The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-25
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, JANUARY rs, 1859.

We regret to perceive what appears 10 be a dis
position on the part of Congress TO procrastnate,
If not to evade altogether, consideration of the
just claims Of the officers of our navy to an in
crease of pay. During the last session Mr. BocoCK,
from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a
bill to the House which, if it had become a law
would have added twenty-five per cent to the
present pay of all commissioned officers above the
grade of lieutenant, and two per cent per
annum TO the pay OF the latter from the
date of the commission. The necessity of
meeting by an increase of pay the advance in the
price of living, and of approximatng the compen-
sation of naval officers to that of officers of the
army holding the same relative rank, ought at
once to have been recognised by Congress; but it
was not. The report suffered to lay over from
day to day, and was finally consigned to that
limbo which forms the receptacle for unfinished
business, and into which so many really
important bills are ANONYMOUSLY huddled
at the close of each session. As a COM
mercial people we have every reason to
be proud of our Navy, from the numerous gal
liant exploits by which its history has been illus
traed; and it is not less our duty than our inte-
rest to cherish this branch of the service by
adopting such measures as will enable those who
hold commissions in it, to support the dignity of
their rank in manner worthy of themselves and
OF the nation they represent Upon the efficiency
of the Navy depends, NOT only the protection of
our coasts in the event of a war, but the vindca-
ton of our claims to respect on the high seas and
in foreign ports. Our officers are proud and
high-spirited race of men, and are, for the most
part, eminently qualified in every respect to MAIN
tain the honor of the national flag. But how
long can expect them to be so, if Congress |
actuated by that false spirit of economy which
saves at the spgot whilst it wastes at the bung-
hole, refuses to them increased rate of pay in
some respects commensurate with the increased |
price of all articles of food and clothing? Even
Mr.. BocoCKs bill, of the last session, would not
have adequately met this difference; though we
have doubt that those in whose be-
half it was drawn up would have been
satisfied with its provisions; for our naval
officers are not sordd men, and have far more re-
gard for the honor Of the service to which they
belong, than for the accumulation of wealth. If
their rate of pay sufficient to enable them to
support their rank, and to provide for their families
in becoming manner it is all they would ask or
DESIRE and this should certainly be accorded to them
as simple act of justice. They have, moreover,
the greater reason for feeling sighted by Congress,
rom the fact that the claims of army officers to in
crease of pay have long since been recognised.
The disparity which now exists between the paw |
OF officers occupying the same relative rank in the
two branches of the service, has frequently been
made the subject of remark Throwing out of the |
question the pay of a Lieutenant General, as an |
honorary grade which cannot be regarded as per-
manently established, and commencing with the
grade of Major General as parallel in rank to a
Commodore, the following comparisons are re-
markedly suggestive.