Evening star., 1939-05-28

~ ildQl uts
ting out.
III Under COM
mand of 1t. ].
Ii. Carpenter. F. Carpen ter,
the small launch which has served
as training ship here for several
years left the Navy Yard last week
for Norfolk, Va, where she was
turned over to the commandant of
the navy yard. A day was taken in
dismantling certain equipment, in
Guiding gas cook stove and other
gear, which was shipped to Charles
ton to be placed aboard the new
vessel, and then the crew left by
train for the navy yard. A delay
was expected there for several days
While the new radio equipment was
installed under the direction of 1t.
c. H. Williams, battalion communi-
cations officer. Ten enlisted men re-
cruited from the local battalion
form the crew of the vessel.
Another vessel of the same type
Will accompany that of the local
battalion as far as the mouth of
the Potomac. 1t has been assigned
to the Philadelphia Reserve bat.
talon.
The new vessel also will have ra-
dlo equipment, which will make it
possible for her to keep in touch
with the home station and to train
members of the Communication Re-
serve in maintaining air traffic
communication, as is done on cruis-
Ing ships of the Navy.
A former 75-foot Coast Guard
patrol beat, it is fitted with a heat
ing plant, which will make her an
all-year-round training ship, where
as the other vessel was limited to
spring, summer and fall cruising.
1t was the practice to lay her up
during the winter months.
The new Naval Reserve Act has
raised some legal complications as
to the right of certain officers to
the uniform gratuity, granted upon
reporting for active duty, and which
has necessitated decision from the
controller general of the United
States. A Junior lieutenant in the,
Medical Corps was appointed and
assigned to the Volunteer Naval Re,
serve for general service. He az
cepted his commission on April a
1888, and was assigned to active d,.tN
Tor training, and reported on Jun1
2 of last year. The question a
| Nf
arose by reason of the fact that
the officer was appointed in the
Volunteer Reserve and reported prior
to July last, the effective date
OF the new act. The prior law con-
tanned no provision for payment in
time OF peace for an allowance for
uniforms to officers of the Volunteer
Naval Reserve. The new act pro-
vldes that in time of peace. upon
first reporting for active duty or
training duty, at location where
uniforms are required to be worn,
or after the authorized performances
OF IA drills, a commission or warrant
offlcer OF the Naval Reserve shall
be paid sum not to exceed 500
as reimbursement for the purchase
OF the required uniforms, and there
after he shall be paid an additional
$50 Tor the same purpose upon the
completion of each period of not
less than four years in the Reserve.
1t also is provided that this latter
amount Of $50 shall not become due
any officer until he has completed
not less than $50 drills or periods
OF other equivalent instruction or
duty or appropriate duties and 81.
days active or training duty, or rs
drills and "a days active or training
duty, or 112 days active or training
duty. 1t also is provided that any
officer who has heretofore received
uniform gratuity shall not be en-
titled to either of the above-men-
toned sums until the expiration OF
four years from the date of receipt
of the last such gratuity.
The controller general said that a
literal application of the language
ccnteined in the statute would limit
payment of the S100 gratuity to off,
GERS of the Naval Reserve who had
not, prior to its epactment, reported
for active or training duty with pay,
and would preclude payment thereof
to officers of the Volunteer Reserve
who had so reported at a prior date
even though the tour extended be-
yond the date of passage of the act.
Such an Interpretation, he con-
tinued, would require denying pay
ment to an officer in the status Of
the junior lieutenant, commissioned
shortly before the passage of the
Naval Reserve Act of 1898, and who
was assigned to active duty imme-
diately after being commissioned,
while a Volunteer Reserve officer
appointed at the same time, but who
first reported for active duty after
enactment of the act, would en-
counter no such prohibition. 1t
would be unreasonable, he said. to
assume that such was the intent or
purpose of the restrictive clause
latter enactment thereof" which
evidently was designed to limit
claims under the new law to those
accruing as result of service after
its effective date, leaving claims
arising from service for prior periods
for disposition under the former law.
In this case, the controller general
said, the officsr was not entitled to
uniform grsLuity in time of peace
under the prior law and such right
as he hasxs under the new law; that
right accrued by reason of his active
duty "after enactment"-that is. the
of artfve dov-of tho oct ~ T,,no Cs
1888. Hence, he ruled, as 1t is re-
ported that he had not previously
received any uniform gratuity either
in cash or in kind. payment to him
of 500 as provided by the act is au-
thorized. his right thereto having ac-
crued on july 1. 1898.