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20th Congress.] No. 346. [1st Session. |
A PLAN FOR A NAVAL PEACE ESTABLISHMENT OP THE UNITED STATES.
COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE JANUARY 15, 1828.
Navy Department, January 12, 1828.
Sir: In answer to a resolution of the Senate, of February 28, 1827, directing the Secretary of the Navy "to report a plan for a naval peace establishment for the United States," paper A, containing the plan called for, is respectfully presented. It is not accompanied with comments, but reference is made to the views expressed in former reports from this Department on the subject, particularly to those of January 24, 1824, and January 1, 1825.
It will be perceived that the present varies in some points from the plans heretofore proposed, and which did not meet the approbation of Congress. The changes, it is hoped, will be found satisfactory. The intention has been to embrace only those objects supposed to be indispensable, and to make the whole plain and simple in its provisions; some of which are suggested by experience, and others are now in operation under the orders of the Department: it would be better to give them legislative sanction.
In connection with this plan, and as an essential part of it, paper B is presented. An examination of our statutes will exhibit great confusion and important omissions on the subject of pay. Several principles have governed in framing this part of the plan.
1. To regard the decision of Congress in the other branch of the public service as the safest and best guide; under the impression that what Congress had sanctioned for the army would meet approbation when applied to the navy, the situation and services of the latter being such as to justify equality with the former. The pay here proposed will be found in no instance to exceed, and in almost all to fall short of that given to the relative grade of army officers.
2. To increase the pay after ten years' faithful services in the same rank. In the army there is an increase of rank by brevet, which uniformly induces a proportionate increase of pay.
3. To add to the pay while at sea, both as an inducement to active service, and to meet the expenses which a separation from their families always creates with officers of the navy; an evil to which those of the army are less subjected. This increase is only in the number of rations.
4. To take away all emoluments and allowances, as far as practicable, and to give in all cases, both on land and at sea, definite and ascertained compensation for the performance of duty.
Under the direction in the other resolution of the same date, the Secretary of the Navy has the honor to present paper C, containing a body of regulations relating to offences, trials and punishments. A comparison of them with the law now in force, "for the better government of the navy," will exhibit the changes proposed in that law. For the views of the Department on this subject, reference is made to the paper C, and to the report dated January 1, 1825.
The Secretary of the Navy would think it his duty, under these resolutions, to present a plan for establishing a naval school, if a bill for that object had not been under consideration, and passed the Senate at the last session, and, if he is correctly informed, is again under consideration. It is respectfully suggested that no plan for a naval establishment, and no regulations, can be perfect, unless a naval school forms a part of them.
Some legal provisions would be useful, in relation to the disbursements made for the navy, but that subject does not seem to be embraced within the scope of these resolutions.
A new body of rules and regulations has been recently prepared under the law of February 1, 1815, but has not been approved and promulgated, under the hope that important changes in the naval establishment would be made during the present session, which would render alterations in them expedient.
If it should be the will of Congress to sanction the proposed plans and regulations, proper rules should be prescribed by the President, and a law passed regulating the disbursement of the public moneys by the official agents; it is most confidently believed that efficiency and economy would be greatly promoted.
Respectfully submitted. SAM'L L. SOUTHARD.
The President of the Senate of the United States.
A.
Naval establishment.
1. To consist of one vice admiral, two rear admirals, six commodores, thirty-five captains, thirty-five masters and commandants, three hundred lieutenants, sixty surgeons, seventy surgeons' mates, fifty pursers, twelve chaplains, thirty sailing-masters, five hundred masters' mates and midshipmen, thirty-five boatswains, thirty-five gunners, thirty-five carpenters, thirty-five sailmakers, seven navy storekeepers.
2. The relative rank of officers of the navy with those of the army to be: Vice admiral, with major general; rear admiral, with brigadier general; commodore in actual command, with brigadier general; captains of five years, with colonels; under five years, with lieutenant colonels; masters commandant, with majors; lieutenants, with captains; passed midshipmen, with lieutenants; provided that no right to command each other shall arise from the relative rank so arranged between the officers of the army and navy.
