The Detroit times., 1915-12-13

mendations OF the board and OF the
secretary. but adds:
But discussion makes for knowl-
edge and a wise decision. The gen
eral board is influenced by it's pro
fessional views. while the admins
tration takes into consideration the
whole national policy and does not
overlook the question OF national
revenues"
Secretary Daniels takes another
radical step in his report in urging
that the present system OF promo.
ton OF officers by seniority be
abandoned In favor OF promotion by
selection. He goes at length into
the results OF the seniority sys-
tenn to fnd that II produces stag
nation In the lower grades, arrival
at command rank late In life and
fieeting passage through com
mand and nag grades. combined
with absolute lack OF professional in
centive throughout all grades.
tthcN ny AcSoAukhohuolAou AOi I"
change In the law OF retirement pay
so that II shall be graded. the pay
to be based upon the length OF serv-
ice. II should also difYerentiate be
tween total and partial disability.
The retired pay OF the navy last
year aggregated s3,sss.s26.35. II is
an abuse OF the republics gener-
osity to give three.fourths retired
pay to all. The law should be
changed.
In recommending again the con
struction of government armor-
plate factory and also urging that
projectile factory be added 20 the
navy's equipment and that every
navy yard be equipped for construc-
tion as well as repair work. Secre-
tsry Daniels again lays stress on
his theory that the government
should be able to build any part OF
the equipment needed for the navy
from battleships 10 aeroplane mo
tors in order that true competition
OF private bidders for government
contracts may be obtained together
with an actual knowledge OF what
the cost OF construction should be.
In addition to the foregoing the
report includes the following rec
/. An increase OF 1850 men 1.
the enlisted personnel of the navy
and marine corps: an adequate in
crease OF officers TO be provided by
the force OF midshipmen
at the naval academy 10 the full ca
pacity OF the institution by admit
ting to junior grades and for en-
cheering duty only graduates OF
technical schools, and by opening 10
civilian aviators the navy aviation
corps
2. Extension OF the navy reserve
act for the purpose OF forming re-
serves OF power boats. aviators and
radio operators and to increase the
of the resetve service
to honorably discharged enlisted
men OF the regular navy. A detailed
plan In this connection will be pre-
sented 10 congress az a later date.
The personnel OF the present naval
auxiliary service should be placed
In the naval reserve. the report says.
and the lighthouse and coast service
men and equipment also should be
placed under navy Jurisdiction and
training for use in event of war
3. Increased naval militia appTo-
rriations TO include the construction
Of suitable vessels for the Illinois
and Minnesota detachments and sup
plying aeroplanes for naval militia
use in training.
4. Construction OF an adequate
research laboratory for the use OF
navy engineering and scientific bu-
reaus, and the board Of civilian
scientists recently created under
Thomas A. Edison as chairman. The
report states that s5.000,000 for this
purpose was the amount suggested
by the civilian board members. but
Secretary Daniels makes no specific
although he in
cludes a preliminary figure in his
estimates for the first years expen-
diture.
5. Expenditure OF 81 900 600 to re-
engine the battleship North Dakota
the scout cruiser Salem and the de
stroyers Henley and Mayrant.
s. Construction OF a drydock at
the Norfolk yard TO accommodate
the largest battleship.
Z. Further legislation for ade-
quate oil land reserves for the navy.
8. Legislation to make the service
more attractive, including extended
powers to grant discharge by pur-
chase and various changes in rank