The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-14
DANIELS DEFENDS
HIS PROMOTION PLAN
Merit System Free Of Politics
Can Be Devised for Navy,
He Says.
OFFICERS MAKE PROTEST

- -
storm Of criticism aroused In Navy De-
partment circles over the recommended
ton In his annual report for u change
rotary Of the Navy Daniels Issued to-
night q statement defending his plan.
Mr.. Daniels had taken the position
that promotion by merit rather than by
seniority should he tho system employed
n that tho Secretary OF the Navy
should be at liberty to jump mon over
the heads VI their seniors on the basis
OF recommendations obtained by him
from their superior officers as TO their
Illness. Under the present system mid
shipmen on leaving the Naval Academy
assume grade numbers corresponding
with their class standing and In passing
from rank to rank their elevation comes
automatically az they reach tho top Of
the list In seniority.
Critics of the Daniels plan contend
that n adopted IL will at once open the
doors to political influence and enable
officers with friendly Representatives
and Senator's TO bring pressure on the
Secretary. In answer to inquiries Mr..
Daniels frankly admitted tonight that
he would have no hesitancy In listening
to members OF Congress and others with
political influence who might be inter-
otCu IN tiS pIOitiOtitAi VI 'tEtAiii V'tteotb.
lie added. however. that he would not
be moved by such influence II the re-
ports OF an officers superiors In the
service did not warrant his promotion.
Officers In the service on tho contrary
have not hesitated in private conversa-
ton 10 accuse Secretary Daniels OF
having listened in tho past to members
OF Congress who nav interceded In be-
half OF men desiring to be transferred
to more c%ongen!al posts. They express
fear that " the present system 81 pro-
molten were changed In the way Mr..
Daniels proposes 1t would be impossible
to prevent similar influences from being
brought to bear.
Secretary Garrison has adopted quite
tho opposite system. and while 1t has
mAdo him "A number OF enemies among
members OF Congress II has been ef-
fective In keeping politics out OF the
army. In a general order issued some
time ago Secretary Garrison served no.
,ice ON all army officers that any one Of
them attempting TO use political in
iuence TO obtain promotion or transfers
would become automatically ineligible
for such recognition. In issuing the or
der Secretary Garrison explained that
he would regard II AS extremely detri-
mental TO the service II officers wt'e
permitted TO play politics.
Secretary Danieh's Statement.
In his statement, Secretary Daniels
aid
Il realize the grounds Of these fears
and ] realize that unless "A system can
be devised which does promote the most
meritorious n efficient men. and which
does inc!te officers to the development Of
tho highest degree Of professional excel
lence. promotion by selection would be
undesirable. Though l have ever since
] became Secretary believed that ori-
GERS should be promoted only for pro-
fessional merit, roalizing the above men
toned possibility Of an abuse of such "A
system. l have hesitated to recommend
such a radical change until | became
thoroughly convinced that u was en-
tirely practicable to devise "A means
whereby tho selection OF officers for pro-
motion could be based entirely oil the
opinions OF the senior officers under
whom they officially serve as to their
professional attachments and could thus
be- entirely divorced from the question
Of influence Of n nature.
The essential Of any system Of selec-
ton In our navy is that the comparison
Of officers must be made by the officers
who make the reports OF fitness. Al
the present time twice each year every
officer In the navy under whom other
officers serve is required To make a
report of fitness on them.
"In view Of the fact that these reports
are made only by those officers under
whom AN officer performs official duty
these reports are The most trustworthy
record a~ttainable as &c the professional
ability. zeal and attachments which each
officer possesses.
How PrOblem Could he solved.
"lf It were possible for a board OF
officers to determine by an examination
Of these reports of fitness tho best on
Ger Of each grade. the question OF pro-
motion by merit would be solved. IL IL
here that the difficulty arises, and II Is IN
the fact thai this board cannot possibly
be familiar with the professional attain
ments OF all officers. in the fact that
tho reports OF fitness In their present
form dc not Indicate the efficiency of the
| various officers with sufficient accuracy
to render a comparison possible and in
the fact that such a board might. en-
tlrely unconsciously. be influenced In its
reoomm ndatiors by other h profess
oiona reasons hat certain officers en-
terrain misgivings.
IF, however. each reporting oflcer In
stead OF marking his juniors on n scale
Of four be required to state whether or
not the Junior In question Is the best,
the second best or the third best officer
Of that grade with whom the officer ID
acquainted my investigation has con
WINGED me that the final merit OF each
| officer In eac grade can be determined
| mechanically from these comparative
estimates. thus absolutely excluding the
Intermediary OF any board Of officers
and excluding the opinion OF any person
whatever except the officers under whom
y Junior serves. II In on this informa
ton that the reputation OF every Officer
is now based.
at Is certain that such n system
would exclude every influence except tina
Of the impression which a junior give,
Of his professional attachments to tn,
senior under whom he erves."