The Washington times., 1916-03-02
Personnel Board Recommends
Reserve Corps Of Officers
and Rapid Advances.
COMPULSORY SEA SERVICE
Rank Of Commodore Would Be
Restored determinations to
Keep Up Efficiency.

Substitution Of the merit system for
advancement Of navnl officers instead OF
basing all promotions on seniority. as at
present, 10 proposed in bill drafted by
the navy personnel board and transmit
ted TO Congress by Secretary of the
Navy Daniels.
The bill provides that promotions Of
all officers above the rank of lieutenant
shall be made on Recommendation or a
board Of officers Of the grade above the
rank in which the promotion is to be
made.
Provision is made for the establish
ment of a reserve corps of naval Of
ficers. the creation OF the rank OF brig
adler general in the Marine Corps. and
the restoration OF the grade OF commo-
dore in the navy.
Replace Plucking Board.
The bill provides a board to pass upon
the general fitness for service of all
officers Of the Navy and Marine Corps.
This would take the place of the pluck
ing board, abolished by Congress a year
ago after a stir was raised over drop
ping of prominent naval officers.
In outlining the operation of the mrit
system TO govern promotions In the
navy, the bill provides that superior Of
hcers shall designate those in the lower
grades who should be considered for
Advancement. Officers so recommended
would be examined and automatically
promoted II they passed the examine
ton. ...... ."...
The measure provides that Officers
shall pass three years at sea in every
grade in which they serve.
In order to clear the ranks Of the uu-
ut examinations are to be held three
years after gradua ton, and another eX-
animation when officers have been in the
service eight years. Thereafter exaini-
nations would be held every five years.
Officers who retire before they are en-
titled by law to do 80 would be re-
quired TO enroll In the reserve and de-
ticc. ..-' =. -. -
Rank of Commodore.
Naval officers In the grade Of cap
tain and below are interested in the
section Of the bill providing for restora-
ton Of, the grade OF commodore. The
rank Of commodore was abolished after
the Spanish-American war. This rar.k
was held by Dewey when he commanded
at Manila bay.
Under the bill. during the first four
years captains are to be advanced in
tho order of seniority to this grade.
Ultimately promotions to the new grade
would be made by the process of seleC-
tion from captains who have served as
captains for not less than six years, OF
which not less than two years shall have
been at sea.
Pay Regulations.
Commodores may be assigned to COM
pnRnd OF ships Of the first class, to the
command Of flotillas, divisions or
squadrons. They would receive the same
pay as captains. except that when COM
Inanding flotiilas, divisions or squadrons
their pay would be the same as rear
admirals.
Provision is made for increases I'm
all grades Of Officers below rear ad-
mirals so that there would be thirty
rear admirals. such number of COM
modores as may quality, 100 cap
tains, 400 commanders. 400 lieuten-
an commanders, and such number Of
iieutenants. Junior grade. and en-"
signs as may qualify.
Rapid Promotions.
These increases are intended to be
spread over q period OF fivo years
BY seniority IN order to fill up ali
grades. after which promotions by
selection would be the rule.
The actual increase in officers rep
resented would be twelve rear ad-
nirals. thirty captains. eightg-eight
commanders. and 200 lieutenant cont
nanders.
One OF the chief duties of the per-
sonnel board, named to succeed the
"pluckSing board" will be to remove
the undt and eliminating the present
Tetarding of promotions.
Moro rapid promotions will result.
trainers of the bill point out. from
placing less able men on Ineligible lists
and giving due promotion to then show
ing efficiency.
At present, the average age reached
by a captain when promoted to rear ad-
Iniral Ia sixty years. Many officers
have to be retiredfor age in the grade
of lieutenant. The same condition OBJ
tains in the Marine Corps.