reached except as Con-
gress approves the estimates. year by
year. and the estimates for the next ifs
cal year are not to be changed. The ex-
.pense in future years will increase only
as the navy increases, and with the ap-
prevail each year by Congress.
Increases Through the Academy.
I'm the line of the active list the num-
bers can only be increased through the
Naval Academy, and the present Sizes
of the classes at that institution are not
to be increased. Number for number i'm
the line the active list by this measure
will cost no more than by existing law.
The cost of the active list of the staff
corps is slightly increased by increasing
somewhat the percentage of officers in
the higher grades, and by slight in
crease in the size of these corps. Both
of these increases are extremely mod
crate, but the claims of these corps for
more officers and more in the higher
grades are just, and should not be dis
regarded.
1.-THE great saving in this measure is in
the retired list of the line. fair COM
parison will be to take the working of the
present personnel law during the eleven
years of it's operation and contrast it with
the working of the personnel law for the
next eleven years. During the past eleven
years there have been 34 retirements for
age or length Of service, or war service,
or by voluntary and involuntary retire
ments. In the next eleven years it is es-
timated that under the proposed measure
there will be 13S rdtirements for the same
causes or for such of them as will be
operative. Finally the cost of the :s04 re-
tirements will have been at least double
the cost Of the estimated 13S retirements
Reduced Retirements.
1t will be a number of years before
there will be any retirements of officers
of the line below admiral or captain.
Eventually there will be retirements as
low as lieutenant commanders, but the
pay of these officers will be so small-not
more than one-fourth pay in some cases
that the relative expenses. as compared
with the present plan. will be in no way
increased. Every officer thus dropping
out with comparatively low rank and low
pay, means one less officer of his own class
and date to be retired eventually at high
rank and high pay.
THE retirement of captains and Junior
rear admirals for the next few years
means an actual saving to the government
in each case of several thousand dollars
for under existing law the greater num-
Der of such captains and admirals would
reach the senior grade of rear admiral
and retire with the highest rank and paw
This measure bases the personnel on
the ships. With a given number of ships
of all classes 1t is found that for pur-
ooses of manning and trainin. i'm time
OF peace there will be required a certain
minimum number of officers and men.
The ratio is to be 100 men for every
1000 tons of ships cot all classes, and
five line officers and midshipmen for
every 1000 tons.
The present total tonnage is about
1.200,0pO tons. including all serviceable
ships. excluding those not fit for war
purposes. and including those building
and authorized. on the principle that it
takes as long to enlist and train the