Evening star., 1925-09-20

the Senate as a rear admiral of the
line when he was selected out for pro.
motion, the President forces Admiral
Robson to he placed upon the retired
list as captain, when under all Navy
laws and regulations he is, as a bu-
reau chief, entitled to be retired in the
grade Of real admiral. Under this law
at the present time there are about
! five bureau chiefs who are on the re-
! tired naval list as rear admira Is.
Great interest is being evidenced by
! off1cers throughout the Navy in this
case, and Ii is anticipated that CON
gressional action authorizing his ele-
vation To the rear admiral grade on
the retired list of the Navy will be
taken when Congress meets in De
cemher.
The two personnel bills, I. g., the
Britten bill and the bill for equaliza
ton of promotion between the line
and staff of the Navy, will again he
taken up with Secretary Wilbur and
! his advisers in the Navy Department;
when Representative Fred A. Britten.
chairman of the personnel Subcom
mittee of the House committee on
naval affairs. returns from Europe on
September "a
I Upon the conclusion of a number
OF conferences participated In by Mr..
Britten, Admiral Edward w. Eberle,
chief of naval operations; Rear Ad-
miral Hilary p. Jones, member of the
/ general board; Rear Admiral William
f. Shoemaker, chief of the Bureau Of
( Navigation; Rear Admiral Edward H.
Campbell. judge advocate general OF
! the Navy. apd Comdr. John s. Nc
Cain L. s. n, on duty in the Bureau
Of Navigation. the Navy Department
promulgated revision of the Rritten
bill. but announced at the same time
that Navy Department approval had
not been given to the measure and
that it was still subject to change
Since this time number OF amend
ments have been proposed upon which
up to the present no agreement ha Is
been made. Upon the return Of Ad-
miral Campbell To his duties in the
department from his leave. a meeting
will he held at which extensive efforts
will he made to iron out the difficult
ties the Rritten bill so that the
measure can be submitted to the Sec
retary OF the Navy.
Legislation affecting the line Of the
Navy, 1t has been brought out by Mr..
Britten. is being worked out by the
naval affairs committee. 1t is pointed
out by Mr.. Rritten that this bill
should substitute years in grade in
determining eligibility for promotion
instead Of age in grade. and It should
be extended down to lieutenants Qun-
ior gradel. Provisions of this bill, 1t
is insisted. should make the total serv-
I ice of captains 35 years: comma nders
%. lieutenant commanders 81. lieu.
/ tenants. Il: and lieutenants Gunior
grade,. Z. In addition to this, Mr.
Britten has proposed that selection he
extended to the grade Of lieutenant
/ ljunior gradel. Other changes have
been incorporated in the proposed bill
! to which considerable opposition has
developed not only IN the Navy De
partment, but throughout the naval
/ service.
Secretary Wilbur Is committed To
the general provisions of the equaliZa-
ton hill. butaup to the present he has
not approved the bill, His attitude on
the Rritten personnel bill Is not
| known. hut il is believed that ne will
announce his decision on this mea sure
| shortly.
/ Cant. r. l.. Reed. superintendent of
/ construction and repair. United States
Coast Guard. senior ranking officer
next to Rear Admiral Billiard com
ma ndant Of the United States Coast
Guard. who was retired on September
/ .. after having served more than 43
years in the former Revenue Cutter
I Service and the Coast Guard. is the
/ first Coast Guard officer to go upon
| the retired list with the rank Of com
modore. He was retired upon reach
I ing the age of 81, in accordan nee with
! law. and in view of his having more
/ than 40 years service he has been
placed upon the retired list in the
Navy with this rank, under the provi
| sions of the act of Congress approved
January l.. 1928.
Another hearing will he given the
! Navy Department by the director Of
the budget on or about October ]. As
stated previously in these columns.
the reductions outlined by the Budget
| Bureau will mean the closing of prac-
! tically every naval shore station on
the Atlantic coast. with the exception
| of two yards-New York and Nor
! folk--a nd ii will extend in part to the