The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-25
Tho Navy.

NAVAL OPpIcERs PETIrIoNIEa CONaRxss TO IN
CREASE TIEIR PAY
Tho following memorial was submitted to Congress
fow days snce:-
rAuvEs or rHE UNnxp STATES CONGRESS ASSEMBLED
The memorial OF the undersigned officers Of tho navy,
respectfully Representa- that tho pay Of your mcmoras
rency Of the country gold silver That ut
that tmo IL not moro than sufficient to meet their
nscesay sxpsnss q. and lett them Without inc prospect
period tho cost or tho necessacs OF rc has than
doubled in many instances That this increase Of cost
pondInr fncrease ofeaiares while your monnoriasts
Compelled BY tho discipline Of tho navy preserve tho
ia many instances to incur debts and 70 suer family
prtvations which they have endeavorcd 10 conceal from
the pubic during the rebeon with tho hope that after
It's suppression, othor tho cost or tho nsoeacs of life
would bc reduced 70 its former amount that Congress
oud thcIr sosso Of Justice make such add'son 70
ance before ther follow csens and the Representatives
OF foreign countries, when abroad which universal son
Your Hcmorisss therefore. appeal 70 your honorable
bodcs make such addition 10 their pay az will onabc
them without concealed suheringA TO maintain tho ap.
pcarance Of officers which defcrenco 70 public sentiment
requires
x copy Of tho following document has boon sent TO
each member of Congress- uv
9m-At q largo meeting OF the officers of tho navy,
convened to memorializo Congress for Increase Of
their pay, the undersigned wore appointed COMMITTEES
10 convey information and unanirny Of action
no subject Of Tho memorial
Tho officers Of the navy approach Congress at this time
with great reluctance but Tho absolute necessity Of
addition their present compcs them to appeal TO
tho Justice libcraly OF ther countrymen TO enable
them to avoid the increase OF debt and tho prva0us
and suffering " entails
II mus, be wen known to ALL by actual experiences,
that within tho tho Of the
Of NE has more than doubled this has borno with peou
liar hardship upon the naval officer whose pay, Gxcd by
law without regard 10 tho value OF tho currency in which
s paid will not now procure bali the necossares WAS
tntonded 10 supply.
Tho pay OF has been increased and the in
como Of others Of fellow citixens has been aug
nlcuted 10 moot tho advance Of rces The borcr and
tho mechanic havehad thor wages moro than doubled
the merchant hs advanced the prico OF his goods The
professional that OF his services the landlord his
rens and the hotel and boarding house keepers their
charges but the naval officer has resource but his
couniymcns sense Of justice TO sustain him IN tho 70.
lsntess conflict OF salary and prices
In 1900 whom there was no income tax and tho prices
Of the OF life based upon tho standard
OF specie Congress- passed. law regulating thc pay OF
tho navy That pay, thus regulated, cvcn thcn only
sufficient for necessary expenses, and lc no provision
tor s tho oonS and ces had
begun rise Congress passed. another law reducing the
pay OF nearly every grade in the navy, and dcductng
from that reduced pay tar or throe per cont, soon
increased 10 Ave and in addition extra tar
Of Eve per cent pay which was already spent BE-
highly unfavorabls TO ofccrs for tho amount paid by
civilians for house rent Is 0xomped from tax, who for
officers there Is no such exemption
The condition OF naval Of officer IL peculiar: at home
he h expected maintain among his countrymen the
social standing which their mission has conferred
upon him. abroad he Is regarded as representative OF
his countrymen and people demand that no shall at
any cost MAINTAIN such position that thoy shall not DO
estimated than thor exalted place among the
nations OF tho earth He s tho recipient Of public and
private civilt,cs accorded to him officer Of the
United States and the honor and dignity OF his county
require Of him recipSocaton OF those civilitica The
great majority Of compelled TO leave half our pay
hone allotted FOR the support Of families and we
feel that u needs no argument 70 convince any one that
with present pay IL hopclcssly impossible TO main
tain the position required OF us by public sentiment,
without INJECTING upon families and ourselves the
most painful privations
We have during the rebellion endured In silence. and
with efforts at conccament, all sacrifices, we were
sustained by the fond hope that the return Of peace would
restore the former standard Of prices but thai hope
destroyed now respectfully ask of an increase OF
such equal per cntge tho pay 81 each corps of the
navy, will from cgtaai.sins debt and IN
slpportablc distress
we are sure tina. our couutrymcn appreciate the
we claim 10 have done nothing than our duty, wa
may with plronable PRIDE point 10 tho deeds Di Faa
gut, Dupont Fooie Porter and many Others 81 inferior
rank Illustrative OF the general character OF The ser
viccits LOYALTY and patriotam lees than s yalof
IL Is true that number Of officers have received
siderable Of prize money. but the vast majority of
US have received none nj ALL or very small amonnis
In these circumstances we have been compelled 10 70
the only mode vt relief which appears TO be open
to that Of memorial for who our brethren OF the
army have been numerously and coquenty represented
IN Congress- representative OF the navy has had
place N their halls TO plead for us Believing noycrhe
less, that reliance will DO found IN the justice
and libcray OF Congress we confidently submit our
TO the consideration Of that august body and 70
spcctfuIly solicit for also your Individual support aud
influence
We have the honor TO b. worry respectfully your obo
dent servants,
A. n kitty, Captain and Chairman,
l. w0RDEN Captain,
Q X BARRY Paymastcr
X IT NICVOIE Commander.