The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-31
THE RESULT OF ADMIRAL PORTER,s
LEFT-HANDED ECONOMY.
where tho Naval Junketer Finds the Msney
to Equip the Pleasure Yacht America

why the Navy cannot get Rccruits-Tbe
Secret Of the Numerous Deseriions.
1--WE were just having q bit Of Q growl," said
one or two sailors whom SUN reporter aecosted
down town yesterday The word Severn" In gilt
letters, was on the front Of his cap "wo were
growing about the way they're treating US lately In
the navy and We were talking about tho exposures
In TnK SUN"
You slludo to the structures on the mismanage-
ment Of the navy under the donkey Admiral Porter,
presume" :"
Exactly We were all right and satisfied before
PORTER BEGAN uPsErrrse THINGS.
He has changed all the old laws aud customs OF
the navy for the sake OF lew patry dollars and he
has done 1t In such way that every man Jack Of
us feels that he Is imposed upon. Ia one OF your
latest articles that you ask why II is so dicult
to obtain seamon for the navy. Shall I.tcl you''
81 will thank you"
"well, IN begin with nv own case am Ars,.
class fireman, as we we're al~ays called until lately
The regular pay to which we were entitled under
weles and all the rest Of EN- was $50 per month
wages and tt50 per month extra for grog money
When went to enlist the last time-about thirteen
months ago-Iwss obliged TO sign papers as " sea
man EXTRA" which was informed was the new title
for nrsteiass fireman, but did not and out lis full
Significance until later.
Formerly the work OF the 1rst and second. class
hremcu and OF the coal-heavers
LAT IN rnE ENGINE noor,
and we were subject to the orders Of tho engi.
neers only the officers OF the watch having nothing
to do with us. We understood our buslness there
and, when we enlisted fully expected TO be employ
ed at II, and II only; Under the new respls,ions.
engineers aud the coicers OF the watch whom ve
get through W the engine room We are liable to be
called on deck under contract seamen extra
or course, In our ignorance and ipeIpcrionce Of
seamens duties, they have to put Us at such work
requires no sk.il-hsuling ropes, lowering boats,
ladders with send, Furnishing brasscs, and all the
rest OF the dirty work, which 10 the oury OF the
would be compelled to do.
." This is enough 10 make dissatisfied IN MI con-
month was vas up we fouod ,Sa, there "s Was % Sa, sso
coming to us, Ordinary seamen's wages, instead Of
Ation not authorized by Congress- but put in force
Br PoRrRH's PRIVATE WILL,
which says that se.men extra shall receive sea.
mems WAGES, with 3.k cents per day added while
tho vessel is under steam only BY that arransp-
ment the highest nuuber Of days for which have
been paid the extra money In quarter has been N.
and the lowest IL II mas reached this last liuat
twice. You know tnat BY n recent order Unitea
States vessels are reQu.Iod to burn az little coal 40
possible, and to cruise abopt under sail whenever
there may be wind emo Hh 10 drive them along at
eSafe y WV '''' - ''' "'A''' "'
"No II you were not informed OF all these
things before you signed articles, II Is paipaoe i'm
.As God |, my judge. pkncw nothing OF It until
aGer the thing had beer done; But, hold on l
turn to the screw. We found after q while that we
were not getting
rHg PULL AMOUNT OF OUR DUES,
esuu,ing up all the days cur vessel was under steam
in the month, and complained az last to the pay
master. The only satisfaction we got from that gen
teman was that under his construction OF the order
We were entitled TO the thirty three and half cents
only when actually perfo rning duty In the engine
room. Then we knew why u was that they kept as
many OF Us OF the hrc brigade on deck Al seaman's
wages a. they could dispense with, and filled our
places With poor seamen who were not entitled to
me extra pay. don't like 70 say anything against
oion among the members Of the fre brigade OF the
navy that their paymasters charge the Government
for every man enlisted aud pocket the difference
Why. " poor fellow happens To tread on q red.hot
sice-bar or TO fall sick under The intense heat OF the
engine ROOM he Is locked for every day lie is q.
laid up
What ssgravstes the thing IS the knowledge tha,
made exceptions to this rule. They secured
DEN. BurLERs ISFLUEScs
somehow and he showed tthroagh for the m so that
they get their $50 no matter how they work. We
wsoden-ship men have flooded tine Navy Department
with petitions time and again, but no notice has
bean taken Of US. We cant understand why such 4
difference should be made between us. What have.
said OF first class hremen applies equally TO second
class hre men and coalea The first obliged
TO enlist rs Ordinary soInen extra Tor eItraordR
'landsmen.'"
"welI, you have told ne sa about the are brigade,
How are the seamen-tae sailors and landsmcs--
Affected by this new state Of thingsi"
Just exactly as We are, only in different way.
Is true that they paid all they eIpoctthe reg
ular amount-but those poor fellows who have L yrd
all their lives In the open air are obliged wtkOnt
warning to go below
AT THE CAPRISE az THEIR OFFICERS,
and drag and heave coal often In aunosphsga OF
is degrees. man NAY not be skilled enoagh to
run engine, but lie can slave till he dropl. And
have seen them drsp with their coal spades Atboir
hausted. man dpnt dare sar to his o1ioer, L
won't do it. He'd be Immediately court N aItalled
aud sent to Wethsrsheld, Connecticut 20. break
stones for three or four years.
4" tell you there's bad spirit auDcaG Nom.
Neither they nor We will do any more work than
can be helped Wsl do all that our onics rs tell u.s.
II it's TO polish every inch OF the vessels copper,
but wen do no more They must tsl US every
thing"
ucidy you have todit TO me, have no doubt that
IL will go far toward relieving you"
"Thank yoa, said Uncle Sans representative as
he shook hands heartily and was movipg away. He
added: THAT ID the reason why II 10 no difcult to
procure experienced seamen for tho navy, and why
so many OF them deserting ct every opportunity
Why sir, since the Severn went into commission no
less than
ndHrY MEN DESERTED. IRON uER,
and her captain is one OF the best and kindlies.
ofncers that ever trod a deck. Nen-ofw0r' men
would stand almost anything rather than have the
name OF deserters and they hate the merchant ser
vice as the devil does holy water but they are
driven nom the one to tie other In hundreds daily
BY the gross imposition which Is practised upon
SuS can't help ua. then nothing can, and we'll re.
sign ourselves 10 eur fate. But promise you, Il
things don't change, that when get out OF this, l
will never enlhta gain. Good bye !"