3. The President to fix, by regulation, the number and pay of the petty officers, seamen, ordinary seamen, and others, attached to the several vessels in commission, and to navy yards and stations, according as the necessity of the public service may require.
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4. The ships of the navy to be classed as follows:
First
rate. Three deckers, mounting one hundred guns and upwards.
Second
rate, first class. Two deckers, mounting seventy-four and under one hundred
guns.
Second
rate, second class. Two deckers, mounting seventy-four and under ninety guns.
Third
rate, first class. Frigates, mounting fifty-four and under sixty-four guns.
Third
rate, second class. Frigates, mounting forty and under fifty-four guns.
Fourth
rate, first class. Sloops, mounting twenty-four guns and upwards.
Fourth
rate, second class. Sloops, mounting eighteen guns and under twenty-four.
Fifth
rate. Brigs and schooners.
5. Sailing-masters, boatswains, gunners, carpenters, and sailmakers to be ranked in three grades or classes; the first for service in vessels of the first and second rate; the second in vessels of the third rate and the third in vessels of the fourth and fifth rate.
6. The President is authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, when the necessity of the service requires it, to increase the number of each grade of officers, not to exceed one-fifth of the respective numbers mentioned in the first section.
7. Masters' mates, midshipmen, boatswains, gunners, carpenters, and sailmakers, shall be appointed by warrant from the President of the United States.
8. Masters and commandants not to be promoted until they have served at sea, as such, for two years.
9. Lieutenants, before promotion, to perform active duty at sea for three years, and submit to an examination of their qualifications and fitness to perform the duties of master commandants, under regulations to be prescribed by direction of the Secretary of the Navy.
10. No person to be appointed an assistant surgeon who has not been examined by a board of navy surgeons, constituted by the Secretary of the Navy for that purpose.
11. No person to be promoted to the office of surgeon who shall not have performed service for two years, at least, on board a public vessel of the United States, and been examined by a board of navy surgeons, constituted by the Secretary of the Navy for that purpose.
12. The President to designate and appoint, when necessary, surgeons of the fleets or squadrons, and purveyors of medicine, and prescribe their compensation and duties.
13. Midshipmen, of the age of 20 years, who have been five years in the service, and have served three years at sea, two and a half of which in an armed vessel of the United States, to be entitled to an examination, at such time as the President shall designate and the convenience of the service will permit, by a board of officers, of a rank not less than captain, nor in number less than three, to be. appointed for that purpose.
14. Midshipmen who have passed the examination and been found qualified for promotion, to receive "warrants as such, and may be appointed to perform the duties of sailingmaster of the second and third class.
15. Vessels of the first, second and third rate to be commanded by officers of a grade not less than captains. Vessels of the fourth rate by masters and commandants; of the fifth rate by lieutenants, who shall, while in actual command, be styled lieutenants commanding.
16. The President to fix the component parts and amount for the ration, not to exceed, in price, twenty-five cents.
17. The navy yards authorized by law, to be Portsmouth, N. H., Charlestown, Mass., New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Gosport, Va., Pensacola; and the President to designate such navy stations as the circumstances may require.
18. The law of 27th March, 1804, to be repealed, and the Navy yard at Washington placed under the same regulations as the other yards.
19. The President to employ such and so many of the vessels as he may believe the public interest requires, provided that more officers, seamen, &c., be not employed, nor a greater sum expended, than is authorized by law.
20. A teacher shall be appointed to each vessel of the first, second, third, and fourth rate, whose duty it shall be to give instructions, under the direction of the commander of the vessel, to midshipmen and others.
21. The President of the United States to cause to be prepared, regulations for the duties, powers, and conduct of the several officers of the navy, which, when approved by him, shall be laid before Congress at their next session.
B.
Plan of law for pay of the navy.
1. The following to be the pay of the several officers attached to the navy:
Vice
admiral, $200 per month, and twenty rations per day.
Rear admiral, $170 per month, and sixteen rations per day.
Commodore, $140 per month, and twelve rations per day.
Captain, $100 per month, and eight rations per day.
Captain, of ten years, $110 per month, and nine rations per day.
Captain, of fifteen years, $120 per month, and ten rations per day.
Master commandant, $60 per month, and five rations per day.
Master commandant, of ten years, $70 per month, and six rations per day.
