National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-05-09
ErFECr or rHE rOsrPoNEYENr.


ErFECr or THE pOSTPONEHENT.
The Army Omcers and Mon Not Alone seri-
ousiy Affected, but the Naval Service to be
Seriously Notwithstanding that
an Earlier Session will yet be Called Com
nents, SO. Upon tho Delay.
The pos.pouemcnt Of the extra session OF
Congress until October IS is likely to work n
greater Injustice than Is now anticipated, and II
Is not at al improbable that even yet an earlier
date may DO nxed upon. This postponcment will
result In serious Injury, not only to the army,
but to the officers and men Of the naval service,
depriving them for for an indefinite timo Of the
pay due them for the msnths Of April, May and
June Of tho present year, as we'll as all balances
earned and allowed to remain in tho possession
Of the Government previous to April /.
The Secretary OF the Navy has decided that
the appropriation for pay OF the navy, always
heretofore considered as continuous, sha II DO 90
ne longer, and that officers and men shall only
be paid from the appropriation for lST77s for ser.
vices rendered during that time.
Upon the Issuing OF the general order announc-
ing that the pay appropriation was exhausted,
officers OF the navy consolcd themselves with the
idea that II they we're obliged to humlliate them.
selves by running In debt for thcit support and
that OF their families for tho last three months Of
the fiscal year, the LIST Of July would terminate
their mortifying condition by making available
the moaey appropriated by Congress Tor the pay
Of the navy. But this decision OF tho Secretary
takes that dependence away, and n majority,
having nothing bat their pay to live upon, arc
utterly at a loss whore to turn. There are very
few officers In tho navy who will not DO sorely
embarrassed and distressed by this utterly un.
foresecn state OF affairs. The regulations for the
government Of the navy expressly prohibit and
condemn the incurrIng Of debt without the means
Of payment, but tho action of tho Government
leaves no alternative. Even IL Congress takes
the earliest possible action in the matter, six
months at least will capso before officers can OBJ.
saTs been usavoidsSiy Incurred Tor their SUP.
port.
Is three years, and those familiar with the char
acter and habits OF seamen know that however
happy and centsnted they may DO up TO tho ex-
plration OF their term OF enlistment, nothing 10 90
likely to oIcite discomfort and breaches OF discp
line as q failure to pay and discharge them
promptly whom their term of service has expired
Under the ruling the Secretary and in tho alb.
senee Of legislation, several hundred Of these
whose terms OF service will expire before Congress
can meet will have serious cause Of discomfort by
betsy deprived Of their wages earned during the
three years Of their enlistment, because. as lie al
legged, members Of Congress do not wish TO visit
Washington in summer or because tho new policy
has not yet gained strength BY age.
to obey orders, and cannot procure any, and II 10
understood that theoricrs Of officers selected to
port will DO suspended Tor this reason.
1t is not to be wondered at that officers should
regard such treatment as unprecedented, cruel
should fall to be satisfied with policy tho results
Of which will inevitably tend to lower tho tone Of
both army and navy.
to the navy, stlll tho hardship upon the army Of
neers and men arc equally severe, as has been
already set forth in these columns. Men Of
thought, soldiers OF experience say, that the
necessities OF our Government at the present time
under the existing circumstances OF war In Eu-
rope, demand that there shall be not only reg.
ularly paid, but properly disciplined army. The
theory OF making tho Individual interests, they
say, OF the army, officers and men, subservient to
public interests" is only endurable when tina
public Interests" really and vitality demand It.
Comments upon the postponement are still In or.
der, and many quietly accept the verdict Of fall
session. yet they no 20 only from m necessity be-
istration must have Its trial.
Despite the above, however, 1t is positively
stated by persons In authority that an earlier
call Of the extra session Is only possible in the
event Of m emergency. Just what would consti-
tute n sufficient emergency, however, for q
change OF time can scarcely BIO imagined. 1t
seems however, to DO n conceded fact among
politicians that should the war fever now agitat
Ing Europe result in declaration of war by
solutely necessary for some extra legislation look.
ing to the regulations OF our commerce. During
our late rebellion England profited largely BY
English, and in that way nearly our entire com.
merce was carried on under the flag Of Britain.
At present the statute law OF this country 10
such as to prohibit tho registration OF fsrelyn
ships as American. Should England become en-.
tangled In the Eastern conflict, which now seems
cutie probable, she would naturally take the
American nag In preference to any other. This
would result in great advantage to the United
States, but before registration can BIO grantedt the
law must be changed.
Secretary Eyarts admits that in the event OF
England's entrance into the Russo Turkish war
there might DO some excuse for calling the ses-
sion earlier. He says that although the Prosi.
dent has already Issued one proclamation he can
issue another whenever occasion requires It, call.
ing an EARLIER aeahOn.