New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-12
COMMITTEE DOOMS
PLUCKINC BOARD
Department Overruled in
Other Features of Naval
Appropriation Bill.


Washington. Jan. 1l.-OverrI ne the
wishes of the Navy Department in sew
eral particulars. the House Committee
on Naval Affairs to-day made marked
progress on the naval Appropriation
bin and voted TO abolish the plucking
board. to create the grades Of admiral
and vice-admiral of the fleets. 70 per-
nit the promotion Of warrant officers
20 the grade of lieutenant and 10 add
10 the Offered strength Of the Marine
Corps.
The Daniels naval reserve bill, pre-
viously adopted by a Subcommittee,
was approved. but the committee went
contrary 10 the wishes of the depart
ment when il voted to abolish the
plucking board and 10 authorize the
President TO restore to the active list
eight officers who have been plucked.
The department also opposed the pro-
motion of warrant officers as sub"ersiye
of discipline. and it desired the per-
manent creation Of the grades Of ad
miral and vice-admiral OF the navy.
The provision creating these grades
viii stipulate instead that the grade Of
admiral shall attach TO an officer only
so long as he remains in charge of one
Of the three fleets Of the navy. When
an officer rehnquishes command of
feet he will be relocated to the grade
Of rear admiral, upon which grad, re-
tirement pay will be based Officers
designated a second in command of
the fleets Will be graded as vice-ad-
mirals.
The committee provision will have
the effect of promoting Rear Admirals
Fletcher. Howard and Cowles TO the
Of dpar Off
being in command, respectively. Of the
Atlantic, Pacific and Asiatic fleets.
In view of the important legislation
to be carried in the appropriation bill
the Naval Affairs Committee will ap-
ply TO the Rules Committee for a spe-
cial rule making such legislation IN
order Without such a rule the leGis-
latiye riders would be subject to a
point of order
It is proposed by the naval COM
mittee that the provision creating tho
grades Of admiral and vice admiral
shall become Immediately effective. II
this amendment becomes law the
United States will be able TO send 10
the opening Of the Panama Canal naval
officers Of an equal rank with those in
command of the navies Of foreign coun-
tries TO be represented there. There
has long been complaint of the face
that the United States at functions Of
this character has found itself unable
20 match the gold and lace of smaller
navies belonging TO other countrlcs.
Without this legislation, members or
the committee say, the admirals OF the
navies Of small South American coun-
tries would at the canal celebration
/ outrank the officers in charge OF -he
of tho limited States
/ The amendment 10 abolish the pluck
. ing board is in line with the resolution
offered by Mr.. Witherspoon, member
/ Of the naval committee. II repeats
/ Section Q of the law of 1899, under
which the plucking board was created.
] The eight officers whom II authorizes
/ the President to restore TO the active
lists are Commodore Needer. Captains
] Gibbons. Potts, Hill. Rust and Leon
ard. Of the navy, ard Colonies Perkins
and Evans, Of the Marine Corps.
Although the committee voted TO
abolish the plucking board, it offered
no substitute plan of retirement. This
will be provided for, il IS said, in the
navy personnel bill soon TO be consld-
cred uron recommendation of the de-
partment.
MIR. Hobson's amendment to increase
7 tne eullS-Pu hlIcHBtu VI AHc navy ~
5000 men was lost.
Mr.. Browning, of New Jersey, sought
4 compromise by offering to increase
the enlisted men by $500, but his mo-
ton was lost on tie vote.
The committee voted to increase the
Marine Corps by creating the new of
fee Of brigadier general, of which
there will be one. Other officers added
were as follows: One colonel, one lieu
tenant colonel one major, five cap
tains, one captain assistant quarter
master, one captain assistant paymas-
ter. five first lieutenants and five sec
ond lieutenants, and 40 enlisted men
are 10 be advanced TO the grade of cor
rnrnl and cnrroani