The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-08
For the Union,

and powerful TO place that administration in power
Our Naval Service
Mr.. EDITOR lnoice in your paper OF the 9th instant
an article over the signature of J" headed Reorgan
cation Of the United States Navy" | am glad 10 see
some effort made TO restore branch of the public service
which seems TO be fast going TO runsome effort TO save
sinking ship Whilst cheerfuy accord with the au.
thor OF that article in many of the views therein ex
pressed-they deserve and will doubtless receive proper
consideratonhe will pardon when inform him there
are suggestions OF his which, in my opinion will never
meet with the sanction OF Congress the appreciation Of
the people
He proposes the establishment of higher ranks in the
navy, viz the ranks of admiral rear admiral, vice adj
mira &c, &c, and attaching TO those high ranks cor
responding increase of pay There wide and rapidly
spreading opinion gone FORTH that the salaries our naval
officers receive already too erorbanay high To add
these high sounding European titles and higher pay
would SAVIOR too much OF monarchical institutions and
afford additional reasons for the frequent of the
hackneyed phrase. our navy is becoming too aristo-
cratic" good would result from the adoption of such
titles: they are entirely unsuted 10 republic and un-
called for in The proper organization Of our navy Nor
would they be at all beneficial its prosperity or condu
GIVE TO IFS efficiency in any point OF view Ii might graft
y the vanity and fill the pockets of those upon whom il
was conferred But would this make them more eticen,
officers skilful in the discharge of their Duties
Far from IT, The very would, in all probability
be the result High salaries and eleva ted positions in.
duce luxurious living and habit OF Ii fe not adapted TO
that Of enierpsng and energetic officer and more cal
cua,ea TO unfit than prepare him for his pr oper duties
During the last with England when our navy was
almost in its infancy, and the officers salary much less
than at present, when blood spilled oitener than
Burgundy, and balls and grape shot came more
frequently than dollars and when the lauels were gained
which the navy has rested upon since there such
rank and such sounding European titles as ad.
mlral. rear-admra, and vice admiral, &c. We do not
need them now high salaries and high-soundng titles
never rendered any navy efficient Separate and
apart from all these considerations. the number of off,
already in the higher grades OF navy too large
IL is notorious that there many more captains and
commanders now in the navy than be useully en-
poyed in their usual duties Why create more 10 do The
duties now performed by these, when we cannot
employ half Of those have' The salaries, too OF the
naval officers looked upon being extremely liberal
particularly in the higher grades-qute high as would
TO be consistent with proprey, the efficiency Of
the naval service II correctly informed, the senior
captain receives when on duty $500 per annum and
when on any kind OF public duty he receives SO 800
per All other captains in the navy receive each,
when in command OF a squadron, $4,000 per annum
when on other Duty they receive each 500 per annnm
and when not on any kind Of public duty, they receive
each $4,000 per The next grade below that Of
aptain is commander. Each commander receives when
on duty at sea, $4,000 per annUm when any other
duty, g. 100 per annum and when not any kind Of
public duty, be receives 81 500 per annum.
The redundancy OF these grades in the navy is made
more manifest by examination OF the navy lists The
department. or the register prepared that place The
total number OF captains in the navy is 6s, OF whom 3
appear to be employed sea, and II employed at home,
and az unsmpoyed-there being no employment for
hem-snd many oil these have not been employed at
heir legitimate sphere) for many long years-say almost
quarter OF century though do not design TO cast obi
um this worthy mertorious and elevated class OF off.
for long rusticaton and "luxuhaton on shore
for many OF them doubtless have been ready and
for duty-but the navy has employment for them the
redundancy is too large The fact appears in the
next grade below, viz that Of commander. The total
number Of commanders in the navy is W Of whom l6
appear TO be employed at and ~ employed
kind OF duty home and 81 unemployed there being
no employment for them but, like their superors just
mentioned the fault not with them the navy cannot
employ them they are too numerous.
The e,pain not on duty receives 500 per
Al captains duty, who receive each s2o per
s. not on duty who $1,000
9osSoo
Two hundred and three thousand two hundred dollars
which our government pays annually TO these two grades
in the navy alone for actually and literally doing nothing
Is it, them the part OF wise, economical, Iudcous ana
polite TO create more officers IN these hgher
grades and increase their salaries Does compoi with
our republican institutions TO have such swarm OF high
officials with large salaries and no employment! For
has just been shown that the navy cannot employ one
half the number they already have) Would not the pub
lie voice cry out with accord that they were creating
horde OF placement legion OF stpendiares on the
government to absorb the hard earnings OF the abong
man. and to eat the bread Of ideness which would not
be oerated No. sir the navy requires no higher ranks
and no increase of salary, and no more officers OF any
grade until the number lat present too arge) shall de-
crease to the natural and legitimate wants OF The service
n shall take 10 another OF what Is conceived
"a he The Objectionable features in the article alluded to-
and state the objections and when the whole gotten
through with scheme Of reorganization will be offered