The New York herald., 1870-06-13
RANK INJUSTICE.
The Proposed Reduction in the Pay Of Naval
ofacsrs-ons Hundred and Forty-six Thou
sand Dollars to Bs Taken on tho Pay Of
the Junior 0facsrs-A Curious Cir.
eular in the Washington Lobby.

'"e fo'e'~a"u expensive poicy-of Congress 10
Increase pay and emoiuments for purely clerical
labor 1t now appears from the action OF that body
that an arm OF the service which requires the CON-
bnation OF severe clerical, mental and physical
enorI-and the most efficient arm tools 10 su6er
large reduction IN compensation. Congressmen
do not reduce their own pay, cut down that OF the
Isolated Supreme Court. trouble thems about
economy elsewhere. Let us see, then, how much Of
reason tnefe is In this unwise, unjust movement
The sole incentive TO the proposition for the
REDUCTION OF NAVAL PAY
found existence In the brain OF some 'mlsrepre-
sentative" IN Congress from Alabama, who thought
10 make capital out or the movement II such was
his reason for inauguratng such a measure as that
proposed by the bill which was Introduced In the
hHss o ~ in MAY e sI e iSa ses Of q
the stability and soundness OF his judgment, are
TO be deprecated. The pay OF our officers Ii en-
trely too small as II now stands. No reduction
whatever In this item OF national expense IL capa.
BILE OF being made with common justice or decency
by the government National seli.respect demands
that the gallant men who bear our starry emblem in
sge MA sn d Ss ds na as IL &C o
equal with that OF other naves OF the civilized
world. Hence the necessity for those whom chance
has placed In position
IN CONGRESS,
looking further than self or sectional interest:
hence the absolute necessity for the Western and
the interest Of our commerce on the seas by incu.
eating that regard for the position whicn should be
inculcated In the minds and hearts OF our navy
officers
The only way to promote proper respect for the
government among those who wear the uniform Is
enable officers to support their shoulder straps
with commensurate dignity. Unless we support our
onlcers on the quarter deck In their responsible po-
sition We cannot expect TO retain the services OF
pert gentlemen in the navy. Their duties are Of a
nature which demand great sacrince, exposure and
general selfdenal. lhey are Gu, OF from home and
friends for years AZ time. and severed from much
| tnat tends to enhance the enjoyments OF fe. BY
| education, and blr.h in most Instances they are
| EIGHEsr STATION
In social fe bu these pleasures they forego in pur-
suit OF parioiia and manly profession. Why, then,
should those VINO vested WITH "A little brier au-
tholty seek TO further contract the slender means
| OF livelihood which The law has provided for them.
The effect OF the present mean measure OF rerenc,-
| nent ON the part OF Congress VIII be TO drive out
many OF our Splendid corps of naval officers and 10
| deter others nom entering the service.
The line officers are, OF course much exercised on
they are prevented nom giving open expression 10
their sentiments through defefence for the govern
inent tney nevertheless discuss the matter with
| much Ieeiing In their own imme hate circle the
'House bll.,' passed May 1s while II reduced the
pay OF ali olfcer5 from the rank OF admiral down 10
commander, inclusive did not interfere with that
OF lieutenant commander, lieutenant, master or en-
| Sign. THIS provision was made wisely In the inter-
est OF the junior grades, they being the most con-
stanuy employed and Their paw tue smallest 10
| is a well known fact that tine higher grade Of
onlcers are Kept on shore duty for several years,
While Lieutenant commanders and lIeutenants, Sc.,
| are at sea most OF their time doing the duties OF
their profession There are, for instance, lty cap
| tains, bui nine or whom are at sea at time. Oub
| OF $50 leuenans at least Ito duty tue
| entire time. The necessary
EXPENSES OF JUNIOR OFFICERS
are the same as those OF senior Officers and they
| have not been decreased since the war, owing TO
| the high price OF all materials. Junior officers
| mess together and the mess bill OF the ward
room rs as large, invariably, as the
better. Senior officers, beng captains of ships.
mess alone, and can therefore regulate their ex-
penses as they wish TO live There es many
oficers married IN the grade OF lieutenant COM
mander and below 1t as there are above tnat grade.
Hence III this respect also any bill which decreases
the pay OF junior officers and increases that OF
seniors inJnres as many families as IL heps.
Entertaining foreign officers and.returning acts OF
courtesy extended from shore is tue task OF the
wardroom officers, being the youngest and the bulk
OF the oihcers OF the ship. To do this In a manner
worthy OF ship representing our country abroad Is
| another source OF expense which Is usually borne
by them. The junior Officers claim that them the
snip owes It's discipline and efficiency; they stand
| the watches night and day, drill The men and nav
gate the ship. When serving as navigators exec
utiye officers they held pecunlarily responsible
for all the equipment, ordnance and navigating
stores OF the snip; and oy recent decisions OF the
siDe with the captain Tor the OF the ship hould
| such misfortune occur.
These latter statements are MADE In order to show
| the
MANIFEST INJUSTICE
| wnlch is contemplated IN the proposed Senate
| was reported by the Naval Committee OF the Seuate
| last week, ana which Will probably oe taken from
l
tion SnbJoihed Is - comparative table, showing the
rate OF pay IN the various naval grades under the
s per cen' ~ anaoh grahea ne navy a9out enr
Is, anu the rates ald down In the proposed Senate
| amendment TO the latter
IL Will be readily observed that the latest propos
ton or the ec0honists OF the Senate Naval Com
mittee is 70 reverse the order OF assessments as 10
impose the highest tax upon all below the grade uf
commander and TO Increase the pay CT ali Officers
from the rank OF captain upward.
The turning OF the tables aganstthe juniors and in
| hug ~
accomplished by such. statements
REPLECrlSd UPON WARD AND DIVISION OFFICERS
| as are contained In the following extracts from n
circular addressed by several senior oficers to san
alors aud congressmen at Washington within the
! past few weeks:-
desra 10 spp.a 10 you to gye your susnoa in bsb. O,
thu captains an OF The navy ranSng with 600.
oa s and ~ sran. Se M spo9es m M II he army IN The master Of
the new distribution ot pay nose two grades Of
wAcd they have reccvns while he ocers
a. great ari per cent hsT rsnd al hes are
fore reserved ana IN some cases have been Increased.
sas % fsn psg aso' 20 I4g
yeps Il Ss ssOIo e s , T @ nas be oyespsid q tss e.
as vas ass snsnc s Of aa END sssn Ten
scarcity OF regular oncers pu. positions Of
allowances Of !h'h ana onehird per 1855 70 de
sore came IN of he same acrssso A ba s .se (.
BE war hes. wU s besn aas 70 10 ss @
aas' q watch and avson and haze had
thirty per cant can, possiby show By comparison
the actual erpensss OF commanders and lieutenant con-
maniers while at ses the necessity or increasing pny OF
the seuor grades Of the and reducing
| Tue pay AT present Is as foilows:-
\ LieAenanl
| Commander. Commander.
| Per month. 1888 &ef0
| Mess bli ................................. 30 30
| Remainder. er............".... .........Sl93 x.sa
| Year.
| Commanders me IN service ......,.,... a7
Leuisnant commanders time Is
~
Lieutenant mmanderE
| Almost all the commanders M uaora
than onefourth OF the lieutenant iers are So
The captain from all the
entertainments to foreign officers hr eovsrr
ment furnishing nothing.
Lieutenant commanders live in q mc there
from ten TO twenty Ave ali divided
them ana they necessity called upon 10
,eIsln although they oecasionay DO 90 Another most