The morning times., 1895-10-06
Army and Navy Offer Scant In
ducement to Bright Men.
SALARIES ARE TOO. SMALL
Promotions Very Slow and Expenses
Unfortunately High-As n COnse-
Relinquish Military and Naval
Careers for Private Employment.

'
| charm that many a lad Is unable toresist.
which no other avocatiun affords. 1t hes
| a charm that many lad Is unable to resist,
and to il therefore are attracted annually
many of the country's brightest young
men. Scarcely an appointment Is made TO
| the training schools that does not leave
| hearta ches inits trailamong the unsuccessful
aspirants.
Yet there Is record evidence tosbow that
from a monetary point of view the man of
energy and enterprise is driven to seek
other and more profitable avenues, after a
brief career as a minor officer. and his
military life is voluntarily relinquished.
His talents are his capital, and they COM
mand a ready investment which in many
cases yields more in a single year than his
commission would be worth in a decade.
1t is Unnecessary TO say that bright men
remain in the service, or that only the
dullards do NOT resign. There are striking
examples in evidence of both classes, and
again instances where mems hopes of bet
ternient induced them to try experiments
that failed of success. The tendency,
however, is to a depletion of the rauks
OF progressive spirits in army circles, aud
| CORES spending nIultip licatiOn OF the
list of West Point aud Annapolis graduates.
PROMOTIONS COME SLOWLY
Promotions in the army or navy In time
of peace come slowly. The only sure
return for continuous service is n slight
increase in pay every five years, ten per
cent being regularly added at the end of
each period for a term of twenty years.
Then the maximum is reached, aud the
monotopy of the officers life is thereafter
unbroken. except for the possible advances
visits. are '.few and far between
One noteworthy fact observed is that
designations are most frequent from the
ranks of the minor officers, a man rarely
retiring voluntarily after reaching the col
onel's grade. The restless young spirits
AT the foot OF the list, with dozens ahead to
drop into vacancies" are the ones who are
most available for the eligible positions in
civil life.
The ma ximum pay OF "a captain in the
Army, after service OF twenty years, is
1898 per month, If mounted: If unmounted
IL is S23 per month less-the salary being
the same as that established half a cen
fury ago. In making up the twenty years
OF actual service the CADET term OF four
years is included, but at tie approach OF
that period when salary advances come to
an end. be does not usually care 10 re-
linauish his military life, and what failed
charm when the silver threads commence
to grace his temples. N
For a man who serves as lieutenant in
either the first or second grade subject as
all officers are, to frequent transfers from
post to post, then it is bat small prospect
and II he is capable aud nm Bilious he viii
not hesitate about ACCEPT ing the first adj
vantagcous offer or busibess1 Opening that
overtakcs him. His sahFe, if a first
lieutenant and mounted, is 81 800 per
year.
HIS SKILL ADMITTED.
The thoroughness OF his training is &C.
knowledged. His admissio q 10 the academy
was dependent upon his qualification ply
sically and mentally, and his retention
there was due TO merit alone. His capa-
hility, therefore, marks him as the prize
OF the wide awake business man who
needs him, and who Will not scruple TO
outbid Uncle Sam for his services.
An officers pay VIII support a bachelor
with modest tastes. but it viii afford him
no great amount of luxury. He is, how
ever, whether OF high rank or low, sub
jected to more or less heavy drafts upor
his purse for the observance of the
customary courtesy and etiquette. For
instance, it is repeated as a matter of
history that an officer once, and not so
long ago, declined the superintcndency OF
West Point for the reason that he could
not afford the expense, and this, not
withstanding the fact that as such officer
he would have been allowed 81 900 per
annum extra to enable him to maintain
the reputation OF the establishm ent for
hospitality.
Gen. Sheridan and staff once visited
West Point. Their entertainment devolved
upon the officers. nd there was no causefor
criticism on the score of illiberality. but
the officers .'chipped in TO meet the bills,
and the salary of each was minus tidy sum
at the close OF the festivities.
The superintendent at the academy, 1t
should be stated, is obliged by courtesy
to play host TO all corners, including the
board of visitors. the officers of foreign
men-of-war, the representatives of the War
Department and others whose rank places
them upon the requisite footing. The
expense, barring the sum stated. must be a
charge upon the hosts private eXchequer.
This code of ethics extends to and en-
braces the official head, commandant or
what not and the staff of every military
or naval post, port or station that floats
1.-The flag" circumstances, of course,
modifying or charging the responsibility.
FACE TO FACE WITH BANKRUPTCY.
1t is related as an actual fact that Adj
miral Urban and his subordiuates were
embarrassed to the last degree by the
courtesies extended to him as commander
of the Atlantic squadron by her majesty's
officials during his late triumphal tour
of the British waters. To return the favors
under the rules in force would have bank
rupted the old hero's purse and the treasury
of the entire outfit, il it did not mort
gage" their salaries for the balance of
the century. To ignore the distinguishing
honors showered upon them and their
would have been more notifying
than the other contingency. To relieve
the situation, the Secretary of the Navy
made a special allowance of sum suf- |
ficient to maintain the coantry's dignity |
English army and navy: officers are al
lowed annually princely amount for the |
of courtesy, while our fighters |
go 1t alone. al-V
The system of hospitality is obligatory. |
1t may be prescribed by unwritten law |
alone, but no one dares to violate the |
custom. q
Its observance once brought down upon |
the headsTof some defenseless officers the |
of Congressional commit
and at the time provoked good
deal of comment. A delegation of solons
had occasion to visit a squadron. or may be |
it was part of a squadron, situated at |
a point on the Mississippi River, near New
Orleans. Actuated by The best principles
Of courtesy, the officers went down into
their pockets for funds with which to do |
the honors of the occasion. When the |
''junketing committee" it
may have been-returned TO Washington,
the particular statesman referred to arose
IN his place In the House and solemnly
moved to reduce the pay of the naval
officers. His reasons were that upon the
occasion OF his then recent visit to p
particular war vessel, naming II, he had
been furnished by those in charge with
a