New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-12
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Democratic Legislation Feared
by Officers of Both Services,
From The Tribune Burcau.1
Washington. Novsmhsv y

a
astrous service legislation at tbs COMING
session. The influences back Of the
pending bills to increase the pay Of tia
organized militia and to increase pensious
the former amounting 20 about sl0oodeo
and the latter to about 100000 q year.
will have much weight with the Derno.
cratic leaders These would interfere with
their plan OF reducing appropriations for
the next fiscal year The Democrats desire
to make an unusual showing In this par.
ticular, although the economy Of the ad-
ministration in military appropriations 10
quite without precedent.
If the Democrats pass the militia pay
and pensions bills It will be necessary 10
Offset that generosity by some extraordi-
nary reductions elsewhere. Army and
navy officers who are contemplating the,
Congressional situation foresee that the
Democrats Of the House may he led Into
an excess Of economy. aided by the sdop-'
ton OF the so called Holman rule. which
permits the Incorporation In regular appro-
priation bills Of any new legislation.
No one in authority dares to guess what
direction the effort TO make a showing In
lieve that an attack will be made on the
pay of the retired list Of both army and
navy. by some means which will establish
pay graded according TO length OF service.
a familiar proposition which would prove
disastrous TO officers retired prematurely
for incapacity. There is also chance that
Congress will reduce the number In Ger.
tain senior grades by providing that no ap-
pontments or promotions shall be made
until the number has been reduced. This
would block advancement and cause stag
nation to a demoralizing degree. One prop;
osition is to make rear admirals In the
navy by selection instead of the promotion
Of the senior captains. in order to have
younger officers in the higher grade and
so reduce the number OF officers retired as
rear admiral.
1t is quite evident that Congress will not
pass any Of the bills 10 relieve the per-
sonnet Of the army or navy or increase the
number OF officers In any branch or grade.
There are a number OF so-called economy
measures, introduced i'm the late extra
session. which, II enacted, would make
many radical changes in organization.
Some Of these are OF questionable merit
and the War Department is opposed TO
them. Altogether. the situation is regarded
with much concern, largely on account Of
the possibility that the Democratic House
may, in desperate effort to economic"
in military-naval maintenance. do real
harm TO the efficiency of the service.
AMALGAMATION CONTROVERSY
There Is sure to be spirited discussion. II
not controversy, at the sessions OF the spe-
cial board which the Secretary Of the Navy
has ordered 10 draft a bill to merge the
construction corps and the pay corps with
the line of the navy. Mr. Meyer. at the
last regular session of Congress, recon-
mended this amalgamation. Since that
time naval officers have been deeply Inter-
ested in the outcome, some OF them believ-
ing II will be advanta geous to amalgauats
with the line all the STAFF branches, ex-
cepting chaplains and medical officers.
There is also much opposition to the plan
within the service. This arises from the
fear that the legislation enacted for this
purpose would do injustice TO individuals
CANNON TORPEDO TESTING pro-
iectile which was fred in experiments yes
terday in Hampton Roads from the DAVIS
cannon torpedo at the submerged calsson
representing the side Of a battleship, ap-
parently penetrated the two-inch aFmor
pIate on the outside of the catsson. The
caisson quickly sank after the shot ex-
ploded. The extent of the damage 10 the
target can be known only when the
caisson is placed in the drydock at Nor
folk. The experiment is believed 10 have
been of great importance to the navy as
it will make a complete revision OF the
methods of torpedo attack and defence
necessary.
ENSIGN STARK RESIGNS. Ensign
Lloyd c. Stark's resignation from the navy
was accepted by the department to-day, ~
take effect on November Il. u Us under
stood that he resigned TO enter private
business Stark, who was appointed 10 th7
Academy from Missouri in 1894. was grant,
ated in 1905 He IL now aboard the tender
Castine.
ORDERS IssUED.-The following orders
have been issued:
ARMY
Major CLEMENT c. wHIrCoMB. nedlcsl
corps. on discontinuance medical supply
dsp sEy seF Ap'Gn'I REAP Judge
Chicago TO san Francisco Judge edvs'
cate Western Division.
NA''' WILL1AM r. pooREs and GEoEGE
NUGENT and First Leutenants II 10Y
BARTLETT and HAROLD G SEsl.sssS
officers December 1, and names OF csrv
tains ELLISON L GIL MER; RIcH n. r,. (.
CLARENCE A. MITCHELL, coast artiI
lery, removed from that list November 81
Captain THEoPHILUs B. STEELE. coast A..
tillery. from San Francisco 10 Chicago; ~
assistant judge advocate Central Division.
Following assignments OF officers OF coast a..
captain QUINN GRAY. remain az pressr'
station: First Lieutenant TOWNSEND T.
DODD, Hath Company. .
First Lieutenant MARCEL s. kEENE, eoS
artillery, from Walter Reed General Hos
pital 20 proper station.
Names OF First Lieutenants BASIL hit'
TENHOUSE, 18th Cavalry; JAMES
OHARA, LIST Cavalry. and ARTHUR g
FISHER. iith cavalry. placed on li't Of o.
First Lieutenant EDWARD J. MORAN, insf
try. unassigned. from Pierre TO WstsH'Ae
Names Of following officers removed from ~
OF detached officers November 80 and a.
signed 10 regiments indicated; First -
tenants IRWIN L. HUNSAKER. 70 me
Cavalry. and ROWLAND b. ELLIS, 70
1ith Cavalry. >~
Second Lieutenant WILLIAM J. McAUGhs.
infantry (1rst lieutenant ordnance deps..s.
menD, 10 Fort Banks for examination ~
promotion. 80
Leaves Of absence: Major CLYDE :. i0 ,ss.
medical corps two months First Lieutsf
ant HENRY :. TERRELL iNh Ca'siP'
month
NAVY.
Captain \. q. wINTERHALTER. detached s. ~
Louisiana. November 20: 10 General Boar"
Washington. -.
Captain r. WELLES, detached board OF lhsIe.
ton and survey for ships Navy pssb~sss
ment November Is 60 commsno w
Louisiana. "a !
Midshpman + H. MARION. detached ron VA
Colorado 10 the Stewart. ~
Midshpman e. :. GILLETTE. desehea W
Colorado TO the Lawrence .... .,.y,s,