Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-25
Representative Goode Sug.
gests Plan for Government.
WOULD AMEND NAVAL BILL
Objection Made Authorities Would
Be at Disadvantage in Time of War.
ATTACKS PLUCKING BoARI
Mr.. Tribble Offers Amendment to
Cut Off Pay of Retired
Officers.

When consideration of the naval ap-
preparation hill was resumed i'm the
House today Mr.. Goode of Iowa moved
to amend the bill so as to require the
government to manufacture its own
powder and not to purchase any. The
bill carries an appropriation of 81. l5o0oO
for the manufacture and purchase of
powder. and Mr.. Goode moved to strike
out the words and purchase
Mr.. Foss of the naval affairs committee
opposed the proposition on the ground
that in case of war the government would
be at disadvantage If it had to depend
upon its own manufacture of powder. He
said that two companies are now making
powder. and that they should be encour-
aged.
The point was made in debate that the
powder trust is now being prosecuted for
violation of the Sherman act. and that the
government should not batronize an in
stitution which is charged with existing
In violation Of law.
Would End Pay Of Retired.
Representative Tribble of Georgia be-
gan the fight on the bill yesterday after
mum ~ ohCiii6 Gil diuCuutHCHl 10 CUT
of the pay of naval officers retired by the
plucking board. The amendment, he
said, was but preliminary to one which
he proposed to offer to do away with the
plucking board entirely
THE object of this amendment he
explained. lis to reach a number of naval
officers who are retired yearly year by
what is known as the plucking board
men who are competent. against whom
t..
are not capable. men trained by the gov
eminent at the peoples expense who
have served twelve years are retired by
the board over their protest
Mr.. .Tribble said his amendment is not
retroactive, and would effect retirements
only after July ]. He arraigned the
plucking board with fury. and directed
most of his attack directly in the faces
of his fellow members of the naval COM
mittee.
Retires Good Men, He Says.
THE plucking board" he said., takes
from the service men who object to be
taken from the service. Men who are
In the navy who have heard of my fight
ON the plucking board have come to me
and said that they hoped that this
amendment which 1 propose to offer
would be passed, that they could not af-
ford to allow their names to be used,
but they say in effect: 1 am in the
service and l want to stay in the serv-
Ice: do not want to be thrown out into
the world after have entered the navy
expecting to stay there during certainly
the better part OF my young manhood:
! do not want to go out and pass among
knows about my retirement point his fin
ger At me and say. that something must
be the matter with me. as l have been
retired from the navy.
who testified, that some of the very best
men are retired under this plucking- board
system, and for what purpose? 1t is for
the purpose of making place for Others no
other reason can be assigned. Mr.. Chair
man. Is 1t right to put upon the backs Of
the American people the expense of a re-
tired offcer. who is capable, competent
and tried in every respect, and to make
the American people pay from three to
six thousand dollars a year to that re-
tired officer doing nothing but wandering
around the streets. who wants to be in
the service and who cannot be in the
service, on account of the plucking-
board
Amendment Is Rejected.
Representative Tribble's amendment
vas rejected after Representative Pad
gett. chairman of the naval committee,
had made brief reply. saying that the
proposal had no justice in 1t. An increase
in the Pay Corps went out on a point of
order; also a proposed allowance, for adj
ditional hospital stewards Representative
Hobsons attempt to get an increase of
pay for seven elderly retired officers. who
have had evil war service. died by the
point of order
Representative HObson made a plea for
an amendment which would change the
rule OF advancement in the navy, so that
service at sea would have more to do
with promotions than it does at present.
He said in the course Of his speech:
t. The expense of the retired list of the
navy Is a crying scandal to all principles
of economy. 1t is not the fault of any
officer. | will pay my tribute to them in
their turn. but our system today turns
out the average rear admiral with less
than two years of service. Consequently
he cannot be expected to become efficient.
We have today on the retired list OF the
navy 1876 admirals ana commodores. One
hundred and forty-nine admirals are on
the retired list and twenty-eight on the
active list. The total retired pay of the
navy is something like So, 100000. The total
retired pay of the rear admirals and COM
modores is 81 100000. The present system
completely undermines the efficiency OF
our flag officers and of the service, and
for this fnfficiency we pay more than
a million dollars a year.
Abolishes Admiral Factory"
Abolition of what Chairman Padgett
termed an admiral factory was sought
in a committee amendment, which was
adopted, prescribing that hereafter Off
GERS transferred to be heads of bureaus
in the department will resume their regu-
lar rank when they return to the line.
Under the present law junior officers APP
pointed to be temporary chiefs OF bureaus.
with rank of rear admiral, retain the
rank when they go back into active duty
or are retired.
Representative Murray of Massachu-
sets, democrat. precipitated lively dis
cussion by seeking to amend the bill to
prevent enlisted men from engaging in
work aboard ship i'm port that civilian
labor could perform. The amendment
was intended to safeguard the interests
OF union labor, but 1t was defeated. IL to
IL Consideration of the bill had not been
completed when the House adjourned