The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-05

WARRANT OrFIoERs PAY.-Ths warrant officers
of the Navy, viz the boatswains, gunners, carpen-
tiers and saimakers, have presented to Congress
memorial for certain addition OF pay, which, CON
sideriDg their present small allowance, IN justice
follows:-When on duty on board Of seventy tours,
$500; on all other duty 4700. With this pay with
but very few exceptlons) they have to rent houses
provide for their families, educate their children, uni
form and clothe themselves and pay their mess and
wash bills on foreign stations. Common reason will
satisfy any one that ct the cost Of present living il
Is impossible to meet all these expenses with tbs
average pay Of 4700 But exclusive Of this, It does
not pay them for the services rendered, nor Goes
compare with the pay Of the jouneymen in their re-
spective trades in private employment
What are the responsibilities Of these officers on
board ship1 Who can supply their places? Not
the commissioned officers. They have not spent
years in acquiring practical knowledge iu cutting
and fitting rigging, In preparing compositions OF
powder, in making spars, rudders, and building up
the wreck, in making suit Of Sails after the Ale
fessioDs sailors and nsvigstors, to occupy and en-
gross their minds leaving it to the warrant officers
to execute these ardu0us and responsible duties.
tie or the storm, to repair the damages sustained.
Thoee men who have no promotion or increase Of
pay for long and faithful servitude, and who are
more than half Of their lives separated from all
able to save one cent to meet the increasing expen-
Gee OF q growing family. Their pay should be sufi
cent to make them comfortable, and enable them to
leave their families at least comfortable support
while they absent in the service2of their country
and should also be proportonste to their responsible
tiles. But 1t Is not sO for on their knowledge de-
ponds very much the mechanical condition Of our
manofwar The condition of the rigging, and con.
sequenty the safety Of the ship rests in very great
degree, upon the boatswain. The condition OF the
magazine, its efficiency and management In the i'm.
portant hour Of battle, s alone dependent upon the
gunner. Let him be fathless or inefficient, and the
battle is lost, we care not who may command the
deck, or fight the guns-in his hands rests the sac
ty OF the ship and the lives Of every soul on board
Upon the carpenter depends the condition Of tho
hull spars, pumps and fire engines Of the ship. It's
he alone who ia called upon to repair the injuries Of
the gale, or plug the shot holes after the bate aud
upon the sailmsker depends the replacing sof the
sails, necessary to save the ship from lee Shore
With these facts staring the members Of Congress
in the face, viii they not act Of justice grant
the prayer OF these petitioners, when they ask for
what Is on.v their DUE and what Is necessary to their
actual wants2 Let mot this valuable class OF officers
be any longer neglected, with no promotion no in
crease Of pay for long servitude to encourage them
while every other grade Of officers In the service
have either one or both Of these to cheer them on
years and service increase upon them. We therefore
hope that the present democratic Congress will not
overlook these petitioners but that the Naval Com.
mittee will introduce such . bill Is their petition
calls fqg, All papers favorable 10 this class Of off,
GERS would Golfer an AA Of justice by giving place
to these views In their behalf Maryland State Ga.
Gafe, Feb. 49,