New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-16
MORE NAVY STRIFE.
LINE rs. STAFF AGAIN
Personnel Legislation Stirs Up
the SerUice.

iFron Tie Tdbune Eurear.l
Washington, March l5-Naval officers BE-
iieve they ara destined Cor an exciting ser
zion with the House Naval Committee.
provided that body takes Up the new naval
personnel hiI. which originated with
special board IN thc Navy Department and
has been introduced as an adntnisirative
measure ny the chairman OF the committee
Representative f'oss The present inteu-
don is 20 hold hearings I'm The committee
AFTER the naval appropriation hin is out ~
the way and - ascertain from various Of
fcors The service opinion regarding the pro-
visions ~ tho hin N Is fOreseen that there
VT, be- unanimity OF opinion regarding the
Necessity az incrcasing thc commissioned
personnel.
There viii. however. be much opposition
20 shc plan OF graded retirement or any
proposition 60 retire 10y selection greater
number man Is nov retired by the annual
''plucking board Graded retirement I'M
solVes the refinement az officers "a frac-
tlon az active duty pay, which would
amount 70 little On the case 81 guniOr on
Gers. The only hope is that The retirement
viii be confined 10 officers Of the senior
grades and permit the promotion OF those
sufior IN rank. Most junior offseers on re-
siremfnt would receive pay which would he
itss. as one officer has expressed IL, than
e-waEes az an ofiee hoy. and tlis even
after having served ten years in the navy.
The objections 20 this bill have been set
so~-h fr reports mace ny heads % different
,-p~ c---- ,Hd these have been furnished 10
me vo-.- Ssv.l Committee. with Secretary
Meyers re3oinders. some ~ thc sugges-
lions made havr been ADOPTED and are %
hs foulG a. the FINAL departmental draft 81
the personnel bin. otheF recommendations
had 10 Ia sxt ssids because the operation 81
rhs ~ Ms liTnited 20 regulation numbers.
rFnpGFtions, service in the grades and pro-
notion.
Some apprehension has been expressed
l-st hsfn come 20 some % she stan ofti-
Gers. but an al such instances ale depart
msrf hxs sought 10 guard ne interests %
ineiVi6usis now in the service. The proper
sion Of fncroase las bern adjusted - noar-
~ as possible with the idea ~ having a
vel balanced penkOnnal. u is recognized
tsst rs q matter or equity 20 mo individual
$40 star ooTps might well receive higher
.raleE. but ire Navy Department feels
shst az the present time there h no Inili-
it.Ty necessity Ser sns Increase az rank
On the stan c0rps SUCH as THAI 81 providing
tae grade az rear admiral, as has been
uFFod. on the other hand, there is in the
line an urgent miiiisFy necessity foF pro-
Wiling officers ~ adequate rank 10 perform
shs increasingly important duties new 30
ubired IN the enlarged feet.
Great Interest Aroused.
Service intenesf has heen aroused - a
Pitch Of excitement by the knowledge thai
EoIne ~ the Enombcrs OF tho House Naval
Cemmiuee intend 20 bring w the Inc
and star fight an the hearings on The per
Fonpsl bin. This is with tho idea that
scmething may be- done by legislation which
win put an end 10 The controversy wl'ich
hss existed for sixty years. and which rs
40 hitter to-day o. IL has ever hssn. Serne
- The members believe that the situation
csn BE- improved by giving Ftsa officers
resifive stiles corresponding with those ~
fhc line. a. a. the ease On che STAN 81 tie
amy and the stan 81 the marine corps.
This viii cause conilcs which never fars
~ arouse fhe sntsgoiiism ~ the line, snd
n win assuredly meet vith the dissPpnoval
- the Kew Department. which has already
sEpreEssd ttself 81 shss rhsss ~ che situs-
TIN IN reply % q. recommendation made ny
the CHEZ - che Bureau = Yards snd Docks
~ give ~ civh engineers fhe actual rank
sa5 utls 81 taaiE plaos. On tic Sround that
- would 10 beneficial 90 apply 10 every
sag ccrps she Practice which Is now main
tsiase in ths Army. SecTetary Msyey. IN
deslins WIKI fhis subject. saws that the
ruestion ~ tiflss for the stsn corps is not
fiFectly connected with snv ~ The objects
- the personnel bin. md thar the depart
mont does not wish ~ this time 20 consider
ths question o. positive tiries for the star.
Altcrethe-. ne question q naval person
rel has taken sn unexpected turn. ana %
fia' is lissly te stir the noSv - i's :ounda-