The sun., 1894-05-13
OUR AMERICAY BLUEJA CKETS.
Suggestions for Bettering Their Condition
aud Securing Promotion for Them


WASHINGTON. May 12.-It would be q mistake.
while SO much attention 10 given to Increasing
promo otions among the commissioned officers
Of the navy. II something were not simultane-
ously done toward improving the condition OF
the enlisted men. There are now two meas
ures under nsideration for this purpose. one
OF them being the regular Appropriation Dill,
which has q provision for facilitating natural
ization among the blueiackets. and the other
separate and very elaborate measure. INCLUDE
ing many subjects. which has been drawn up
By Mr.. Meyer.
In this latter measure 1t Ia provided that the
various laws for continuous service. retire.
ment and naturalization which now apply to
the enlisted men OF the army shall be extend-
ed to the navy. This proposition alone would
create sweeping changes Tho provision In
the regular Appropriation bill Is confined TO
naturalization. 1t provides that any adult
alien who has served five consecutive years ID
the navy, or one term OF enlistment In the ma
rine corps. shall. upon honorable discharge.
be admitted as a citizen OF the United states.
upon his petition. without previous declara-
ton. provided the court shall have proof oil his
good moral character. length OF service. and
honorable discharge. This provision is likely
to become law. as It certainly ought to be.
since It simply gives to the sailor what Is given
now to the soldier.
But Mr. Meyers proposed bill goes further.
and adds the army privileges OF longevity pay
and OF being put on retired list with pay az
the end OF thirty years Of service. These two
provisions would call for an increase OF ex-
penses. which may render their enactment at
the present session Q matter OF some doubt
In the army private In the line receives sl3
a month for each OF the first two years. sl4 for
the third. Sl5 for the fourth, and slo for the
ffth year. although retentions OF Day are such
as to make the current receipts not above sl3.
During his first re6nlistment he gets So
month extra. making SlS a month through the
whole period. OF which but 81 month Is re-
tanned to his credit In the navy. reenlistments.
under continuous service certificates. now
carry 81 per month extra. Enlisted men In
tho army receive thrse-fourths' LAY. with
eonmutation Of clothlrg and rations @ when when
this holds out the assurance Of being cared Tor
at the end OF life, after rendering long and
but more novel 10 the portion Of Nr; Meyers
proposed bill which changes the classitea-
il creates two classes OF specialists one Of the
non-eommisstonsd cd military stan ana another
Yormss includes yariSns grades in ordnance,
In torpedoss aud electricity, In signals; and
among helmsmen. Noticeable among these
ier' seaman torpedoist. electrician, torpedo
and master torpedo gunners. signal men Of
auarterm aster. and chief signal IN an. and pilot
aud master pilot. In the civil class OF special
ists We ind. besides, many q the present
grades. the additional ones OF master come
missATy. 10 eeh hanies and master mechanics as
distinguished from machlnist'. and pump
men. one object In such changes OF ratlnRs
and such additions as are mAdo IS 70 sscurs
more promotion aud higher rewards IoI skilled
service and thus TO open more promising
careers TO the enlisted mes
Still another change 10 that which provides
for a new class OF recruits between 70 and ~
years OF age. graded above the apprentices.
into general service. Careful provisions are
made for the promotions OF this class up 10
warrant rank. on the recommendation OF
fesr requiring the recon m endatiOn Of three
comm issiOnsd and two warrant oIncers ap-
pointed by the Secretary. There is 20 be one
siE s9usdrons. With two TO each oi the six
naval battaliOns as Instructors in their spe-
siaties The number S sSrrshI I, ,c ocsrs is nn 70
In the navy. and there are elaborate proyi-
sions for TeelAssitJing the present warrant OF,
fiesrs and for retiring on various iI4etloas oi
not found competent for specialtlss under the
new conditions. The grades OF boRtswain
m vii be observed therefore. that extensive
changes are contemplated,
MahtiOn has Just been made OF six naval
feature. The whole enlisted force is 90 bs
distributed among these slK 5att4llons e1eh
being assigned to certain division OF shlps
10 man In active service and to care for Whea
NOT employed. Zach chip In turn Is assigned
to 4 particular hAEY ard as her home port
where abe Is fitted cut repaiTed ana lald up.
and where her stores and elulpments are
Kept in readiness. Our whole coast line is 20
b divided Into ak districts. each eostaining
ne home porte for l.s 9Ta 9iIislon q fs saiR
TeIopment of this systein u Interesting;
Among 0ther provisions ~ this novel meas
are specially worthy o. noie y Sas th@s AAS