The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-23
VACANCIES NEEDED
IN NAVY ORIGIN OF
"PLUCk|hG BOARD''
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD.

JONN ! TAN
WASHINGTON, July 23-Just now
when the so-called "plucking board" of
the navy Is the target for criticism, 4
may be in place.
Sir Roger De Coverley's famous YER
dict, Much may be said on both sides"
the merits of this system of providing
room for promotions in the various
grades Of the navy.
The "plucking board" is the out
growth of more than thirty years of ex-
pertinent. During that time many de.
vices were used to guard against stag.
nation in the lower ranks of the navy,
and while it is admitted that the pres
ent system is very far from ideal, it is
nevertheless the most efficient that
has yet been put into effect. 1t at
least accomplishes one thing. 1t pro-
vides vacancies. But sometimes at a
tremendous cost, in valuable men to
the navy.
Need Forty Openings.
Every year there are more men
graduated from the Naval academy
than the vacancies which naturally oc
cur can provide for. 1t has been Oh
served that aside from the vacancies
caused by deaths and designations for
ty openings must be made to take care
of these men.
The idea of the "plucking board" in
its present form originated during the
last years Of the Roosevelt admins
tration. President Roosevelt believed
in giving the younger men of the navy
g chance.
The board, which is composed OF
five rear admirals, is immune from
"plucking." The grades subject to the
findings of the board are those OF
lieutenant, lieutenant commander
commander and captain.
The chief factor upon which its find
ings are based is that of adaptability
of the officer for naval service. En-
emies of this method of elimination
make 1t the main target for their criti
cism. They allege in attempting tc
weigh such an elusive quality in man
old scores" and "squaring" petty jcal
ousies and that it often results In gross
| injustice and frequently robs the ser
vice of capable officers.
Fight Human Equation.
The question of a mans usefulness
! it is asserted, should be decided while
! the man is in the Naval academy anG
not when he has received his com
mission or after years of active an6
efficient service. In the final analysis
they declare. popularity with his fel
| low officers is the main consideration
taken into account by the board; II 9
man Is good fellow" his job is safe
but if he has been so unfortunate al
to have incurred the enmity of mem
Der of the board or some Influential
officer, he is plucked, that is, forced
to retire.
Unlike most adverse critics, the op
ponents of the "plucking board" along
with their criticisms. offer a substi
tute, which is beginning to find favor
in official circles. They propose tt
create a new grade in the navy--that
of vice admiral, and claim that the
changes resulting therefrom wouk
eliminate the necessity for plucking
At present the fleets and divisions
are apportional to the rear admirals
and the command of the first-class
battleships given to captains. Under
the proposed plan, the command o.
the fleets would be turned over to 81,
vice admirals, each battleship under
the command Of rear admiral, anl
the captains assigned to the cruisers
Such q system 1t is claimed, will take
care of the question of promotions
each year, by relieving the surplul
number in the top grades of the navy