The National tribune., 1910-03-03

commissioned list. The larger classes
at Annapolis have swelled the lower
ranks of Midshipmen and Junior Lieu-
tenants, so that unless there is some
relief soon officers will grow old in the
Junior Lieutenant. Senior Lieutenant
and Lieutenant-Comman grades.
1t is doubtful whether Congress can
deal with this important personnel
problem in the annual appropriation
bill, so that it will probably have to be
treated in special act, but there is so
much legislation which must go thru
this session that the personnel bill will
have little show.
The troublesome quarrel between the
staff and the line in the management of
Navy Yards remains unsettled by the
naval appropriation bill. The Bureaus
of Construction and Repair and of
Steam Engineering are to share in the
management and inspection of con-
Struction work for a year, as Secretary
Meyer planned they should, but the
House refuses to commit itself TO that
plan. and allows him a year only for
purposes of trial and for showing the
merits of the new scheme. 1t developed
during hearings of quite two months
that the House Naval Committee was,
on the whole, hostile to the new organ
ization, altho it is unwilling to refuse to
the Secretary the necessary authority to
transfer appropriations to the Bureau
of Steam Engineering, where these are
necessary for the new activities of the
Steam Engineering Bureau at the Navy
Yards. This, if anything, will encour-
age the staff officers, particularly the
Naval Constructors, to keep up their
fight for jurisdiction over all repair and
construction work.
There is deal of bitterness because
of this division of Bureau activities. The
Paymaster-General of the Navy,
Eustace B. Rogers, is seriously at odds
with the Secretary of the Navy, and
many people think it only question of
time when he will resign his present
position.
Consequently with all the great prog
ress the Department is making with the
Navy, there are many Administration
obstacles in the way. Next Winter In
evitably there will be a great contro-
Versy as to whether Secretary Meyer
has made good with reorganization and
whether it would not be preferable to
return to the Newberry plan of manag-
ing Navy Yards, whereby Naval Con-
structors have entire charge of the con-
struction of the hulls and machinery of
war crafts.
Trouble in the Marine Corps.
The Marine Corps, compact and
very efficient arm of the Naval Service,
IS also involved in quarrel of no small
significance. The Corps has had to fight
SO much for its own organization that
it has rarely shown any dissensions in
its own ranks. Its head for number
of years has been Malice George F.
Elliott. officially known as Command
ant. He has a small staff corps in
Washington, and with one of these staff
officers, Col. Charles II. Laucheimer
who is Adjutant and Inspector, the
Commandant is at serious odds.
The details of their troubles have
leaked out slowly. Some weeks ago
Gen. Elliott used violent language to
Col. Laucheimer, to which the latter
took exception. He reported Gen. Ell
1iott to the Secretary of the Navy, an
unusual thing, but something that sub
ordinate officers when thus aggrieved
always have the right to do. Gen. Ell
liott also suspended Col. Laucheimer.
and the latter has demanded court of
inquiry. Rear-Admirals Barker and
Davis. of the Navy, and Maj.Gen. Chas.
former Commandant. all re-
tired officers, have been designated to
conduct the inquiry.
Gen. Elliott is a man of uncontrof-
liable temper, which has caused much
trouble within the Corps for a long
time. When displeased he is credited
with making statements which are not
by the regulations. Some
weeks ago the situation had become SO
acute that it was thought somewhat
likely Gen. Elliott would find it desir-
able to retire soon and allow the Presi-
dent to appoint his successor The
pressing of the case between him and |
Col Laucheimer is thought to have |
been encouraged with the object of
bringing the Generals conduct of his |
office into prominence with the idea
that il might force him to retire.
The Commandant will have to retire
within a year, as he reaches the retiring |
age OF 64 for the Marine Corps within |
hat period. Marine Corps officers, like |
those of the Army, serve two years |
longer than do Navy officers before 60 |
ng on the retired list That has en- |
subordinate officers of the Ma
rine Corps to press the case against |
Cen. Elliott. as he could retire under |
The 40 years service clause at once. His /
opponents claim that his retirement |
would be for the good of the service, |
BECAUSE it would make feasible imme- |
1iateIy not only the nomination Of |
new Commandant, but reorganization |
Of the Corps and the adoption of more |
efficient methods in its administration |
and in the transaction of its business. |
The verdict of the court of inquiry |
promises to have some bearing, at least |
indirectly, on that point.