New-York tribune., 1910-06-08
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Conqress Does Nothing for Naval
Personnel.
rFrorn The Tribune Bureau

Washington, June 4
OFFICERS DOWNCAST.-NavaI officers
are greatly disappointed over the decision
of Congress to do nothing for the relief
Of the commissioned personnel at this ses-
sion The subject has been before the
House Naval Committee in the form OF a
special measure drafted by experts, Of
whom Captain Roy c. Smith, on duty at
the Naval War College, at Newport, r. L,
was the foremost. Captain Smith has ap-
peared before the House committee three
or four times. and explained the bill. and
there we're to be additional sessions at
which the measure was to be taken up by
sections There has been much complaint
on the part of naval officers concerning
some of the provisions OF the bill. which.
however had the Endorsement Of the Secre-
tary OF the Navy and was submitted to
Congress with a special message from the
President. The principal was the elimina-
tion feature. It was feared this would oP-
crate to the disadvantage Of officers, in
that they would be retired while still able
70 perform duty and with compensation
so much less than the present three-fourths
of the active pay that those OF less than
dfteen years service would find themselves
seriously embarrassed. This created alarm
among those officers who apprehended re-
tirement on account OF disability when they
would not be able 10 engage IN any income
yielding pursuit In civil life. There was
some nope that the House committee would
at least draft a substitute measure which
would be reported and which, in It's sim
plicity Of provision, would stand some
chance Of enactment. II has been decided.
however, TO permit the whole question 20
go over until next session.
There are officers who take pessi-
mistic view of the situation. and believe
very little may be expected Of this Con-
gress. There are a number Of independent
features relating 10 the navy personnel
which they think can very well be enacted
aside from any general proposition One
Of these would provide for the commission
ing Of r1idshipmen 1signs on the COM
pletiOn OF the four-year course at the Naval
Academy instead Of two years later, after
a tour of duty at sea, during which they
are midshipmen without the privilege and
protection of a commission. Another project
of considerable interest would make the old
engineers, who are now line officers, extra
numbers, increasing the commissioned Of
fcers to that extent and helping promotion
correspondingiy. There is no indication
that either OF these projects will be ap-
proved by Congress. The prospect Is that
without legislative relief there will be stag
nation in the junior grades beyond any
thing experienced hitherto, and that the
graduates of the Naval Academy OF the
next four five years will remain a long
time in the grade OF junior Lieutenant. There
is even chance that some Of them will
be twenty years getting to the grade Of
full lieutenant. An outlook of this sort
is most discOuraging to the junior officers
and to those now going through the Naval
Academy
ORDERS ISSUED.-The following order.
have been issued:
ARMY.
Retirement OF Colonel JAMES ". POPE as
sfstant quartermaster general, announced
Captain WALTER NJ. WILHELM. ordnance de-
partrnent, detailed as chief ordnance officer
camp Of instruction at Pine Camp, August
TO TO-
Captain WILLIAM c. RIVERS colonel. assist
and chief OF Philippine constsbulaTyl, from
12th 10 1st Cavalry
Captain DE ROSEY c. ABELI. from Ist TO 18th
Captain LESLIE A I CHAPMAN. ID Cavalry
detailed for duty at camp Of instruction at
Captain MONROE c. KERTH. 23d Infantry, to
places specified to make observations Of
military efficiency for field service. etc, OF
organized militia participating with regular
army in joint camps at those places; GeItys-
burg. July I TO 81. Leon Springs. Tex Au-
gust 49, Fort Riley, August ID 10 25
Fort BENJAMIN Harrison september 70 10
Major DANIEL L. TATE. 50 Cavalry; Captain
ERWIN I. PHILLIPS. 18th cavalry; First
Lieutenant ROBERT & BOYERS. 18th IN
fantry. and Second Lieutenant GEORGE W.
EDEERIlY I'd Infantry, detailed for duty
at camp of instruction at Pine Camp during
August