Mr. RICE, of Massachusetts. I ask the unanimous consent of the House to re o rt back from the ComNavA airs Senate bill NO. 269, to define the number and regulate the appointment of officers in the Navy, with some amendments. No objection was made, and the bill was received and read. It is as follows: Be it grade swirled.do. Thatthenumberallowed in each of line officers on the active list of the Navy shall beone admiral. onevice admiral. ton rear admirals.25commodor est. 50 captains. 90 cominnn ers, 180 lieutenant common ers. 180 lieutenants. 160 masters. 160 enawns and in other uradcsthe numbernow allowad bylaw: Provided. That the increase in the adcs authorisedbythis act shall be madeby selec on from the gradenext belowof officurswho have rendered the mostefloieatand faithful serviceduring the recentwar. Sec. 2. Abife: That of themimber of line officers of the Navy on the active list. 5 lieutenant commanders. 20 lieutenants, Mt masters and 75 ensiirns may beap em from those omccrs whohave servedin the volunteer naval service for a periodof not less than two, this, and who are either nowin that serviceor have been honorably discharged therefrom: Provulcil. That H by reason of theseappointmentsthe number of oil carsin any gradeshe I exceed the number fixed by glarwad. eno mar promotions or appointmentsto that shall be madeuntil the numberis reduced below the number Iixed by law for that grade: And proviilul furthrr. That 1. a authority given by this scition shall be exhausted when the number of vol unteer officersabove named shall have been once appointed. Fire.3. Abife: That the SecyNavy shall appoint a boardcorHBUHR of not lessthan 3 naval officerssuperior n rank to the officers to beihus appointed in the regu ar Navy from the volunteer service which hoard. alter examination of the claims of all candidates shall selectand report to the secyNavy the mostmerito rious in character.ability. professionalcompetency and honorable scrnce the number to be apponitijd and translrrrpd to the several graces mentioned in the 3rd section of ibis act: provioed theyshall find thnt number who ii resuitablyqualified therefor. Arid any officer who has served in the volunteer naval service for the teriu of 2 earsor m orsehall have the right to appear before t toexamining board and presenthis claims and be examinedfor an appointment in the regular SEC. NavL. 4. Abife: That the SecyNavy be, and be herebyis. Authorized to retain or to appointunder existinglawsand regulations, such volunteer officers in the Navy asthe exigencies oflhe service may require. Slit). 5. Abife: That lieutenant commanders may be assignedto duty as navigation and watchollicorson be of vossels of waras well its 1st lieutenantsof naval stationsand of ships oi war. Size. 6. 4 Abife: That the annual Ofllilltf‘liflflhon of thi‘ admiral of the Navy shall be SIUMXlayear and heshall ba entitledto the some“ of a secretary.who shall receivethe annual sca pay of a lieutenant in the Itavy. SEC. 7. Abife: That naval cop struotersand 1st and 2nd asst engineersin the Navy shall be appointrd by the President and confirmed by the Senate and shall have naval rank and pay as officers of the Navy. SEC. 8. Abife: That all acts and partlsd of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby N pea L'. The 1st amendment reported by the committee was as follows: Page I. strike out all after “ war" in line cloven as follows: and provided further, That the number of rear admirals, including all onthe activeand retired lists shall not exceed 21 exclusiveof re adinirals retired after tho'pnssagcof this act, and o officersnow on the retire list of commodores who htaarvye commanded squadrons by order of the Score of the Navy and who may be promoted to grade the of rear fllIllllfllIon the retired list: and insert in “(‘11thereof the following: I And who possessthah' est professional qualifications and attaiuments. Nd nothing in this act shall preclude the advancementin rank now authorized by law for distinguished conductin battle or for or traordiniiry heroism: Aral provided further“ That nothing in this act. nor In the 14th section of ‘HIC not approved July 16.1561 entitled “An act to establish and equalize the grade of line officersof the Navy." shall be so construed as to prevent the SecyNavy from promotingto the Krado of rear admiral from the retired list those commo dores who have commanded squadrons by order of the Secretary of thd Navy, or who have performed other highly meritoriousservice.