The Red Cloud chief., 1894-06-08

POSITION AND REMUNERATION OF
THE ENLISTED MEN.

tIIE CNLIO EO WETv
Tho Vast and Varied Force Of Mechanics In
the service-Here Skilled Labor Finds
Steady Employment with Sure Fay.
Seaman Glass Worst Paid.
Although the seamen and even the
petty officers Of the United States navy
are largely Of foreign birth, there never
wa o time when places in the navy be-
low the rank Of commissioned officers
were 20 attractive to native Americans.
A the old wooden ships and the old
fashioned steam propelled ships give
place to modern marine machines the
navy becomes more and more suited to
tho tastes Of capable Americans.
Since tho Kearsarge laid her bones
upon Roncador there are left in really
active service only 10 wooden ships,
though there are 10 others used as re.
ceiving ships and as scholarships Of one
sort or another. All the sailing ships
that ever move from place to place are
the training ships and scholarships. The
navy has long been made up chiefly Of
steam propelled vessels, and 1t will be
only a few years before tho whole nc.
tive list will be composed Of iron or
steel steamships.
This gradual change in the navy has
wrought q marked change in the per-
sonnet Of the petty officers and the Ell.
listed men, as In the conditions under
which they work. Captain Codman's
mournful cry that there are no more
sailors is as true Of the navy as Of the
merchant service. The navy still ships
seamen at wages ranging from S16 to
e24 per month, but it also ships q host
Of artifcers, mechanics, firemen and
whatnot Mt wages sometimes exceeding
go per month.
The new navy as IL grows will need
IN increasing number Of men in these
special classes. There are nearly rs many
new vessels building q there are wood.
eli ships now OH the active list, and ev-
cry new iron steam propelled monster
that IL added to the navy creates an in
creased demand for the skilled and high
paid classes Of enlisted men. Already
there are some scores Of machinists at
$40 per month, boiler makers at 500,
blacksmiths at $50, plumbers at &45,
water tenders, oilers, firemen and print
ers at from $50 to $40 per month, to say
nothing Of coppersmiths, shipwrights
and coal passers at wages varying from
$50 per month down to ga.
The seaman class, the worst paid Of
all in its lower branches, Is very well
paid in the higher ranks. The lad that
enters rs q third class apprentice at 81
per month may reasonably hope to be-
come chief master ut arms at 600 pei
month. The lad with q gift for music
may easily find himself transferred Il
the special class that includes musi
clans, writers and apothecaries, ant
here the wages vary from elS to $8(
per month.
There is q special provision Of law Il
encourage good men to remain long II
the service. The ordinary term Of en-
listment is three years, and by this pro
vision any h%onorably discharged maj
who re.enlists within three month
from the date Of his discharge return
to the navy with his pay raised 81 pc
month. Tho extra dollar Is added a
each re-enlistment, and there may east
ly be half q dozen re-enlistments, or TO
that matter a dozen. 1t means that
good man who sticks to tho service 70
life gets a three months vacation ever,
three years, followed by an increase o
pay.
1t usually happens that the nan VIII
thus enlists and re-enlists has reache,
the grade Of petty officer at his third O
fourth enlistment, and after that tn
larger pay of his new place increase
regularly 81 per month every tire
years, should he choose to continue II
the service. There are other small per
Quisites Of one kind or another tina
swell the earnings Of tho sailor tina
sticks to the navy, and there awaits hin
in old age q safe retreat ashore with oil
companions.
1t Is true that mechanics in the nav
receive nominally smaller wages tina
men Of their trades ashore, but they ar
subject to none Of tho uncertainties Q
business. The navy goes right on i
times Of panic, and there is no dockin
for illness. Employment and pay AZ
secure for tho rest Of q mans days, an
promotion il almost within his ow
control.
The aristocratic organization Of til
navy doubtless has kept many self II
specting native Americans from cnlis'
ing, but tho service is vastly MOI
democratic in practice than in theory
True, no enlisted man may hope to b'
come q commissioned officer, but III
enlisted man Of tried ability and know
good conduct always earns the respe'
and the consideration Of his superior
The brutal officer Of the deck is almo
unknown in the United States navy, al
the self respecting enlisted man is SO
dom made to feel that any n lool
down upon him.
His food is wholesome, clean ~
abundant, and the officer Of the de-
must taste it before it is served to Il
men at any meal. His quarters are be
ter and better as the navy improves, al
kl,n ,,..lnvau 80 <hn x,a11 nvla,al co