Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-13

ing passage through command and flag
grades. combined with absolute lack Of
professional incentive throughout all
grades" officers now hold tho grade
or captain for an average of two ycars
! he says. and are rear-admirals for only
six months before retirement for age
ovcrtakcs them. About 1000 officers
he states, must pass through the grades
OF captain and rcar-admiral in the next
forty years under the present plan.
RESULT WOULD III: no
GIVE Personal. STIMULUS
us selection by merit practicable
| under our existing form Of govern
/ mcnt?' the secretary asks. Virtually.
| all officers admit II would be the best
/ system, he says. but dismiss il with
/ the statement that for political reasons
! IL would become promotion Ivy political
/ influence or favoritism. He does not
! subscribe to this view. He believes IL
/ system Of promotion based practically
/ upon the vote of the officers senior to
/ the grade under consideration would
| unqucstionahly select Approximately
the most efficient officer in that grade.
: The result would be. he SAYS. to give
! personal stimulus FOR professional
! efficiency to provide for utilization Of
every competent officer, and TO give
! higher commands To men peculiarly
nttcd TO hold them
Actual service" the secretary adds.
! crowned with efficiency, anl not age
should supctscdc the iuicXibic rule or
retiring all officers at :, given apc. 1t
Is suggested that the present Law re-
tlflhg officers at siXty-two years h."
changed so as TO provide that officers
"c retired forty-onc years after their
graduation at the Naval Academy. The
erect OF SUCH legislation would make
y
three years. In the army the statutory
age of retirement is six,y-four years
Il renew my recommendation for a
change III the law Of retirement pay
so mat II shall he graded. the pay TO
be based upon the length % service
II should also dimcrcutla:c between
total and partial disability. The re-
tired pay Of the navy last .car ag-
ercgated $33SS. S2G@" 1t is an abuse
of the republics generosity to give
thrcc-fourths retired pay to all. The
Law should be changed and reformed"
In addition to the foregoing the re-
port includes the following recon-
mcndations:
1. An increase Of 500 men in the
enlisted personnel o. tn" navy and
marine corps; an adequate increase
OF officers To he provided by cnIargins
the force OF midshipmcn ~ the Naval
Academy to the full capacity of the
institution. by admitting TO Junior
grades and for engineering duty only
graduates OF technical schools. ana by
opening to civilian aviators the navy
aviation corps.
>. Extension of the navy reserve act
for the purpose OF forming reserves OF
power boats, aviators and radio opera
tors ANA 10 increase the dcsirab!lity
OF the rcScrv. service TO houorably
discharged enlisted men of the regular
navy. y detailed plan in this connec-
ton will he presented 10 Congress a:
u later date The personnel Of tho
present navel auxiliary service should
be placed in the naval reserve the re-
port says. aud the lighthouse ana coast
service men and equipment also should
b" nlaced under navy Jurisdiction and
training for use in event OF war
3. Increased naval militia appropria-
lions TO include the construction OF
suitable vessels for the Illinois ard
Minnesota dctachmcut.. ana supplying
acroplancs for naval militia use in
training.
{. Construction OF AN adequate re-
search laboratory for tho use OF navy
engineering ana scientific bulcnus. and
the board OF CIVILIAN scientists recently
created under Thomas a Edison as
chairman The report states that So
100000 for this purpose was the amount
suggested 10y the civilian board mcru-
bcrs. but Secretary Daniels makes no
specific recommendation. although he
includes preliminary figure in his
estimates for tho first years eNpendi-
turc
engine the bettleship North Dakota,
the scout cruiser salem and the dc
stroy"rs Henley and Mayrant.
:. Construction OF II dry dock a. the
Norfolk yard TO accommodate the
largest battleship.
:. Further legislation for adequate
oil land reserves for the navy
5. Legislation 10 make til. service
NOR. attractive, including EXTENDED
powers 10 grant discharge by purchase
and various changes ia rankings.