Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-09-17
DESERVED HONOR,
Congressman Peters Father of Bill
to Create Two Admirals

BY vote of 245 TO 8, the House of Rep
resentstives last week passed the bill to
give Admiral William 5. Benson and Rear
Admiral William 5. Sims this permanent
rank OF admiral. This is the bill of which
Congressman Peters was sponsor in the
committee on naval affairs, the sub-co;n-
mittee to which it was referred, and
hnally on the floor OF the House. He is
being widely congraJgias ed on the able
manner in which the bill was presented
Among kilograms received since his re-
turn to Ellsworth Saturday is one Of con-
graduation and thanks from Secretary of
the Navy Daniels.
The bill will give to Admiral Benson
and Rear Admiral SIMS the permanent
rank OF admiral, which is now held nv
Admiral Benson temporarily. 1t preserves
their present relative seniority, and makes
them senior to other officers who are bold
ing the rank of admiral temporarily. 1t
gives the new admlrals full pay for life.
instead OF three quarters pay upon retire
ment, but provides that they may be
called upon for active duty even after re-
tirement. They are obliged to retire upon
reaching the age limit, which in Admiral
benson's case will be the 25th of this
month, and in Admiral Sims case on Oct.
10, 1922. The compensation is Sl3,5O0.
Only three men before have held the
rank Of full admiral, which it is now pro-
posed to confer upon these two in recog-
milton OF their distinguished service in
! the prin to
no grade of admiral in the United States
navy. In that year, by special act Of
Congress, Farragut was appointed ad-
miral, and upon his death in 1870, Porter
succeeded him. Dewey, the hero OF Manila
bay in the Spanish American war, was
the third man elevated to the rank.
In his speech in the House, Congress
man Peters presented some facts and
figues that are of historical as we'll as
| general interest. Concerning the matter
OF compensation, in response to ques-
ton from the floor he said:
| There is much reason, it seems to me,
why both the admirals and the general
should receive full pay for life. 1t is a
small consideration considering the Won
derful services they rendered. In Great
Britain this compensation would be
laughably small. They have made large
| grants to their officers in Great Britain
who have performed no more difficult or
heroic service than ours. The full pay is
| S13, 500, the same for a general and an ad
miral. 1t has been at this figure for some
years, and besides we ought not to lose
sight OF the fact that the value OF dollar
has greatly lessened. Also, it might in
terest the gentleman to know that at the
! present time that there are negroes work
ing in the Newport News shipyards on
piecework who get approximately $4,000
agar. I believe that we ought to pay the
admirals as much as we pay negroes in the
shipyards. [Laughter.l
"Congress eclared war in April, 1917
but the navy declared war long time be-
fore that. Admiral Benson became CHIEF
of naval operations in May, 1915, under 6
mandate giving him the widest powers
AS the professional head OF the navy from
that time till now, Admiral Benson hac
the responsibility of directing all strategic
and tactical matters as we'll as the organi-
cation, maneuvers, drill and training oil
the feet. How well he carried out his
mandate TO get ready the feet and make
plans for war is shown by the fact
that from the day the first armed guard
limbered up its gun on the deck of mer-
chant ship to the surrender OF the Germa n
navy lit Scapa Flow to the American and
British fleets, our navy never 'mis sed a
trick" [Applause.l
wherever his duties called him.
whether directing from headquarters in
Washington, planning with the Allies in
Europe, or supervising operations a. the
front, he got results. The training and
operating of the great force under his
command was one of the prime factors in
winning the war. A mere statement OF
its size compared with the Civil war force
magnitude OF the work.
"Our total number of men in the navy
at the close of the Civil war was 81 800.
The greatest plumber OF SHIPS was 1,176.
Farfagut, at New Orleans, had AZ ships
and not over 20 900 men; at the battle of
Mobile bay he had Is ships and less than
5000 men.
"Our total personnel in the Spanish war,
officers and men, was "a 900.
''Our total ships were 1886.
"At the battle of Manila bay, which is
reckoned glorious day for the American
navy, Dewey had $500 men and ships,
when this war practically closed in
November, 1918, the naval forces carrying
on the fight in various parts of the world
under the general direction of Admiral
Benson were 529 500 officers and men and