Master commandant, of fifteen years, $80 per month, and seven rations per day.
Lieutenants, $40 per month, and three rations per day.
Lieutenants, of ten years, $45 per month, and four rations per day.
Lieutenants, of fifteen years, $50 per month, and five rations per day.
Surgeons, $60 per month, and two rations per day.
Surgeons, of ten years, $80 per month, and three rations per day.
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Surgeons,
of fifteen years, $90 per month, and five rations per day.
Assistant
surgeons, $40 per month, and two rations per day.
Assistant
surgeons, of ten years, $45 per month, and three rations per day.
Assistant
surgeons, of fifteen years, $50 per month, and four rations per day.
Pursers,
$40 per month, and two rations per day.
Chaplains,
$50 per month, and three rations per day.
Midshipmen,
$25 per month, and one ration per day.
Passed
midshipmen, $30 per month, and two rations per day.
Sailingmaster,
third grade, $40 per month, and two rations per day.
Sailingmaster,
second grade, $45 per month, and three rations per day.
Sailingmaster,
first grade, $50 per month, and four rations per day.
Boatswain,
third grade, $20 per month, and two rations per day.
Boatswain,
second grade, $30 per month, and three rations per day.
Boatswain,
first grade, $40 per month, and four rations per day.
Gunners,
third grade, $20 per month, and two rations per day.
Gunners,
second grade, $30 per month, and three rations per day.
Gunners,
first grade, $40 per month, and four rations per day.
Carpenters,
third grade, $20 per month, and two rations per day.
Carpenters,
second grade, $30 per month, and three rations per day.
Carpenters,
first grade, $40 per month, and four rations per day.
Sailmakers,
third grade, $20 per month, and two rations per day.
Sailmakers,
second grade, $25 per month, and three rations per day.
Sailmakers,
first grade, $30 per month, and three rations per day.
Masters'
mates, $25 per month, and two rations per day.
Provided that no officer, who is required to pass an examination before he is promoted, shall in any case receive the increased pay, unless he shall at the proper time present himself for examination, and be declared fit for promotion.
2. Admirals, commodores, captains, master commandants, lieutenants commanding, first lieutenants, surgeons, sailingmasters, boatswains, gunners, carpenters, and sailmakers, engaged in active service at sea, receive double rations. Other officers on sea service, an addition of one-half to the amount of rations to which they are respectively entitled.
3. Captains and officers of higher grade, traveling under orders on public duty, to receive twenty cents per mile; other commissioned officers fifteen cents per mile; warrant officers twelve cents per mile.
4. Officers attached to navy yards to receive, in lieu of all compensation, except for pay, rations and quarters. as follows:
Per day. |
|
Captains |
$1.50 |
Masters commandant |
1.00 |
Lieutenants and surgeons |
75 |
Other commissioned officers |
62 ½ |
Warrant, officers |
50 |
5. Commanding officers of stations, the same pay and emolument as those of similar rank attached to navy yards.
6. Pay of officers on furlough, who shall fail to report at the expiration of the furlough, shall cease.
7. Officers performing the duties of any grade higher than their own, to receive the pay and emoluments of the rank next above them.
8. Furlough pay to be one-half the amount of full pay, including rations.
9. The Secretary of the Navy authorized to place officers on furlough pay, when their services are not required.
10. Whenever petty officers, seamen, or ordinary seamen are sent from a ship in commission, on the requisition of a commanding officer of a yard or station, to do duty in such yard or station, other than the vessel to which they belong, each petty officer shall be entitled to and shall receive eighteen cents, and each seaman and ordinary seaman twelve cents for each and every day in which he may be so employed.
11. The pay of deserters to be forfeited, and carried to the naval hospital fund; also fines imposed on all persons in the service.
12. The pay of officers at recruiting stations, and of receiving ships, to be the same as officers of their grade at navy yards, but no premiums for enlistment to be allowed.
13. Officers on special duty to have pay fixed by the Secretary of the Navy, not to exceed the highest rate of pay and emoluments of officers of the same grade when at sea.
14. The pay of storekeepers to be fixed by the President, having regard to their responsibilities and labors.
Acts at variance with this act to be repealed.