The Washington times., 1910-01-10
MEYER HAS PLAN
TO RELIEVE NAVY
Proposes Retirement of Off
GERS at Lower Age Than
at Present.
CONTINUED from First PageJ

vacancies in the rank ahead to Justify
such promotions Tor instance. # q
number OF Heuteuauts come I'D after a
fixed period Of service as Iieutenauts-
for promotion 70 the grade Of Ieuten-
ant commando. they VIII be promoted
II It IS found that, by this process. there
are fifteen more lieutenant commanders
created than are necessary for the ton
mage Of the navy, the eliminating board
vii retire the fifteen who are consider
Cd least active and efficient as officers
Such action viii not be required in the
lower grade fer d number OF years
owing to the shortage now existing in
these grades.
This process VIII apply intfme 10 all
ranks from lieutenant commander up
Most Efficient Retained.
In this matter, according To those who
are familiar with the smith plan. oulv
the most efficient men viii be retained
in the service for the most important
commands and duties. and the expense
70 the Government VIII be no greater,
because. whereas now all officers are
retired on three-fOUrths pay Of the
highest grades, the younger men who
VIII IN the future be retired viii get
but small retired pay The effects of
thls viii be 70 make the plan no more
expensive than the present one
IN answer 70 the arcment which nav
be made tnau II seems uuwise 10 retire
men at ages ranging from thirrv-7ve
I'd. when they are considered active, II
IS pointed out IN navy circles that. I'm
aodition 70 this plan keeping in She
sSLNlC9 only the best otncers5 il Gre
y competent officers who can De used
Ao- emergency IN time Of war.
Age Is Still High.
Even with the new rfan in oraratfo-,
the United States vessels VIII be can
tained by men at the a-e OF fortv-zeven-
while IN the British navy the captains
range In age from thirty-fve &c fifty
Later there may be another movement
TO decrease the aSe upon which Amer
can officers can be made captains from
fOTJy-SeVeu 10 foTtE-JUo as IL has been
calculated that such a scheme would
cost no more than the present retire
meutS yomDeL
Mr. Meyer Is considering two addi-
uOnal new moves for the uet-ernent Of
tne navy One Is 10 have the foiut
board make a thorough Investigation OF
an the navy yards IN the country and
submit 10 him a report IS 20 now many
or them, IL any should Ice abolished
take into account the probable effects
O The completion OF the Panama Canal
9hd 20 consider whether this VIII make
e9eceSSary the continuance OF one OF the
Southefn yards OF the construction of
q new yard on the GuIf
VIII Sell Old Vessels.
According TO those familiar with his
views he has long been in favor Of
abolishins the smaller yards. and using
all the money and men devoted to them
By concentrating them IN the larger es-
fabIiShmeucS-
His other proposition Is to have pre-
pared list OF the vessels in the navy
which are mere iucuru brances and not
worth the cost Of their maintenance
and sell them He IS described as be
llevlng that the Government should facEI
the situation as Il really Is. and ac-
knowledge that the navy Is encumb bered
with a comparatively large number of
worthless tugs and yachts He VIII 4
put these ND for sale at public auction /
which VIII be the first time that this
has been done in the history Of the |
country