Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-07-02
THE pRND1rG NAVAL BILL.


A Prominent Citizens Opfnion-Faets
az TO Omeers Brought Out and Dis-
cussed-The Bill I'm FulI-Equal.
axe the Pay More EquIEaBly.
For long time there has been much dis
over the pay received by staff and line Of
icers. Some years ago fine staff officers had
an increase in pay while the line officers did
not. This is the cause of it all. And many
believe-in fact, it is generally thought by
all who wish to see justice done in the matter
that line officers should have equal pay to
staff officers, if not greater. An old and
honored citizen, himself experienced and
much respected in naval affairs, said when
interviewed: tThere is a very great differ
ence between staff and line officers. The
staff officers are such officials of the navy as
surgeons, doctors, pursers, engineers, etc.,
while the line officers are the navy, the he-
roes who bear the heat and brunt of action,
the battered veterans of the rebellion. Most
of the staff officers are 1andsmen who have
slipped into the navy after the war by POI
litical influences; and it is just this influence
that got their increase of pay while the real
sailors were off at sea and couldn't speak for
themselves. Why, there are staff officers
now afoat who receive more pay than their
commanding officers, although of less rank,
and bear, of course, less responsibility. The
commandant of the navy yard at Washington
receives $500 less than some staff officers un-
der him. Tbs same is the case at Portsmouth,
N. H., and at League Island, Philadelphia.
The three medical officers on the examining
board at the navy department. receive 81 500
more than the three line officers who pass on
the professional qualification of the Office.
1.-THE line officers should have justice shown
them and pass their bill. +"
Below is given in full the bill now pending
before Congress. 1t has been read twice, re-.
ferred to the committee on naval affairs and
printed.
| A BILL TO EQUALIzE THE PAY OF CERTAIN Of
FIcERs OF THE NAVY.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of
| REPRESENTATIVES of the United States of
America in Congress assembled:
That certain commissioned officers on the
l active list of the navy of the United States
shall be entitled to receive annual pay at the
rate therein stated after their respective
1 designations.
Rear admirals, when serving on ship, seven
4 thousand five hundred dollars; on shore
I duty, five thousand five hundred dollars; on
| leave or waiting orders, four Thousand dol
lars.
Commodcres, when serving on boardship.
II
duty, five thousand dollars; on leave or
waiting orders, three thousand five hundred
dollars Captains, during the first FIVE years
after date of commission, when serving on
board ship, four thousand five hundred dol
lars; on shore duty, four thousand one hun
dred dollars; on leave or waiting orders, two
thousand eight hundred dollars; during the
period of the second five years after such
date, when serving on board ship, four thou-
sand seven hundred dollars; on shore duty
four thousand three hundred dollars; on leave
or waiting orders, two thousand nine hun
dred dollars; after ten years from such date,
when serving on board ship, four Thousand
nine hundred dollars; on shore duty, four
thousand Eve hundred dollars; on leave or
waiting orders, three thousand dollars.
Commanders, during the first FIVE years af-
ter the date of commission, when serving on
board ship, three thousand nine hundred dol
lars; on shore duty three thousand five hum
bred dollars; on leave or waiting orders, two
thousand four hundred dollars; during the
period of the second five years after such
| date, when serving on ship, four thousand
| one hundred dollars; on shore duty, three
| thousand seven hundred dollars; on leave or
| waiting orders, two thousand five hundred
| dollars; after ten years FROM such date, when
| serving on board ship, four thousand three
| hundred dollars; on shore duty, three thou
| sand nine hundred dollars on leave or wait
| ing orders, two thousand six hundred dollars.
| five years after date of commission, when
| serving on board ship, three thousand five
hundred dollars; on shore duty, three thous-
and one hundred dollars; on leave or waiting
orders, two thousand dollars; after five years
from such date, when serving on board ship,
| three Thousand two hundred dollars, on
shore duty, three thousand three hundred
dollars; on leave or waiting ordsrs, two
| thousand two hundred dollars.
Lieutenants, during the first FIVE years of
l the date of commission, when serving on
board chip, two thousand five hundred dol
| lars; on shore duty, two thousand dollars; on
1 leave waiting orders, one thousand six
hundred dollars; during the period of the
l second five years after such date, when sery-
| ing on board ship, two thousand two hun
| bred dollars; on shore duty, two thousand
| four hundred dollars; on leave or waiting or
| ders, one thousand eight hundred dollars;
| after ten years from such date, when serving
on board ship, two thousand nine hundred
| dollars; on shore duty, two thousand six
/ hundred dollars; on leave or waiting orders,
one thousand nine hundred dollars.
Lieatenants, junf9r grades, when serving
| on board ship, two Thousand three hundred;
| on shore duty, two thousand dollars; on leave
| or waiting orders, fourteen hundred dollars.
Ensigns, during the first five years after
date of commission, when serving on
board ship, seventeen hundred dollars; on
| shore duty, fourteen hundred dollars; on
/ leave or waiting orders, one thousand dol
| lars; after five years from such date, when
serving on board ship, nineteen hundred dol
lars; on shore duty, sixteen hundred dollars;
on leave or waiting orders, twelve hundred
dollars. Provided, That where any one of the
above named officers shall be on leave grant,
| ed by the Secretary of the Navy, at his own
request, for q period greater than three
1 months he shall receiYe one-half the sea pay
| of his grade; and provided, that when anyone
of the above named officers shall be on sick
leave granted by the Secretary of the Navy,
in accordance with the recommendation of a
board of officers, by reason of sickness OF
| wounds incurred in the line of duty, he shall
| then receive the shore pay of his grade.