The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-25


tains tote0 waiting orders on shore at salary of
$40 per annum sx Of whom severay last al sea
in 1916, 2s 81, 81 ss and 39 making aggregate Of
Slob,000. fT MH4IH u
OF Ofninety-eigh commanders (seven Of whom were last
respectively at in 1916 '27 80 49, 34 36 aud 1877
there waiting orders for-two, at 1900 per annum
ofhree hundred and twentysx lieutenants there are
waiting orders mine, at $1,000 making aggregate
of S70s00
or one hundred and ninety passed midshpmen
there but eight waiting orders at S6oo-S4,sOo,
And that while there captains and commanders
who have been each ortone years in the navy and who
receiving respectively $4,000 and 1900 and yet
have seen Tess than ten service there forty
three passed mdshpmen who have seen oser ten years sea
service, and who receiving but 800 per
glance at our naval captains will illustrate what the
history OF all naval service proves Paul Jones captured
the Scraps in one OF the most desperate and memorable
combats record at thirtytwo years of age Hull con-
quered the Guerrere at thrty-eght Decatur burnt the
Erie at twenty-eight and McDonough Lake Champain
at thirty one Stewart captured the Cyane and Levant
thirty nine and Bainbridgc the Java At thryone The
youngest victor twenty and the Oldest but thirty
nine and thirythree their average agess than that
rRe Naval Of oT Dsssd Pas and vv ! "a
country officers not only thoroughly EDUCATED for the du-
ties Of the service but whose character and ability would
adorn any profession. These the men who viii be
called upon, in the command Of fleets and ships not
only to contend with the ability and advancement Of Eu-
ropean navcs protectors OF the rights Of American
citizens and property in foreign and countriesa
knowledge Of the institutions government and CONNER
eia systems Of maritime powers and general acquaint-
and obligations under them, will be demanded Of them
They act sometimes as negoalors Of treaties
riors as Judges as pacihcators To fight his ship well is
essential but far from being the most important duty
OF an accomplished scamen and his countys interests and
honor depend fully as much upon his services in peace
in
Unlike the army which, peace serves but as station
AIRY nucleus for fuslre organization, gates the
eyes of government and penetrating every sea- and
wachful OF passing events the navy the
ger of our peace and Of our ability for
Such men, educated at the counrys expense should be
in
greatest usefunesand to attain this object your commit
recommends and provides for retired list per-
manent furlough list
just distinction should be made between the gallant
old seamanwhose soul is still in his profession whose
heart beats but for his country but who is disqualified by
long faithful and honorable service disease acquired in
the active discharge Of his duty-and the who has
uniformly and ngeniousy contrved his sea duties
and devoyed them upon others, who has succeeded by
political influence or other resorts to which his noble pro-
fession should be stranger in passing the best Of his
days upon shore-the man, in short who is unworthy
from his own course from original of merit To
meet this Distinction your committee has provided lists
varying in pay and privilege At this have sixty
eight captains, the youngest of whom is tyx years Of
age ninety Commanders seventyour Of whom are
between fifty and fty-fve and the youngest of whom is
fortysix three hundred aud twentyseyen leutenants
from thirty TO fifty hundred and ninety past
midshpmen from twentyone to hryseven years Of age
Your committee, after carefully examining the rates of
promotion in the several grades and de average age Of
officers find that under the present system euenants when
promoted to commanders will be fythree and command
ers when promoted to captains, sepenoa gears Of age
What a commentary upon our present system!
In referring to the grade of captain yo, committee de
sires to express its conviction that many of its members
never been surpassed by those naval service in
that combination Of character, talent and ability
which characterize the accomplished seaman
Your committee recommends, and has provided for
increase of the wages of the naval This measure
is absolutely necessary Great difficulty is experienced in
obtaining
This difficulty which has also embarrassed the British
navy has been to extent the result of the vast in
crease of coastwise and particularly California
trade and the consequent demand for sailors aargey-u
nfe
and chances of promotion TO the posts Of mates and
ters while the wages and condition Of the naval
remain unchanged Few sailors will ship for the navy at
twelve dollars per month, when any who splice
and steer get twenty-five in the merchant service
PROVISION is also made for asceraining and rewardng
merit by extra pay and medal and the Naval Academy,
and the highest honors of the profession held out to
the sailor boy whose character conduct and capacity may
entite him to the fostering hand of the government
Attempts frequently made, by polling the companies
our ships TO determine the proportion OF Amercan-born
naturalized citizens composing them and this proper
ton found to be less than onethrd the
from all the maritime nations Of the earth and all the
principal languages of Europe and the dialects of the
Sandwich Islanders and Malays are not uuirequenty heard
in ships.
unnecessary to upon the impoicy Of COM
mtting the honor of the flag such hands We OBJ
the best of by increasing the pay pro-
vded for in the BILL and by the maintenance of good dis
cipne
The latter measure Of the gravest consequence Since
the abolition of ogging the discipline Of the navy has be-
relaxed to alarming extent and the show
pretence of always maintained Insubordnate
and munou conduct and utter dsrspect to rank and
station Of everyday occurrence; and unless legislation
shall place in the hands of the officer corrective the
of the Bounty and the More may be reenacd In
our service.
The OF inficting any punishment on board
ships where every has his place and there place
for every man. necessarily very limited and those
corrections which resored TO by commanders
sometimes the novel, and often the most humiatng
| 10 n sailor.
Confinement is not to the idle and vicious punish
ment Proper attention to the offenders health requires
him have air and light and he is surrounded by his
shpmate and often by his sympahizers the busy hum Of
their voices reaches his conversation s induged IN
for his benefit and he learns daily all that his mssmates
knowhat Is all which is passing in their little world
aoat His tobacco and his meals regularly furnished
him his clothes washed and his wants attended 70 by
his shpmste and he regards his position rather as ~
umph than as punishment for he has deyolyed upon
others the duty which he determined to perform him
self
Our commanders lashng offenders by the wrists
cross-beams ashing them up in their hammocks pump
ing cold water upon them; buctingp and "bdggiRg
them and rcsorng TO many other novelties unknown TO
the heretofore but under any circumstances the prompt
performance Of the daily routine of duty as general
thing be enforced imprisonment or confinement OF
the extend TO many without materially impair
ing the ability of the ships company An increase Of the
pay and holding pay, certificates of conduct and
medals for merit win doubtless obtain better class
| OF seamcn-aud for these the bill provides
Your committee has provided for and recommends that
the sxtveight captains In service shall be divided into
the grades commodore and captain and that there be
| twenty oommodores
assistant purser grade is also created and is deem
very necessary Young familiar with accounts and