The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-01-03
PERSONNEL BILL
BEFORE CONGRESS
Provides a Reformed System
of the Promotion of
Naval Officers.


States Is measured not only by the
number OF dreadnaugnts. but by tho
experience and efficiency OF the com,
nander of the feet and the nag
officers in command of divisions and
squadrons. Three new battleshIps"
Is popular slogan with the people,
and the interests OF the nation de-
mand that Congress provide at leas.
that number during the present SEES
sion. but reformed system for the
promotion of naval officers is even
more important than new battleships.
The great defect of the present
system is that flag officers reach
their grade only short time before
the age of retirement.
The Importance of having the best
possible feet commanders may be
compared TO the Importance of finding
the right executives for the build
ing of the Panama canal. 1t is evil
dent that the number of employees
working on the canal was infinitely
less important than having Colonel
Cocktails and Colonel Gorgas in
charge. In fleet action. which is
the supreme test of the whole naval
organization, the admiral in chief
command and the rear aGmirals in
command OF divisions and squadrons.
should per-adventure be men of long
and varied experience in all the dut-
les which all to the lot OF flag off
GERS. If, as under the present sys-
TEN. they reach the flag rank near
the age of sixty and retire at the age
of sixty-two, how are they to have
this Indispensable experience?
In analyzing the question of the
navy personnel the first requisite is
how many officers do we need. Nee
essarlly the number must depend up
on the number OF ships: that is, tom
mage, absrrdly elemental, yet not
taken account Of in the present law.
After the number OF officers has
been determined, the next point is
how to arrange them in proper pro-
portions in the different grades.
there must be much lar
ger number of lieutenants and junior
officers than of commanding and flag
officers. Consequently all who enter
cannot arrive at the top and some
scheme of elimination must be OBJ
tanned. as casualties and mortalitles
do not make enough vacancies to fit,
a correct military organization.
Having arrived at the numbers and
the proportions in the grades, 1t Is
necessary to determine how long each
officer should remain in a grade and
at what age he should be promoted
to the different grades. This point
is absolutely necessary in order to
obtain commanding officers young
enough to enter upon the duties OF
flag officers with sufficient time to
thoroughly prepare themselves in
that last and most important grade.
The proposed bill fixes these axio-
matte points definitely and in a rea-
sonable manner. They form the
basis of a correct and scientific naval
organization.
The present system is as absurd as
II the Pennsylvania railroad should
announce that all officials from ticket
agents up, would be promoted by
and all be retired as gen.
eral managers. At present very
large proportion CT naval officers
pass through the grade of rear adj
miral with comparative rapidly, none
remaining very long, and all retire
with the highest pay. The presen,
naval organization is therefore ex-
pensive owing to this excessive num-
Der OF retirements at high rank and
pay.
The new bill remedies this matter
by grade retirements, starting with
lieutenant commanders who retire
with thirty-three per cent of their
pay, to retirement of officers after
thirty years service at three-fourths
pay. 1t will be seen that the new
bill will furnish more officers with
out increased expense; thus giving
The tax payer larger returns for his
The proposed personnel bill now
before Congress may need minor
but it takes note of all
these important details and places
he service on n proper and efficient
basis.