The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-07-18

ITO" the ;, . Ma.
INCREASE OF NAVY cHAPLAlNs
After many years Of perseverance
the Corps Of Chaplains in the United
States Navy has been materially in
creased, for President Wilson has af
liked his signature to the Act max
ing appropriations for the Naval ser
vice. for the fiscal year ending June
80. 1916. and the increase in numbe,
OF chaplains was provided for in that
law.
Before the bill became a law. con.
ference after conference was held by
the members Of the House Commit.
tee on Naval Affairs, and among those
who bitterly opposed its passage
were Representatives Tribble of Geor.
gta and Stafford Of Wisconsin-but
their Efforts proved to no avail.
The Act as passed provides as fol.
lows:
1.-THE grade Of Acting Chaplain in
the Navy is hereby authorized and
created, and hereafter original ap-
pointments shall be made by the Sec.
rotary Of the Navy. not to exceed the
number hereinafter provided, in the
grade of acting chaplains in the Navy,
after such examination as may be pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Navy.
and while so serving acting chap
lains shall have the rank, pay and
allowances Of lieutenant, junior grade
In the Navy. After three years. sea
service on board ship each acting
chaplain before receiving commits.
sion in the Navy shall establish to the
satisfaction of the Secretary of the
Navy by examination by a board Of
chaplains and medical officers of the
Navy his physical, mental. moral and
professional fitness to perform the du-
ties Of chaplain in the Navy, and If
found SO qualified, shall be commits.
stoned a chaplain in the Navy with
the rank of lieutenant, junior grade.
If any acting chaplain shall fail on
the examinations herein prescribed he
shall be honorably discharged from
the naval service, and the appoint
ment Of any acting chaplain may be
revoked at any time in the discretion
Of the SECRETARY of the Navy.
Hereinafter the total number of
chaplains and acting chaplains in the
Navy shall be one to each twelve hun
dred and fifty Of the total personnel
of the Navy and Marine Corps as
fixed by law. including midshipmen,
apprentice seaman, and naval pris.
oners. and Of the total number of
chaplains and acting chaplains herein
authorized ten per centum thereof
shall have the rank of captain in the
Navy. twenty per centum the rank of
commander, twenty per centum the
rank Of lieutenant commander, and
the remainder to have the rank of
lieutenants and lieutenants, Junior
grade.
Naval chaplains hereinafter COM
missioned from acting chaplains shall
have the rank, pay and allowances of
lieutenant. junior grade, in the Navy
until they shall have completed four
years service in that grade, when,
subject to examination as above pre-
scribed they shall have the rank, pay
and allowances of lieutenant in the
Navy and chaplains with the rank of
lieutenant shall have at least fou
years. service in that grade before
promotion to the grade Of lieutenant
commander, after which service, chap.
lains shall DO promoted as vacancies
occur to the grades of lieutenant com.
mander. commander. and captain,
Provided, That not more than seven
acting chaplains shall be commits
stoned chaplains in any one year; and
provided further, that no provision of
this section shall operate to reduce
the rank, pay or allowances that
would have been received by any per-
son In the Navy except for the pas
sage Of this section, and that all laws
or parts of laws inconsistent with the
provisions of this section be, and the
same are hereby repealed"
At the present time there are only
"a chaplains in the Navy, so about 81
approximately, will make up the new
Corps-an increase Of %. Now, there
are only six Of the Navy Chaplains
who are Catholic priests, far below
the quota to which the Catholic faith
is entitled. as about 40 per cent of the
enlisted personnel are Catholics. So.
in the new apportionment, II the Cath
ole Church gets the number to which
she is Justly entitled. She will have
approximately 81 representatives of
her faith, or an increase Of Is over
the present allotment.
To no one person is the credit for
the passage Of this increase in the