New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-14

rous effects upon the efficiency Of the naval service
so long as their titles remain distinctive OF tnedr
duties and the authority of the several corps re-
mains established by law .nd the regula-
tons OF the navy. This VIII aIso remove long
existing of strife and contention In the naval
service. IL Is therefore recommended that actuai
or positive rank be conferred upon all staff officers
In accordance with TIE recommendations OF the
re man 9 h b pe MES OF ser ia
IS recommended for any OF The stan corps
Here follows brief reference TO the marine corps
which is said TO require further legislation than
that proposed and previously published In these
dispatches. \ long argument is given In defence
of the proposition to reduce the pay Of STAFF cf-
GERS hereafter 20 enter the service 10 tbat OF
line officers Of the same grade. 1t says in par,:
The committee s charged with he duty OF report
ing upon the question of pay OF the Navy: T. has
conc fusion that there are many inequalities and
much unfairness under the present law. The
the excess OF pay given staff officers on their
FIST FIVE years. ao after v years II no. as
sistant surgeons, assistant paymasters, assistant
81 SOO-a difference OF 500 per annim in favor or the
staff officer The line officers ard INC engineers
Academy. and both received their education at
the Governments expense. Certainly, the duties
OF a staff officer involve no greater responsibility
than those of a line officer of the same rank.
secondly-As officers reach command grades. the
line receives no increase whatever for longevity,
while all the staff officers receive four Increases.
at five years intervals resulting In an eventual In
practical effect of this peculiar app:a ion of
longevity, giving 1t the staff and denying IL TO
the line is to give STAFF officers from $50 to 81 200
more pay per annum than line officers OF similar
rank
The total duration Of service outside the Naval
Academy being reckOned at forty years STAFF off,
Ger receives from the Government from $1,000 70
line Tor an equal number Of years. For instance
typical line officer who entered the service IN 1870
has received In pay to 1891, S3COO typical sur
geon. who entered AT the same time. $4,000; a
typical paymaster who entered at the same time
81, 900: a typical engineer. who entered at the same
time, 5000 These figures speak for themselves
II older officers were taken. the discrepancies are
more strongly marked.
Next follows an explanation OF the features Of
the bill which relate to the enlisted force. also
detailed statement of the meaning and effect OF
each section. IT IS shown that the immediate In
crease In the appropriations viii be but s2l.0D The
probable ages which officers will reach the several
grades II the bill becomes law given as rear
adnirals ffiy-eght years: captains. fifty years.
commanders forty-hve years; iieutensnt-com-
mandeM. forty-two years. lieutenants. tweniy-nine
years euten1nts, junior grade, twenty-sM years
and enslgns. twenty three years.
y careful canvass made of the Senate and House
seems to show that the bill will pass Mr.. Sayers
who at first. opposed The measure on economical
grounds. has agreed % offer. objection 10 its
passage other economists have also promised
not to attempt defeat the bill Speaker Crisp
regards the proposition with favor and will give
IT a day for consideration. A number Of stan Off
GERS and their friends in the House will fight the
bill. but II Is not believed that this opposition VIII
be sufficient 70 defeat the measure. Senator Hale
Is Of the opinion that the Senate viii pass the bill II
It goes through the House.