Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-18
Views of the Committee.

80 ~ SAS S0AAiAAAAtNCC.
The committees views on the present
plucking board is shown in the fol-
lowing extract from it's report which
is today before the House:
The purpose of the law Is TO provide
a continuous flow of promotion I'm the
navy in order that men of suitable age
shall be In the various grades through
out the service in order TO get most ef-
fcient performance of duty. The sessions
of this board on selection are not open
and no record is kept of their discus
sfons, nor Is the board required TO give
its reasons for the recommendation I'm
the case of any officer. The board has
at its disposal the record of all officers
of the navy, although IL is not required
to examine such records. The officer
selected does not know. until he is noti-
retired list by the President that he
has been selected, and therefore has no
opportunity to present any matters to the
authorities nor to give any good reasons
why he should not be so selected The
proceedings are so secret that 1t is be-
lieved there is great possibility OF in
justice being worked under the present
law and. in fact, it is believed that IN
justices have been worked. due to the
star-chamber methods OF procedure.
Denial of Hearing Alleged.
Ii
with a record of nearly forty years
practically perfect record-whose pride
was in his record. was involuntarily re-
tired. 1t is said that one OF the MEM
bers of the board had had a controversy
with that officer of a bitter nature. This
officer could get no redress, and could
get no hearing, and was not even allow
ed to protest against this member sitting
on the board. 1t Is believed there In
10Th fy1oy in ,nrfo
to this procedure. The accused before
every court-martial has the right to oh
ject to any member Of his court; he has
the right to be acquainted with the accu-
sations against him, and the right to a
hearing, and in every case, where even
a minor offense is involved, the proceed
ings are recorded. so that no question can
be raised of irregularity, or. IL raised.
can be properly settled. 1t is believed
that such q procedure by the board on
effect on the service. tending to unsettle
the efficiency of even the best officers.
though in strict performance of duty.
1T is the object of the present bill
to remove the abuses from the practice
of elimination by removing the star
chamber feature and permitting an ap-
peal. 1t does not discontinue the prac-
tice of elimination, but simply makes
it's operation just and effective, and does
not impair but perfects the method en-
ployed. 1t is believed that the bill will
remove this feature, and will insure
that all the records of all the officers
are before the board. and that all of
an officers record is examined, and that
the finding shall be made more in ac-
cord with the records and with the die
tates OF Justice. 1t also provides for a
the officer affected is notified, and before
being retired is allowed TO present to
the President such matters as he deems
proper in his own behalf.
Charge of Injustice.
1T has been said that under the pres
ent law every time any unfavorable re-
port is made upon an officer he is given
an opportunity to make such explanation
relative thereto as he may desire. and
would render any further reference 10 the
matter to the officer superiuous: but IL
has come to this committees notice that
officers have been involuntarily retired
who never received an unfavorable re-
port, which clearly indicates that an op-
portunity should be granted to him TO
present his case.
IAN officer doing his duty will then feel
q sense of protection and security which
he does not now enjoy and II is believed
the effect will be beneficial to the whole
service The officer selected has his day,
in court, he would have before any
other military court. granting him an OPP
portunity to be heard in his own behalf.
THE amendment suggested by the com
mittee restrict the consideration of the
retirement of the officer to the record OF
the officer and such other matter as he
may present in his own behalf and
further. directs that the President shall
not entertain consider any other evil
dence or suggestions from any source
whatever. thereby precuding any con-
sideration of evidence or suggestions sub
+-1 a. %s..l
Ger affected or by the Navy Department.
In substance this bill simply develops
and perfects the method of elimination
adopted in our navy in 1899, and has been
drawn to meet the defects in the present
law which have been brought out by
practical experience in the thirteen years
Of it's operation"