Engagement at Manila Bay

36 Ct. Cl. 206, 1901 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 91, 1900 WL 1398
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedMarch 25, 1901
DocketNaval Bounty, 1
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 36 Ct. Cl. 206 (Engagement at Manila Bay) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Engagement at Manila Bay, 36 Ct. Cl. 206, 1901 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 91, 1900 WL 1398 (cc 1901).

Opinion

Weldon, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court, in answer to the questions presented by the report:

Benjamin P. lamberton and Charles Y. Gridley.

The question presented is:

Is Lamberton, as fleet captain, entitled to share under paragraph third, taking one-hundredth part of all the bounty; [208]*208or does ho share in proportion to his pay with the other officers and men on board the Olympia?

A petition has been presented by the administratrix of Charles V. Gridley, deceased, who served as captain of the Olympia at the time of the engagement, and her counsel has notified the Auditor that his client claims “for the captain’s estate in his capacity as captain and also as fleet captain.”

A letter from the Secretary of the Navy, dated July 31, 1900, filed August 1, shows that “ Captain Benjamin P. Lamberton, U. S. Navy, served as fleet captain during said engagement.”

The statute prescribing the fleet captain’s share in the bounty is the third paragraph of section 1631.

The Naval Regulations do not appear to define the duties of fleet captain by that name. Articles 327 to 312. prescribe the manner of the appointment and the duties of chief of staff.

In the ai’gument on the report, counsel for Captain Gridley conceded that his representative is only entitled to share in the bounty on the basis of captain of the Olympia, and the court decides that such is the legal basis of his representative’s right to share in the bounty.

In relation to the claim of Captain Laniberton, who was the fleet captain during the engagement, the court decides that he is entitled to share as fleet captain as follows, to wit:

Under paragraph 3, of section 4631, Revised Statutes, one-hundredth part of one hundred ninety one thousand four hundred dollars (<¡5191,400),'the total bounty money, one thousand nine hundred fourteen dollars (§51,914), and in addition thereto is entitled under paragraph 5, of said section 4631, Revised Statutes, to share in proportion to his pay with all others doing-duty on board. Instructions heretofore filed are hereby ordered to be amended so as to conform to this order.

Case of Charles P. Kindleberger (U. S. S. Olympia).

On May 1, 1898, Kindleberger held a commission as assistant surgeon. A vacancy had occurred to which he was entitled to be promoted on July 1, 1897. He was not promoted until February 13, 1899, when he was commissioned passed assistant surgeon to rank from July 9, 1897. These facts ap[209]*209pear in the above-mentioned letter from the Secretary of the Navy of July 31,1900. It is not stated in the letter when this officer was examined, but that he was duly examined may be presumed from the fact of his being commissioned.

The question presented is whether Kindleberger is entitled to share as passed assistant surgeon or as assistant surgeon.

In this connection reference may be made to Revised Statutes, section 1562: “If an officer of a class subject to examination before promotion shall be absent on duty and, by reason of such absence or of other cause not involving fault on his part, shall not be examined at the time required by law or regulation, and shall afterwards be examined and found qualified, the increased rate of pay to which his promotion would entitle him shall commence from the date when he would have been entitled to it had he been examined and found qualified at the time so required by law or regulation; and this rule shall apply to any cases of this description which may have heretofore occurred. And in every such case the period of service of the party in the grade to which he was promoted shall, in reference to the rate of bis pay, be considered to have commenced from the date when he was so entitled to take rank.” And to act of June 22, 1874, chap. 392, 1 Sup. R. S.; 18 Stat. L., 191:

“ Sec. 1. That on an after the passage of this act any officer of the Navy who may be promoted in course to fill a vacancy in the next higher grade shall be entitled to the pay of the grade to which promoted from the date he takes rank therein, if it be subsequent to the vacancy he is appointed to fill.”

The court determines that the claimant should share in the bounty as a passed assistant surgeon, taking rank from July 9, 1897, on the basis of $2,000 per year. This view of the rights of the claimant is sustained by the decision of this court in the case of Blandin (35 C. Cls. R., 568).

John M. Ellicott (U. S. S. Baltimore).

On May 1, 1898, Ellicott held a commission as lieutenant, junior grade. A vacancy had occurred on April 23, 1898, to which he was entitled to be promoted, and on July 16, 1898, he was commissioned a lieutenant to take rank from April 23, 1898, as appears in the Secretary’s letter of July 31.

[210]*210The claimant having been commissioned as lieutenant to take rank from April 23, 1898, is entitled to share in the bounty on the basis of $2,400 per year.

Reginald H. Smith (U. S. S. Baltimore).

On May 1, 1898, Smith held a commission as assistant surgeon. On March 30,1899, he was commissioned passed assistant surgeon to rank from April 3,1898, as appears in the Secretary’s letter.

The claimant having taken rank as passed assistant surgeon from April 3, 1898, he has a right to share in the bounty on the basis of $2,000 per year.

George H. Hayward (U. S. S. Baltimore).

On May 1, 1898, Hayward held-the rank of ensign, and was entitled to promotion to lieutenant, junior grade, on April 13, 1898, as appears by a letter from the Navy Department dated September 20, 1900, filed September 22. The letter states that “this officer was ordered to examination on the Asiatic Station April 18, 1898, the result of which was not received in the Department until September, 1898.” The letter does not state that Hayward received his promotion, but the inference is that he did.

The records of the Department show that Hayward received a commission as lieutenant, junior grade, to rank from April 13, 1898.

The claimant took rank as lieutenant, junior grade, from April 13, 1898; therefore his respective rate of pay in the service on May 1, 1898, was $1,800 per year, and he should share in the bounty on that basis.

William L. Howard (U. S. S. Boston).

On May 1, 1898, Howard held a commission as lieutenant, junior grade. On July 26, 1898, he was commissioned lieutenant, to rank from March 10, 1898, as appears in the Secretary’s letter of July 31.

The claimant is entitled to share in the bounty on the basis of $2,400 per year.

[211]*211 Samuel S. Robison (U. S. S. Boston).

The Department’s letter óf September 20 states that a vacancy in the grade of lieutenant, junior grade, occurred for Samuel S. Robison on April 23,1898; * * * his com-' mission in the next higher grade was not issued until December 6, 1898.”

Robison took rank and was paid as lieutenant, junior grade, from April 23, 1898; accordingly his rate of pay in the service on May 1, 1898, was $1,800 per year, and he should share in the bounty on that basis.

George G. Seibels (U. S. S. Petrel).

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Related

Gates v. United States
38 Ct. Cl. 52 (Court of Claims, 1903)

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Bluebook (online)
36 Ct. Cl. 206, 1901 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 91, 1900 WL 1398, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/engagement-at-manila-bay-cc-1901.