The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-22
The Pay and Rank of Officers OF the
Navy.

10 THE EDiIOh w TEb hhhALD
NEw YORK, March IA, 1860.
About three years ago Congress passed bill for
she o, the pay OF officers or tho United States
army. The necessity Of this bill acknowledged by
Ne whole country, 1t had long been felt, and the pas
sage Of the act hailed with pleasure by the grea,
jcriy of our people. Al the time II proposed
TO place the pay Of the officers Of the navy upon
equitable footing; but there suddenly appeared such
surmountable difficulties decide upon measure that
should be just it's application TO the different grades Of
oneers, That no action was taken upon the subject T.
will be remembered that the pay the officers OF the
navy that granted by Congress in 1885, with the excep
non OF that of the civil officers whose pay has
fully increased from time TO time up 10 ls4s In the
meantime great changes have taken place all the bus
nese relations OF life VIII the rapid progress OF
as nation; the value Of money relation the neces
stes OF life, in other words of bread clothing house
rent &c, 10 greatly deprecated. Hence the navy officer
has become gradually poorer and poorer.
the officers Of the navy have hitherto borne the chs
racter o. being "pcor aud proud the time to have
eome which demands attention TO their Mechanics
day aborere, clerks BARRIERS servants struck for
higher wages and received them. Members OF Congress
and employees Of government struck, sso, for higher
salary, and obtained il long ago The army kept pace
With the necessities OF the tnes the navy worked
asking for relief but found IT, No one has
eyer doubted the justice OF their demands But The
slant absence OF naval officers their country
away from ell political influences necessarily keeps their
wants from being properly represented and the orgsn
ration OF the nnvy profound mystery to nine tenths OF
proposed to pay the officers Of The navy salary
Ia. Weir necesslues aud having due regard to the
suited 70 the government, 10 make their pay the
rue interests oGcers Of The government. IS well
scae Of that OF otb. az smcny The different grades
90 upon scale Of equ,. '~te sa upon is to pay the
themselves The FIRST prDcp., lsvSies IS worthy OF
men who do the work. That "the old ID needs
ms hire" s maxim two thousand years Vs.
demonstration.
During session of Congress- senator Mallory 10
p uSap0sa s modifying the pay o. the navy upon his
rom being ex'avagant, and II honorable 10 Inc yov
sInmeni and Jus. TO those who sbored ,or 10 conse
NY the o did not pass and the 'poor and proui ns1
omSers struggled on keenly conscious that hey vouii
OF the army were more fortunate tn .rms
What, Mr.. Editor, Is the secre' - N'
~ ss, r v vac S ST10h CT ht new bill that
The characss- ne rroeeut Congress Why Is
one . enAnscd lor new onei ava wnn avs
- honorable and so just as i wssY happeMst TO us
ai all the generous and just features OK that bill are
charged BIAS there been selfish party interest ct work
20 destroy the very noblcst objects for which was
fsmedf We do not know, but We believe j.
Let us examine Of these features, and n doing
We may dcveiope, perhaps, some startling iacs which,
Ne trust win crush to the bottom the undue pre.s nson,
Of the political wrepulers who are trading IL right and
wrong - 80, ,
e that should the grade Of heuen
an constitute the military soul OF the service and
Leaders ins% snd crous ,ss ss,s rhse
advantages depend upon the smount OF sea service the
Hor n.ny Of thss grade OF ofBcere are half broken
down hy hard work. How many are these who have not
seen great amount Of servioe only because they
arr broken in health, by disease ard exposure their
early years Hence their pay never be on footing
WI ne civil officers che sesvcebc doctors And pur'
sra But e fcr Latter, there are no oorduoEs u zoe
propcsed bin proposes 20 give, under the heAd Of
odacssion Glass Of ooers "a increase OF pay 60
positive unoooditonal and 90 large, that they are SILL
= BE- = they are now pad employees G. the GOV
comment
O. Do mill AIRY reward and mi.tary eMoamsni eeorg 20
,tAry Then ia this biz unjust 20 he rsyy, aud
CID w-org upon the government 10 the nan who works
tohe V be rewarded, who does Eo men
the bill political manmuvre s1d TO. jost bill. Il
teaye the influence Of powerful ard secret organizs
Esn among that class Of civil ooers, srng Is 20 long
q. ass 70 put the who do the wor.-tte Leo tenants
o@elow them 10 pay 10 emouneut. 70 rank. and .r fne
n every phase OF military position. there be any rrie
application that is safe src sound q, 'hu 70 rrj.-y
AN -Yvice belongs military enoiumeni
An Let take for Illustration the ~ on. q or cope
copt var pcw On seryise abroad, ar y-Sfn haHr0t