The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-19
why the board Was Created.

The "plucklng board" was brought into
being because Of the fact that the normal
number OF vacancies in the higher grades
due to deaths injuries. designations and
retlrements because Of age was not
facilitating the promotion OF officers In
the lower grades fast enough. There
grew UP humps" in the service which
resulted in many absurdNies and also In
justices,
officers grew gray haired In the grade
Of lieutenant while many Of the most en-
Client officers were forced 10 retire for
age upon reaching the grade OF captain.
Officers could not BE- detailed to the
duties for which their age and experience
fitted them while younger officers were
greatly embarrassed and discouraged In
every way by being kept for inordlnately
long periods on the patry pay of mid
shipman or ensign.
II was recognized that since the normal
vacancies were not SUFFICIENT to ADMIT
OF the necessary rapidly OF promotion.
particularly as the Increasing size OF the
navy and the increasing size OF the
graduating classes at Annapolis brought
more officers into the service ana made
promotions more necessary. some way OF
artlnclally creating vacancies must be
devised.
The result was the "plucking board"
composed OF FIVE Rear Admirals chosen
I every year Dy the NfCT'this va NV -"
This board il required 10 go over the
records of all officers above the grade OF
Junior lieutenant and select those whose
records indicate the lowest degree OF
efficiency and value 10 the service 10 De
compulsoriy retired from active service
and pens!oned on three-quarters OF the
active pay OF the grade IN winch 'ney
were when retired.
This report is annually submitted 10 the
PRESIDENT and from II there Ia no APP
peal rs approval by the President EMS
the naval careers of the officers thus des-
lgnated as those who can best be spared
Provisions of the Law.
The law provides that In the United
states navy on the active list there
shall he not more than IS Rear Admirsls
CAPTAINS ll2 commanders. ITO lieuten-
ant-comma nders, 300 lieutenants and 3la
lieutenants OF the junior grade. IT pro
v!des further that there shall be eacn
,.car not fewer than 10 vacancies above
the grade OF commander. 20 above the
grade OF lieutenant commander and rs
above the grade OF Lieutenant " me
vacancies BY DEATH injury, resignation
and retirement lid not meet these num-
beers the "plucking board was to make
up the difference.
Though the board was. on the othe'
hand. restricted TO the compulsory rn-
[ tIrement OF not more than IL officers all
/ told, . captains. commanders, Hen
| tenant comman and 2 lleutenants. al
most every year IL has been obliged L.
/ pluck the full number OF Is,
Thus there have heen forcibly ellmi
| mated from the naval service more thar
| zoo officers during the fifteen years opera
tions OF the "plucking board" In early
years. though tn re- was naturally much
/ sympathy for individuals thus retired ii
was generally conceded that the great
majority OF the boards selections W r.
for the good Of the service.
! The board eliminated "A large quant'i'
OF dead wood at a period when the RAPID
evolution Of the old hghtng ships into
gigantic fighting machines was changing
! the service go rapidly thai II required
the highyst efficiency and energy to keei
up with the procession. To the officer,
! below il meant normal rate or pro
motion, and self-interest, n no other rea
son. gave to the 'pluckng hoard" tho in
dorsement OF the service as whole as
necessary eNpedient
In recent wears. however, II has annu,
ally become more difficult for the board T.
MAKE its necessary selections, and bet
ter officers have been included In tn,
list OF those forced to retire
Cant. Rust's Case.
A case now before Congress IL that n
Capt Armistead Rust, plucked in 1912
whose record shows continuous and eff
Client service up to the time he was fosribl!
retired. Against him the only charge wa
that he had once been court martlallel A,
a result Of the grounding OF the ship o
which he was in command, and also tina
he had not had sufficient battleship ser
vice.