Washington sentinel., 1853-12-09


probably. as the evil itself 1t is true, also,
that the Secretary of the Navy has the discre-
tionary power to place officers on furlough, and
thereby reduce their pay. II has frequently
been done. I have exercised the power my
self But i'm the absence of some uniform rule,
sanctioned by law the effort at discrimination,
however sincere and disinterested, is so embar-
rassed with difficulties-by no means dimin-
ished by the nterposing appeals OF the friends
of the partes-that this power, If not paralyzed,
is diyested almost entirely of its salntary and
corrective virtue.
To illustrate the unfairness Of the present
system, permit me TO mention few facts, not
with the view of invidious comparison, but
solely to elucidate the subject. There are Off
GERS who have been in the navy more than
forty years, whose total sea service is less than
ten years. who receive the same pay with those
of their grade whose sea service is fifteen, eigh-
teea and more than tacenty gears. These Off
GERS, who are thus receiving pay, prevent the
promotion of those below them, who have seen
more than twice their service at sea, and have
helped to give their country name. There
are inefficient officers who have not done duty,
on sea or shore for t,celre, fifteen and ttceaty
years. There are lieutenoas who have seen
double the service of some of higher grade,
and receive but halt their pay. There are
many passed midshipmen of more than ten
gears sea selrice, whose pay on leave is sir
hundred dollars, and there are their superiors
in rank Of less than ten gears sea service,
whose pay is t,oe,ay fire hundred dollars.
The pride of rank and position is the anima-
ting element that imparts vigor to the arm,
courage to the heart, buoyancy to the spirits of
the faithful officer; and there is peculiar SEN
sitiveness to the slightest neglect. But, in a
country like ours-so full of rich fields inviting
the enterprising presenting so many paths
through which the aspiring may advance to
fame and fortune-what is there III the above
outline Of the picture, W. ,sh.sh our maya, system
men Of the day? The timid and the laggard
are promoted as rapidly as the brave and the
active The officer who has borne himself well
in twenty years service, amidst the storms and
the dangers of the sea, beneath tropical suns,
and near unfriendly coasts, on obtaining his
few months leave of absence, finds himself
only receiving the same pay with those of his
own grade who have fingered amid the com
forts of home, and rarely ever touch the deck
OF ship. But it may be said that pay should
be increased with rank, and that the officer of
the lower grade should be content until he at
tains higher rank. This reasoning however,
is met by concedng the correctness ofthe prin-
ciple, but protesting against the system which
competency, and thus deprives merit and hard
service both of rank and pay. | am aware
that it an easier task to point out defects than
10 prescribe remedies. But the evils Of our sys-
tenn can hardly be diminished by time, and no
reform can be expected without effort
! entertain the opinion that retired list, on
reduced pay, for tie .faithtm gho hare become
i.tf,m: the discharge Of the inefficient ,cho
hare no claim on the bounty Of their goren-
mem for services rendered; promotion regtla-
ted By capacity, merit, and not By mere seniority
of COMMISSION; pay TO some ertem controlled
By sea-serrice-are reforms not only demanded
by the condition of the service, by considera.
tions of justice but absolutely necessary to the
preservation Of efficiency and usefulness. There
are officers whom the inirmities of age, or the
rayages Of disease incident to the exposures of
rough seafaring life, have rendered unfit for
duty. They have been faithful public servants,
ever ready to obey orders, and from their voca.
ton improvident for the future On retiring
such men, to secure the aid of the more vigor-
Gus and active, a grateful country may well
deal generously and thus, at the same time, ad
minister kindness to age and fdelity-justice
to the deserving. / believe this plan Of re-
tired list can be so arranged as to protect the
treasury from the heavy drains Of an odious
pension system. They are now all on pay.
the discharged, organize thus a corps of eff
cient officers, and, as question of economy,
this system, with proper guards and restrictions,
may be one rather ofretrenchment than extrav-
agance. To apply these principles, and reduce
them to practical operation, may at first seem
inconvenient and embarrassing. But in com
mon with many who have bestowed much con-
sideration on this subject l am persuaded that
The difficulties are far from being insurmount-
able
A board of officers of various grades, care
fully selected by the President can be convened
periodically, to report to him the names of those
who, in their judgment, should be made sub
iects of the rules prescribed. Their report NAV
be subject to the approval or reversal or modi-
fcation, of the President To enable them to
act inteligently and impartially in this delicate
task, the Secretary of the Navy can lay before
them not merely the Navy Register and the
records Of the department, but may materially
contribute to their enlightenment by inviting,
in the least offensive and most delicate mode,
the opinions of the officers themselves touching
the fitness of those of their own grade and those
below, whom association and opportunity have
enabled them to know.
But forbear to enlarge upon the details ne
cessary to give shape and effectiveness to the
proposed reform.
III iHe piesent oySleiu VI pay, cA ApeEleHce anu
observation convince me that there is a radical
error. Although pay should not be, and is not,
the chief incentive to activity, yet every con-
sideration justifes the policy and propriety of,
TO some extent, regulating pay by service. The
difference between leave of absence and duty
pay is SO very small that it practically invites
the officer to avoid sea service and really
makes it more profitable to be idle than to labor.
Ii sea se1rtce gave certain per cent. increased
pay, under proper limitations and restrictions
the beneficial effects would be two-fold. 1t
would be but just reward to diligence, and
would stimulate officers to go to sea, so as to
swell their income for themselves and families.
! recommend, therefore, a modification of our
present pay system in accordance with these
views, and ! am satisfied it will promote de
sTe for sea service, instead of reluctant obe
dience to orders. The pay of the forward war
rant officers also needs regulating. They are
useful officers.