The Washington times., 1913-07-09
HOPE FOR POTTS
IS IN CONGRESS
0usted Captain Must Look to
Lawmakers or President
For Restoration.
Continued. from First Page)

Continued from First Page)
day, 1 wished to consult with him re
garding various affairs of the depart
ment. Our conference did not, however
touch on the case OF Captain Potts"
Little hope is held out for the deposet
captain, however well he may succeed
In convincing Congress or anybody else
that an injustice has been done him.
The Secretary regards the law Great
Ing the duties of the ''plucking board
as precluding him from any opportunity
OF reversing its findings. even were he
disposed to do so-and apparently he is
not-and the board itself, having per-
formed its task, is legally out Of exist
Tor the purpose of reconsidering its
action. Nor, in the opinion of SeecTe-
tary Daniels, could any succeeding
board reconsider the action taken in the
Potts case.
Now Up To Congress.
AS far as the Department and the
Secretary are concerned the whole
question is up to Congress or the
President, and there again the out
look is not particularly promising for
the officer, for should the President
or Congress reverse by Executive or
der or special legislation the action of
the "plucking board" il would amount
to reversing an official action ap-
proved by q Democratic Cabinet officer,
and indeed by the President himself, to
whom the Secretary submitted the find
ings Of the board before making them
public. Congress is Democratic
In the meantime, considerable rest
lessness is being manifested among the
officers Of the navy regarding the Secre-
tary's mandate that none shall be ell
gible for promotion unless they have
served an adequate length Of time on
sea duty.
The immediate effect of this order was
to prevent the promotion of Captain
Potts to the rank of rear acmiral last
March, when the promotion was due.
HAD he been promoted he would have
been placed beyond the reach Of rhe
plucking board and, had he wished,
he could have served on the active list
until he was sixty-two years old. But
the effect of the order has not stopped
there.
It is stated that there has been a
marked falling off in the number of
requests for assignments tc shore duty
where opportunity would be given for
feel that dutyof this sort, however
valuable to the technical work of the
navy, would retard their chances of
promotion. In short, the new policy
VIII have the effect. II is feared, Of
putting a quietus on specification along
any particular line. ardnance work,
electricity, and the like.
On the other hand the policy Is re-
sarded AS working downright injustice
on those men assigned by direct order
men, 1t is asersted. the new order of
things means that their promotions will
be retarded through no fault of their
own. Secretary Daniels uhen asked
regarding this latter complaint this
morning said:
During my administration every man
VIII be given opportunity 70 get ade-
quate sea service: Moreover. I shall
compel them to get this service"
Promotions Held Up. :.
But aside from the case Of Captain
PEELED by Secretary Meyer against his
wishes, TO act as aide for personnel at
the department, the new policy is Of
1ertag concrete examples of the in
Justice II may work. During the last
few days the Secretary has held up
other promotions because Of lack of
what he considers adequate sea ser
vice.
Notable instances were those in con-
nection with Lieut.. George E. Lake,
attached to the American embassy in
Japan and Ensign Harold W. Boynton,
and electrical engineering. Lake was
sent to Japan. not at his own request,
to learn the Japanese language. Boyn-
ton, because Of his special abilities
was sent to Harvard for an additional
course in electricity and marine engi-
neering, and later assigned to the task
OF installing the new wireless outfit at
Arlington, the biggest and most power
ful station IN the world. Both men are
due for promotion, but because, "a the
line Of the duties TO which they were
assigned, they have been unable to get
adequate" sea service, their promotions
have been held up
Coming back to the ''plucking board"
ofhcers Of the navy regard selection
for service on that board as the su-
preme opportunity Of officers to settle
long-standtng grudges. Persons not
familiar with navy life have no idea as
TO no wpetty resentments in the navy
viii be cherished for years. and nursed
until they become almost obsessions
with those who hold them, II is said.
A slight discourtesy OF a Junior toward
a senior OFFICER, or an unpleasant as
signment Of duty. will grow in years |
until II becomes the absorbing wish of |
the injured one TO get revenge" " |
These resentments are made possible |
by reason Of the fact that, as in the |
case Of Captain Potts, men have been
selected as aids for personnel 10 give
orders and assignments to men out
-anktng them. Placed on the "piuckIny |
board, the injured ones have the on.
oortunity for revenge
In star chamber session they decide |
who shall be retired. There is no pub |
icity regarding their actions. and
here is no review of their work,
Those whom they might care to de- |
stroy are powerless unless Congress
breaking precedent, should reverse