The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-18
CAPT. GIBBONS'S AIRS
ANGERED FUCKERS
Now House Committee Will
Hear About Naval Officers
Social Activities.
DEMON RUM TO FIGURE TOO
Names and Exploits Of Three
Captains Who Were Indiscrcct
to BE Brought Out.

WNsHtSGroN. July l1.--Some interest
ing data that are expected TO throw side
lights on the soci activities and habits
Of naval officers will he submitted to the
House Committee on Naval Affairs.
rumpus was raised In the committee
Yesterday, when il was disclosed by Adj
miral Knight of the "plucking board
that against the records OF three Cap
tains OF the line there lie the charge OF
"intoxxicatlon." The names of the Cap
tains and their exploits will be laid before
tire committee on Monday
Incidentally some light is 10 be thrown
on the social activities OF Capt John
Henry Gibbons. the victim OF the pluck
ing board who wants to he restored to
the active list. Judging from statements
made by persons supposed to be familiar
with the facts. Captain Gibbons was
plucked partly because he put on too
many Tugs" to satisfy the "seadogs"
who sat on the plucl<ing board.
Capt Gibbonss record in society and
IN the navy will be discussed at length at
the meetings of the House Naval Com
mttee to be held next week. The COM
mttco has before 1t hill offered by
Representative Bcakcs of Michigan pro-
Niding for the restoration OF Capt. Glib
bons to active service.
Al this time. when the Daniels mo
booze order is being enforced In the
navy, 1t was most inopportune for Ad-
mral Knight to tell the temperance mem
hers of the Naval Committee that there
nre officers in the service "unplucked'
who, according to their records. have be-
come intoxicated.
1t is explained as an extenuating cir
cuInstance in each case the offence is not
Of recent origin. Intact II is explained that
the officers in question committed the in
dlscretions years ago when they were
fresh from the academy, full of life and
ginger and free from care. II Is explained
further that these particular Captains are
entirely In harmony with Secretary
Danicls's order prohibiting the introduce
zion of liquors aboard ships and that none
OF them has taken a drop for years, ac-
cording To- the record.
Yet the committee has demanded all
the information obtained in regard to
the cases and apparo ntly a row IL brew
Tag. Capt. Gibbonss friends are very
much In earnest. however. and are de-
termined to have the plucking board give
not only full details Of the reasons why
they selected this officer for voluntary
retirement. but all the facts about the
records OF the officers who were passed
over.
Representative Britten of Illinois. a
Republican member of the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs. introduced a bin
to-day proposing the adjustment of the
'pluckng board" lie proposes tina,
officers whose efficiency IL supposed to be
impaired shall be retired only after mcdi'
cal and other examinations to be pre-
scribed by the Secretary OF the Navy.
Mr.. Britten says the plucking board
has outlved its usefulness. lie insisted
that the retirement OF five Captains
among them John Henry Gibbons. by
direction OF the pluckng board did no,
tend to promote the efficiency Of the navy
Mr.. Brtten said
My bill proposes to place the nav,
personnel on civil service basis. requr.
ing mental and physical examinations fol-
promotions from the grade OF ensign up &c
and including the grade of Rear Admiral
Examinations will be held by the navy
examining board and final markings arr
to BE- based on the official service OF th'
officer. Failure will compel the candidat,
TO be registered in the next lowest acad
envy class and "A second failure will caus,
the retirement Of the officer. who may b'
retained In special service at the dis
erection OF the Secretary OF the Navy a
three fourths pay of the rank he enjoyed
AT retirement and in which service he ma!
advance by promotion TO the rank o
Commander.
IN the event OF there being less thar
forty retirements year, as now provided
by law, my bill directs this examinini
hoard to select for retirement sufficlen
number OF the least efficient officers Al
shown by their final mark ings which ar,
10 be publicly posted !"