The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-29

considering the fact that II costs but tribe 10 support
only fifty majors and ninety captains mot 10 mention
siorckeepers and first lieuenansl in reasonable extra
vngance we suggest that the corps be kept orimfu
ana that these sashing warriors be congregated ut all
the really desirable posts in the army Then II the
sick conld only be transported 10 their hands regard
less o. snsea 70 on ore than
comfortable living among he surrounding citizens.
Besides, opportunity would be presented to display
their exalted rank on all snecure details. But,
Who are these. in bright array.
This oNultant, happy throngi
THE PAY DEPARTMENT
We next find ourselves confronted by solid phaanx
OF three colonies and nifty steeclad majors, artlstcay
grouped in what is styled the Pay Department Night
ana ay these patriotic chiefs OF great rank and little
apparent merit battle for the most comfortable loca
ties. AS many as four or i've have been known TO
suffer for freedom within the limits OF good sized
village, contentedly drawing all possible COM
mutations, so much so that IL becomes a
matter Of grave doubt whether their dsburse
Screnely depositng all funds with the expressman,
these typical knights yalianty Issue forth in two
months and attended by such armed escort as their
precious lives require peacefully waited at the
public expense "oyer the hills and far away" 10 their
respective fields of labor Just what these veterans do
thaucould not be efficiently accomplished by the
quarermaster's somc other department with nothing
special 10 busy itself about is beyond conception. IL
there must be paymascrs and they must all be jors
why allow them TO ventilate their rank somewhere
within thousand miles or OF their duties. II they
have any beyond the settlement Of respective pay
accountsg Is there any popularity about ordinary gar
rsons to endanger the lives OF these double breasted
tun0iy II not wouldn't II he saving ia the way or
only be prevailed TO occupy government quarters
say during the most pleasant months Of the years
ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.
We approach the Ordnance Department with con5id-
cradle respect Doubtless its brigadicr general, three
coonels Jour lieutenant colones ten majors, twenty
captains and sixteen first euenants all reasonably
well educated, cstimable men, calculated 10 do much
good by way OF improving guns, proiectiles &c H. is
well known, however, that from time immemOrial the
most important inventions Ia this direction have origin
atcd with civilians and master mechanics in armor
les 800 many hands spoil the BROTH is exceedingly
pat just here For third time that rrepressblc class
called storekcepcrs hgurcs--eleven In number-in this
department These peculiar staG appcndages as
rule with admirable compacency dwell in such charm
ing localities Pikesvile Arsenal, long since de-
serted rancho apparently retained for this special pur
pose.
II high time that Congress provided storekcepers
for regiments thereby giving captains OF the line the
privilege of drawing their pay in quiet undisturbed by
petty responsibilities
RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT.
At last we don our hats TO that group Of venerable
spinstcrs called chaplans These supcrannuated but
martial spirits evidently created captains IA de-
gree OF cxataon to which the Saviour never seems TO
have nspired) for some noble end.
We fear that this end will scarcely be reached in
Boston Harbor Fortress Monroe, any other
lent port where from any TO 1--WE hundred brethren OF
various creeds constantly officiating within sound
of the drum. Since this class OF warriors enter tho
service so late in life, suggest a matter OF
omy that they be assigned Immediately upon appoin
ment 10 the retired list, thereby saving all travelling
expenses TAX
THE HERALD's POSITION cRITIcIsEp-wHAT THE
NAVAL STAFF DEMAND.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Your editorial discussion of Rank in the Navy" OF
the date March % disposes OF vcxed question in a
few words, and such, no doubt most men who ham
die the subject amateur would Your frank ad-
mission Of its being only the version ''as under
stand the quarrel permits one who is vitality inter-
ested TO set you right certain points without ndis
erection.
Frst-Rank does not entail command originate
embarrassment when accorded TO the staff in proof OF
which cite the Army Regulations, which declare:-
An officer having orders competent authority
alone.
Also, the smooth working in the army OF such o
system as the naval stat desires vouched for by the
following words OF the General OF the Army written
concerning this very matter in 1870
In the army staff officers have actual rank They
majors. captains, &c which fixes their pay allowance
article Of war clearly establishes who is to command
In all other respects the stan officers have the full advan
to work well in practice.
Similar rules would, fancy, always obviate the
dilemmas you instance. Another defective tenet is
that, while grades admitted TO be essential IN the
different branches OF the service, they SHOULD have
connection" OF, more precisely, correlation. To
put this theory into would at reveal facy
and the contrary practice OF every service IN the world
! is ample proof Of the indispensablcness of CO.
ordination The navy is already too complex to be
administered by any class OF officers, and becom
ing more so every year and while u must continue to
include the many who have most important duties
and while the military principle OF recognizing and
warding length Of service obtains II, remedy
will not apply.
! have said this much TO disabuse your mind OF the
idea that 1.-The pretensions OF the staff" without
parallel "absurd," but should hardly have felt
called for had your editorial been quickly fol-
lowed by the remarkable production OF "Paul Jones
But for its insolent abusvoness and-to use a mid
term-heterophemy 1t would be very suggestive of a
| chapter OF Mnrryatt, and really cannot be answered
without derogatlon
The only thought aroused by Is that such logicans
never carry their syllogisms ultimate
and that II might prove cheaper TO dispense with phe
| line" which 'is the navy" and ''supcrntends''-
God help usl-''thc construction of ships, guns and
steam machinery" than with the adjunct" siaG
ship does not differ radically IRON any other
steamer, except in her guns; and 1t might be
better instead Of pausng at tho Of Marrya con
tinuc back to that Of Raleigh Monk and sandwich and
let arterymcn from the army plan and fight the bat
ties while sailor obtained 'on the
system" from the merchant marine, found noe
essary when II desired TO use fast mail steamers
rams against the rebel iron-olad Merrmac
DECENCY.