The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-29
Abolish the Marine Corps.

Abolish the Marine Corps.
Following in the footsteps Of Gen. SHEER
MAN and Gen. SHERIDAN. the Colonel Of the
Marine Corps. who draws in pay alone
$3.50 year. and Is provided with quarters,
fuel light. forage. and other material bcnc-
fits. comes to the front and modestly recon-
mcnds that his ornamental command be- in
creased 10 the extent uf one-sixth OF the
present force. and that the Marine Band.
which CARTER HARRISON made famous. bo
paid, uniformed. fed, ana glorilicd as q na-
tional institution.
lie points with pride after the fashion Of
the party platforms, to the appearance OF
the guard of marines az Paris They were
detailed for exhibition there for the want Of
anything to do at home, aud to add to the
consequence of MCCoRA1CK, the self-adVer-
tised Commissioner, who has just got him
sell decorated with French ribbon, besides
driving a good business a. the exclusive
manager of the large fund appropriated by
Congress.
II costs a million or more year 20 keep
up the Marine Corps. This corps is "A sort
of fifth wheel to the military coach, and a
croes between the army and the navy. in
senators. Representatives, and pablo of
ilcials who are too lazy to work for their
bread, and many of whom have been dis
cardcd at West Point or Annapolis from ina
hiity to pass am examination. without the
least claim to utility, this bastard imitation
OF foreign display has been imposed ON the
Treasury until 1t has cost tens If millions,
and has become a standing nuisance IN the
eyes of the people.
Look at the pay which these cpaulctiod
memberships draw: The Colonel Comman-
dant. 5.5oO; the Colonel. 81 500: Lieutenant
Colonel, $1,000; Major, stan. and line s25oo;
Captain and Assistant Quartcrnaster,
s2,Oo0; Captain. sl.sn; First Lieutenant
and Aide-dc-Camp, Sl,7jo; First Lieutenant,
$500, and Second Lieutenant. Sl,4oo. All
officers below the rank of Brigadcr-Cicncral
are entitled to ten per cent IN addition 10
their regular yearly pay, for each and every
period of five years service. provided the
total amount of such increase shall not eX-
coed forty per cent Of their current
yearly pay Officers ON the retired list are
entitled To scventy-lve per cent. OF the pay
salary and increase Of their rank.
The interiors fare equally well, as will bc
seen 10y the pay roll. The Sergeant Major
gets from S23 to $50 a month, according to
term Of service; Quartermaster Sergeant
from s23 to $50; Drum Major from S22 to 500; ;
First Sergeant from s22 to 500 Sergeant
from sl7 to s2l; Corporal from SIS to SO;
drummers and lifcrs from sl3 to s26; pri-
Yates from SO to 500: leader Of the band
from so to Ssi; musician first class, from
s3s To S4}; musician, second class. from S24
to $50; musician, third class, from s2l to
S2G. All enlisted men, except musicians Of
the band, serving on a first period of five
years service. are entitled to one dollar per
month for the third year; two dollars per
month for the fourth year, aud three dol
lars per month for the NTH years service
! in addition 10 the pay OF original enlistment.
This corps is principally employed on
| board ships Of war for coremoniOus recep-
| lions, while at Washington the officers fur
| nish a portion Of the stock dancers in So
! cioty Tho band. which Col. McCAwLEY de-
/ scrihc- as national, Is utilized at the White
/ House for the secretaries and for shoddy
/ prctenler- who think the uniform gives
! their balls and jams an official air. When
| ANDREW JOHNSON visited Washington after
! his last election to the Senate, a sercnade
! was proposed by his personal and political
! friends. SECoR RoBEsON was then Secre-
/ tary OF the Navy, and, although Mr.. john
sos had been President OF the United States,
| he rudely refused a request for the Ma
! rine Band to make him cheap compliment,
| though he gave an order few nights after
| for the same band TO furnish dancing music
/ Tor mixed crowd at Boss SHEPHERD S
| house.
The Marine Corps and the Marine Band
are luxurics which cost too much for these
hard times. Both are designed for the
court Of some despotc sovereign, who
creates dukes and counts to order, and
would bo delighted with the red coats
Of This band, and the martial bearing Of the
amphibipus corps, though he might demur
TO their salaries. Abolish both Corps and
Band, and the budget will be relieved Of at
least million every year.