Evening star., 1937-07-25
REVEAL CHANGES
SOUGHT IN Law
Navy Department Tells of
ReVisions Decided in
Reserve Act.

Details of the proposed changes In
the Naval Reserve act. as approved by
the Navy Department, were made
known at the department last week.
Because enactment Of the amendments
will increase the permanent expense
to maintain the Reserve, it has been
turned down by the Bureau OF the
Budget as not in conformity with the
Presidents financial program, but it
was indicated the Chief Executive
might indicate his decision or the
matter in the near future. However,
pending further action bv the Presi-
dent. nothing will be done about the
matter. although Reservists and Regu-
lars believe it will materially improve
the efficiency Of the Reserve.
Some of its important provisions
were outlined as follows: 1t takes the
Is and 20 year transferred fleet Re-
Servlsts, transferred thereto from the
Regular establishment, out of the
Naval Reserve and places them in a
separate category called the Trans
ferred Regular Reserve.
1t permits the assignment of men
to the Transferred Regular Reserve
after not less than one complete en-
listment in the Regular Navy and
remuneration for these men at the
rate OF $25 per year. 1t also permits
assignment thereto of former Regular
Navy officers and enlisted men now in
civil life
1t requires re-enlistment in the
Navy of certain former Navy Naval
Reservlsts who had performed service
under certain specified conditions, and
felt that they had been gwen an i'm
piled promise that they would be so
re-enlisted upon application.
1t creates a new Naval Reserve Of
three branches, similar to existing law,
except that each of the branches Is
divided into two classes The two
classes comprising the fleet branch
OF the Naval Reserve are the surface
class and the aviation class. The
two classes comprising the merchant
marine branch and the volunteer
branch are the active class designated
as class A and the inactive class
designated as class B.
1t increases the number of Naval
Reserve officers authorized to be car
rled in grades above that of lieutenant
commander and gives separate allow
ances of such officers for each of the
three branches. Increases the number
OF appointments from the Naval Re-
serve to the Naval Academy from 25
to so per year.
1t permits employment on active
duty for one year each of 500 Naval
Reserve and 100 Marine Corps Re-
serve officers Liberalzes the pro-
visions Of existing law relative to COM
pensation for ReServists injured while
performing active or training duty so
as to provide compensation for in
juries received at drills.
1t gives the Secretary of the NAVY
discretion as to making transfers to
the honorary retired list on account
OF age in grade and provides retired
pay at reduced rate for those mem
bers on the honorary retired list who
have performed a certain minimum
OF active service Immediately prior
thereto. 1t provides for Naval Re-
serve policy board for the purpose of
advising the Secretary of the Navy
on Naval Reserve matters.
1t provides drill pay, instead of ap-
proprlate duty pay. for officers above
the grade of commander, or officers
not attached to feet divisions. and
permits the payment of drill pay under
certain conditions to members of
class A of the Merchant Marine Re-
serve and Volunteer Reserve.
1t extends to officers of the Nor
chant Marine Reserve and Volunteer
Reserve money allowances for the mr.
chase of uniforms heretofore restricted
to officers of the Fleet Reserve. It
Goes away with the one months re-
tanner pay prescribed by existing law
Tor members of the Merchant Marine
Naval Reserve and authorizes drill paw
IN It's place. 1t requires an annual
inspection of vessels flying the Mer-
chant Marine Naval Reserve flag.
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