The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-09
IHE SIXTY-THIRD CONGRESS
|, WAS GENEROUS TO THE NAVY
Appropriations Liberal and Applied Where Most Vitally
Needed-Expendltures Ashore Reduced to a Mini
num--Everything Subordinated to Battle Fleet


IN the world. The bill provides for a
new position in the navy, to be known
as the chlef Of operations, who, under
the direction Of the Secretary of the
Navy Will be in charge of the OPERA
t1ons Of the fleet and prepa ration of |
plans for it's use in war. This new
position, it is believed will co-ordin- |
ate more perfectly the work of the |
war College, the General Board, the |
once of Naval Intelligence and the |
Carrying out of maneuvers by the |
fleet. The Wisest men in the navv be- |
ileVe this provision will make the or
ganlzatlon as perfect as it is possible
10 make any organization, and will
centralze in the Naxy Department ali
the utilities which go to make for
the preparation for war
AdmiralS and Vice Admirals
FRO long time it has been felt
whenever there were any Joint opera-
uons between the navies of this Coun-
try and Of other countries that the
American navy has not had the posi-
ton to which it is entitled because
| other countries, some of them with
much smaller navies, have given high
| er rank to the commanding officers
| We have now in the American navy
in command of fleet no admiral The
only admiral we have is Admiral
Dewey, who is at the head of the
General Board and does not go to sea.
The conference committee has agreed
| upon a provision which will remove
this handicap under which our navy
has been compelled to operate. It is
provided that the commanders-in-
chief of the fleet on the Atlantic,
Pacific and Asiatic waters shall rank
as admiralS and vice admirals. This
rank is not created to be conferred
upon any officer permanently but he
occupies it only SO long he is in
command afloat. The American fleet
has become SO large that the officers
who direct it are entitled to the high
est rank given to officers Of any navy
III the world
Plucking Board.
The conferees following what was
the clear direction Of Congress in both
, branches has abolished the Plucking
Board. 1t is advertent to the necessi-
, ty of some legislation to permit Of
fcers to be promoted TO the highest
grades before they are old men. But
there has been such a difference Of
opinion as to exactly what provisions
would accomplish this with Justice to
the officers and the country that the
cOnfereeS have decided to omit the
substitution of something in the place
of the Plucking Board until the next
4 Congress when the needs Of the per
! sonnet will be taken up.
Pay Clerks.
The position Of pay clerks in the
Navy has up to this time been mos
unsatisfactory one. Every paymaste1
= upon being detailed to a ship wa:
:, allowed to appoint his own clerk an(
f upon his detachment, the appoint
4 ment Of the clerk was automaticall!
o revoked. This gave no permanent
: status to the pay clerks and caused :
\ great deal Of confusion in the chang
! ing of duties Of paymasters III
% measure providing for perTnanen
I nj onlyc on ON;
for the general duties to be perform
ed and it at the same time gives a.
opportunity to the clerical force Of tn
~ enlisted personnel to receive advance
;, ment. This provision, therefore, VII
a. promote the efficiency OF the corp
A. having charge Of supplying the nav
=, in peace and war.
G. Naval Construction.
e. The steady increase of the buildin
r. program and the constant develop
ments in naval architecture call fo
more naval constructors, and the Sec
retary of the Navy is given authorlt
oy to transfer an additional number
ensigns to the naval construction corI
not exceeding five in any one calenda
year up to a total not exceeding tWe1
ty-four. The necessity for this he
been heightened by reason Of th
changed methods of construction thS
will be learned as the result of tl
on Medals.
he Heretofore there has been q prov
u sion Of law by which an enlisted ma
q who showed distinguished conduct
n battle or extraordinary herolsm CO
~, be given a medal Of honor, but the
tn has been no such provision for an Q
lot ficer. The bill provides that the Pres
ed dent NAV give such medal of hon,
a to an officer who deserves it.
ps Radio.
le- The development that has be'
'ut made III radio during the last ye
is has demonstrated the great value tn
he the service can render in war, and j
aC- nrime Importance as a means OF cor
he munication. Communication is nc
in read dily had between the radio stati,
ed at Arlington and the small radio st
III ton at San Diego. and the erection
ice the high-power stations at San Dleg
The Pearl Rarbor and Cavite will, it
holi inc