The Washington herald., 1914-02-14
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VICE ADMIRALS
Bill IS PASSED
Measure to Create Higher
Grade IN the Navy Goes
Through Senate.
RETIREMENT ACE RAISED
Argument Made that United States
Might Be Embarrassed in Mexieo
by Lack Of High O&cers.
RETIREMENT ACE RAISED

A bill creating the grade sof vice ad-
miral Of the navy. and providfng for Tue
appointment of six vice admfrais. Wss
passed by the Senate yesterday. after
spirited debate lasting for more than an
hour. Before the bill was passed. II was
amended to provide that no additional
numbers should be created In the active
list OF the navy. Senator Lodge offered
the amendment. which requires that the
vice admirals shall be selected from the
list of senior rear .admirals, but that the
number Of rear admirals shall not be In
creased.
An amendment by Senator Bristow was
adopted, raising the age for retirement
from sixty-two years, as provided by the
bill. to sixty-five years. The bill was In
troduced by Senator Bryan, of Florida
navy shall include the grade Of vice ad-
miral, with six oficers of that grade.
four Of whom shall be appointed within
one year from the passage of the act, and
the remainder as soon thereafter as pos
sible.
The selections are to be made by ,the
President. subject to confirmation by the
Senate. from among the officers on the
active list of the line of the navy "who
have served with credit in the grade Of
rear admiral in command Of a feet.
afoat." The pay of vice admirals when
on sea duty or on shore duty beyond the
continental limits of the United States
is to be s11.00o. When not so engaged.
the pay shall be that of q rear admiral
of the upper nine
overMan Defends Bill.
Senator Thomas, of Colorado. ridiculed
the suggestion that the United States
had ever been subjected to any embar-
rassments because her navy officers found
themselves cooperating with officers of
other nations holding a higher rank.
This brought a sharp reply from Senator
Overman. of North Carolins-
What Is the condition in Mexico to-
two little cruisers. Here is our rear
admiral with twenty-six battleships, yet
England by reason Of the fact that she
has vice admiral. would take charge
in case we had to go into Mexico with
our marines in a joint landing party.
We do not want any friction with Eng
land. England would not submit for a
moment that her vice admiral should be
commanded by a rear admiral of the
United States. We cannot demand it. II
we had an officer there of equal rank,
or higher rank We might take prece-
dence."
Senator Bristow in supporting his
amendment raising the age for retire
ment from sixty-two to sixty-five. de-
clered that the United States was build
ing up large retired lists Of the army and
navy that were becoming a burden to
the taxpayers. He said that he had
called on the Navy Department for IN
formation in regard to the retired list.
and had ELECTED the fact that a year or
so ago the annual pay to retired officers
of the navy was nearly 100000. He had
been advised that while there were only
eighteen active rear admirals, there were
30 retired rear admirals and forty-nine
commodores, 1d2 captains. 100 command
els, sixty-three lieutenant commanders.
seventy-nine lieutenants. sixty-one Junior
lieutenants, Ito ensigns and 12s warrant
officers.
Same Rule for Senators.
Senator Reed, of Missouri. avowed he
would go even further, and prevent the
retirement Of any officer from the active
list Of the navy, except for proved in
capacity. He insisted that many officers
were at their very best at sixty-five
years.
why not ..pply the rule to Senators
and retire them at half pay when they
have reached the age Of sixty-five? More
than one-third of the membership in the
Senate is now over that age"