New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-11
MAY END PLUCK|NC BOARD
Dissatisfaction Over Retirement
of Commodore Veeder.
CRITICISM OF ITS METHODS
Situation May Lead to Legisla-
ton Defining Grounds Neces-
sary for Retirement.


washington. Feb 1O-A vital defect in
the system of the annual compulsory re-
tirement of naval officers on the recon-
mendation of the 'plucking board" made
up of senior rear admirals, has been dis
covered by the House Naval Committee.
That board meets each June for the pur-
pose of selecting or of recommending the
transfer from the active TO the retired list
OF officers of various grades. to make up e
stipulated number of vacancies by July l.
The sessions OF the "plucking board" are
held behind closed doors. and nothing has
ever been divulged regarding It's methods
until during the last few days the House
committee called on the department for IN
formation concerning the retirement OF
Commodore former Captain Ten Eyck De
Witt Veeder. who belongs TO one OF the old
New York families. as his name implies.
Commodore Veeder vas considered one
OF the prominent and useful officers of the
navy, and his retirement last year was
surprise. He at once filed protest against
the action If the retiring board and took
steps 10 have himself restored 20 the active
list where il was proposed to carry him
as an additional number. in which status
il would not be possible to disturb him
hereafter by the action Of the ''plucking
board" Commodore Needer alleged that
the retiring board did not have at its dis
posal in considering his service record all
the facts of his career, and the House
Naval Committee has ascertained that.
while the board called for the service rec
ord o. Veeder. through some oversight the
report Oh fitness from the departmental
archives did not include n period of some
four months in 1903, during which time he
was I'm command of special service squad
ron.
The admission of this failure 10 furnish
the board with the complete record IN
Veeder's case has led the Naval Committee
TO recommend legislation restoring Neecer
70 the active list. although three Republic
can members Of the committee-Messrs.
Ioudenslager. Butler and Roberts-are OPP
posed 70 the restoration and expressed
their adverse views i'm a minority report
II is expected that this combination Of
conflicting circumstances will serve 10
make something OF an issue Of the BILL
which. if enacted. would operate as a
precedent for restoring to the active list
other officers whose retirement was forced.
and who undoubtedly entertain the honest
belief that the board did not have before 1t
all the information which might have pre-
vented such premature termination Of their
active careers in the navy.
For this reason the naval authorities de-
plore the committee sentiment in favor CT
Commodore Veeder At all events it is ap-
pleherded that this incident may lead to
some interesting discussion in Congress as
10 the method Of selecting naval officers
for retirement. There has been more or
less prejudice in Congress, as well as in
the navy itself. against what is described
in some quarters as star chamber pro-
ceedings, under circumstances which pre-
vent the officer most interested from be-
ing heard in his own behalf or from hav-
ing his interests represented by an attor-
ney. That privilege is accorded army OIL
GERS who are now being ordered before a
retiring board in Washington for the con-
sideration of alleged temperamental dis
Qualifications The situation may lead TO
scme legislation which shall define the
grounds necessary TO compulsory retire
ment Of naval officers.