The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-19
TELL 1T TO THE MARINES.
AN ADMINISTRATION ORGAN OUT OF
TUNE.


AN ADMINISTRATION ORGAN OUT OF
TUNE.
THE WASHINGTON CHRONICLE MAKES AN
ATTACK UPON THE MARINE CoRPs-GRAVE
CHARGES AGAINST THE oUARTERsIAsrRR
OF THE CORPS AND OTHERS IN OFFICIAL
POSITION.
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Times telegraphs yesterdays issue
of that paper that the Washington Chroni-
Gle under its new management, is not so
loyal an organ as when it was owned by ex-
Senator Harlan. 1t will tomorrow publish
lengthy article exposing the most fragrant
frauds in the marine corps. Upon the show
ing made the next congress can do no less than
abolish the entire corps. The following is the
substance of The Chronicles article: "Tell
that TO the marines" is an expression so fire.
quently heard that the general public has
become in a measure reconciled to the be
lief that the persons comprising the organ
ization known as the United States marine
corps are harmless and iDoffensive LOT of
beings, who only ask to be let alone. II *
more than probable that this erroneous
idea is accountable for the fact that the
corps Is still in existence, for undoubtedly had
its power for working mischief, or the cOrrup-
tons OF the officers, been more pStent to the
outside world, it would have been wiped cut
long ago, and its destruction would have
marked the demise of an excrescence which
has cost the government tho annual fsum of
81 1000 600 to support. 70 fully appreciate the
importance of the above remark, it is neees-
sary to refer TO the fact that the marine
corps is differed in a large degree with
- bilged " midsbipmen and fur
ried" West Point cadets-that is,
men who were pronounced incompe-
tent for the position OF commissioned Off
Ger in the army or navy. An examination
OF the naval register Will substantiste the
charge; for in the list OF officers of the ma
rines are found the names of several of the
ilk referred to. There is also another class
which is composed of material equally as
poor; those who have been forced into the
position of lieutenant through family infiu-
ence, and who ifthrown upon their own re-
sources. would speedily fetch up in
poor-house or an asylum; for,
as a gentleman remarked at An
apolis, recently, If the navy is not a
refuge for imbeciles, as the good orator of
the day stated it was, the marine corps GER
taiDly is. What in the world marine off,
Ger is created for, excepting TO draw his pay,
is something that 10 one familiar with this
branch of the service is able TO answer. The
Army and Navy Journal has repeatedly al
lowed the officers access TO its columns, 10
defend the institution, but che most fertile
writer or thinker of all the hosts who have
ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THINGS,
has studiously RETAINED from trying 10
show what good marine officer is. 1t is a
notorious fact that, on shipbosrd, marine
officer is practically a nonentity. On the
largest class of vessels, those which carry a
captain or one or more marine ieutensn's,
the ordinary sergeant is more often in direct
communication with the commander of the
ship than his superiors, and the most these
tinseled fgureheads can do is
to transmit an order, which has
originally been given to them, to the man
WI 0 nuh m raalifu IN no in md Of
the guard. On board of vessels which do
not rate guard that warrants the foisting
of two or three commissioned marines upon
the ward room officers of the vessel, even
the pretense of haying anything to do is
dispensed with, and the lieutenant in COM
msnd OF the guard. after seeing himself ig
nored few times, finally falls back on his
dignity, allows his orderly to do all the
work, or make out all of the papers,
and contents himself in drawing
h,s pay front tS,g ba naturally o., Dc
uses to which a marine is put are so linn
ited-in fact do not exist at ala very small
number of commissioned officers, on large
salary, would be required TO manage the
corps. The law at present provides for
exceed 1900 For this number there are
brigadier-general and commandant, i've
general staff officers, with the rank of majors
and captains, one colonel aud two lieuten-
ant-col0n6ls, four majors, thirty captains
thirty FIRST and thirty second lieutenants,
making grand total of 90 officers, TO take
care of ]. 500 men. For a regimena of in
tantry having 1000 men there are 81 officers,
and none OF them above the rank Of colonel.
The IS officers of the marine corps receive
pay TO the amount of nearly 5000 GOO snnu-
ally-a sum almost as large is disbursed
to the entire corps Of enlisted men. But
there would be no special occasion for fault
finding with either the number of officers
or the amount OF salary paiG to them If there
was the slightest reason for their occupying
the post on that they do. II IL is a fact, as
can be proved, that both az sea and on shore
the officers held merely nominal commands,
subordinate to the naval authorities. there
is nothing to prevent the latter from taking
entire charge Of che marines, aud
thus saving the large sum need
ed for marine officers salaries.
FRAUDS IN CLOTHING.
For several years past there has been
complaint that the quality of clothing fur.
nished to enlisted men of the marine corps
was far inferior to samples upon which bids
were made by contractors. The complaints
of the men and their commanding officers
availed nothing, for the quartermaster would
entirely overlook anything excepting the
action of a board of survey, and, out
of courtesy TO him, such board was
never held, except for the purpose of
condemning damaged goods. What is
true OF the quality is also trae OF the
cutting and making up. of the goods.