The Washington herald., 1916-03-17
By T.. h. JOHNS,

The hearings on the naval appropria-
ton bill will be closed next week when
Secretary Daniels appears and gives the
views Of the department on the building
program. He will be proceeded by Rear
Admiral Benson. chief of naval opera
tions.
1t is expected to bring out the bill from
the committee the first week of April.
To hasten its passage an agreement has
been reached among the leaders of the
House to hold night sessions. In an ef-
fort to put national defense legislation
through at an early date not only the
Democratic, hut the Republican leaders
have agreed TO set aside other legisls-
ton. Minority Leader Mann has even
gone 50 far as to threaten a tilibuster
against other legislation if the Demo-
Gratis do not consent to take up the army
and navy bills.
During the testimony on the appro-
priation bill, members of the committee
frequently asked questions to bring out
the officers opinions on the depart
ment's bill. although it was not formally
before the committee. This same policy
may be pursued when the Secretary
comes before the committee on the sp-
preparation bill.
From the expressions OF members of
the committee the proposed scheme for
promotion by selection is being received
with considerable favor. Some of the
members of the committee have become
converted to the idea, although a major
ty is not fully committed to the princi-
Pile. Capt. Simms proved to be the
strongest witness for the department S
bill and devoted a good part of a day 5
hearing to the discussion of personnel
legislation in general
Many officers of the navy" said Capt.
Simms, object to promotion by selec-
ton because they do not understand
what is proposed in the bill. They fear
some system like that in the army by
which the President can promote any Of
fiCer to brigadier general but not to in
termediate grades. This cannot be done
in the navy. 1t appears to me that the
departments bill safeguards promotion
by selection against political and social
influences.
For instance, if there were ten vacan-
Cies for lieutenants under the bill the
forty lieutenant commanders under
whom they had served would be called
upon to select out from the entire list of
lieutenants those who are to be pro-
NOTED. one lieutenant commander might
be controlled entirely by social or politi-
cal considerations, but no one will con-
tend that all of them or majority of
them would be subjected to such infiu-
ences."
Before the resolution had been
signed by the President raising the
army to its full war strength Adjutant
Gen. Mccain had taken steps to re-
cruit the additional force of troops,
By wire he ordered the opening Of all
of the recruiting stations and had ar
ranged to assign about 200 additional
enlisted men to recruiting service. He
will probably detail a few more officers
to the service.
According to early reports the pros
poets are that within a week the re-
quired number of men will be on the
muster rolls. In the Middle West dis
patches state some of the recruiting
stations are being crowded with those
who desire to enlist. II this in an
indication of the response to the call
for men that will be made through
out the entire country the War De-
psrtment will experience no difficulty
in securing the required number.
However it will be not less than
six weeks before the recruits can be
sent to the border. Those who have
served in the regular army can be
sent immediately but it is apt to be
tive months before any considerable