The Lake Charles echo., 1894-06-08
.IOWITISINTHENAVY
POSITION AND REMUNERATION OF
THE ENLISTED MEN.

the service-Herc Skilled Labor Finds
Steady Employment with Sure Fay. |
Seaman Class Worst raid.
Although the geamen and even the |
petty officers of the United States navy
are largely of foreign birth, there never
was a time when places in tho navy be-
low the rank of commissioned officers
were so attractive to native Americans.
As the old wooden ships and the old
fashioned steam propelled ships give
place to modern marine machines tho
navy becomes more and moro suited to
the tastes of capable Americans.
Since the Kearsarge laid her bones
upon RoncadUr there are left in really
active service only 10 wooden ships,
though there are 10 others used as re-
eciy.ng ships aud as scholarships Of ono
sort or another. All the sailing ships
that eygr move from place to place are
the training ships and scholarships, The
navy has long beciI made up chiefly Of
| steam propelled vessels, and it will be
only few years before the Whole ac-
tive list will be compOGed Of iron or
steel steamships.
This gradual change in the navy has
| wrought a marked change in the per
sonucl Of the petty officers and the en-
listed men, as in the conditions under
which they work. Captain Codmaus
mournful cry that there arc no more
sailors is as true Of the navy as Of the
merchant service. The navy still ships
soamen at wages ranging frQl7 $40 to
&24 peg month, but it also ships a host
Of artifcers, mechanics, dremen and
whatuot at wages foIpotimes exceeding
$40 per month.
The new navy as it grows will need
an increasing number Of men in these
special classes. There arc nearly as many
new vessels building Rs there are weed
en- ships pow On the active llst, ana e5-
cry new iron steam propelled monster
that is added to the navy creates Rn IN;
eraagpd demand for thG skilled aud high
paid classes Of enlisted meu Already
t there are some scores Of maohinists al
$40 per month, boiler makers at $50,
blacksmiths at $50, plumbers at $45,
water tenders, oilers, fremen and print
ers at fFQt4 sB9 20 B49 pen Ilgnlti4 70 sag
nothing pf poppersnlths, shlpWrlghh
and coal passeFs AZ wages varying non
$50 per month down 70 F2g,
The seaman class, the worst paid 0
] all in its lower branches, is very wei
paid in the higher ranks. The lad tina
n enters AZ n third GLASS apprentice ~ v
per month may Feaspnably hope 70 be
IN come ehiG8 masteF at arms at S6h pc
month The lad with gift f0F mus
. may easily find himself transferred
the special class that includes musi
clans. writer's aud ap0thecaries, an
= here the wages vary from $lS TO 70
pea pappEh:
There Is q special provision Of law
encourage good men to remain long !
the service. This ordinary term et o.
= listlneRt is three years, aIld by this pre-
vision any honorably discharged ma
e who re-enltsts within thaee montt
from the date of his discharge return
to the navy with his pay raised 81 p
month The extra aollaT IA Raded
~ each Teze1listment, and there glaF eaS
ly be half dozen Fesenlistmegts, ~ 4
hat matter dozen. u means that
? good man who sticks TO the service i
nS lite gets a three months vacation eYel
~ three years, followed by an increase
pay, ...-.-.-..,., ,.,
1t usually happens tllat the maR %l
thus eDlists aud rerenlists has reacA'
ses ses tho grade Of petty officer ut his third
fourth enlistment, and after that 2
larger pay of his new place increas
regnIariy 81 per month every thR
years, should he choose to continue
- the segyiae. FhoEa ore ether small 2
ouisites Of one kRd eg anotheg q
swell tho earnings of the sailor u
sticks 10 tho navy, and there awaits D.
in old age o safe retreat ashore with
companions.
IL is true that mechanics ip tho pa
receive pOminally sRalleT wages ~
men Of their trades ashore, but they
subject 70 none of the Uncertainties
III business. The navy gees rigRg on
~ times of panic, and there Is no doekl
foF illness. Employment andl pay
T., secure fog the rest pf 4 man y days, 4
w. promotion is almost YlfhlA Rls 2
control
FER ghe aristoeFaHo Organization q
navy doubtless has kept many self
specting native Americans from eni
ine. bllt the service IL vastly ~
y" democratic la practice than ~ thee
Trpe no enlisted man may hope 20
- come a commissioned oiileer, pnt
enlisted man of tried 9bilty ana klllG
, pood eolldnef alwags eaJils Flla FesI
/. and fhe consideration of bis superb
Tic brutal officer NJ the deck y ain
Unknown ID tho gpitad States glaFy,
fhe self Tespeeting enlisted man y
u dom made % feel that any one le
down upon him.
His food IL wholesome, cieea
abundant, aud tie officer Of the
) for ,apst taste ID before il is served 70
lnen a. any meal. HIS quarters are
tor asad better as the navy improves,
IN Bgiyilegaa ~ the well ordeEeg
"a mayl arc many aud agreeable ghe
Dai aepaltnent holds oct as ~ tndueep
" nan that thillk ~ eulistipg the :
pect " seeding foreign parts /"
"a tbrougl q porthole, = was the pa
N gack Tors cynical comment when
eruiting poster paet his eye ashore.
But the aealaan Whose OWL eea'
; DOES ~ qagiail bic tlibeFtF9 lnal
" foreign paEts q ap enlisted iaall
satisfaatory aud Instructive fest
Thero aTe SCOPES d enlisted mall
.esisq ssls sge Fhoroaghly trpstea ashore q
mos staid innates of the wptdro9il
Inalss repute d this regard y Aoi
" aere eaanee but y matteF 0f cal
! W raeord. Tsa nlall WHO can maEe y
LOB iaa e endure 81. .,l.l gith psls4ss q sss sb5
J, in saa5aile, i6teSeEting alld Rfoatsp
Nqw York sui