Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-17
ALLOTMENTS OF SALARIES
No LIE gal Authority So Far as Nava! OFF,
GERS Ara Concerned
fhc Practice Has Been Recognized for
Three-Quarters of Century
Congress Appealed To.

The assistant controller of the treasury
has given decision that there is no legal
authority fer naval officers 10 make allot
ments of their salaries. and il has been
found necessary 10 appeal to Congress for
relief. From very carly history of the
naval service the department has per-
hl:tted officers of the navy and marine
corps TO make allotmcnts from their pay
for the supper: of their families and rel
auves, for their own savings or for other
proper purposes during such time as they
may be absent at sea or on such distant
duty as TO render il inpra cite able for ;ne m
TO make proper provision for such obliga-
tions directly.
The COntrOIlcr's Opinion.
Last week the Secretary of the Navy
was advised that this practice. which has
been sane toned by the customs of The
naval service for a period of nearly three
quarters of Il century, and Thich, ii IS said,
has Deen explicitly recognized and +. yU!.lt-
cd by provisions contained IN The gegua-
Tons promulgated 10y the Navy Depart
,neEt IS. in the opinion of the assistant
controller Of the treasury not nnly without
express authority of law. but is further O.
garded 10y him as in contraynn;ion O: sec
ton ::t'I of the Revised Statues Of the
ii''h '7idtcS, W 'iscl llDh.DitS the 3SSlgn-
meht OF any claim again ;t the United
states. except unuer certain conditions STAT
Cd therein. Tie controller expressed the
opinion THAI section 1916 of the Revised
statutes by implication would iGtiica e
that only enlisted fnen are tahen cut Of
the prohibition of section of 3i77. end, if so,
officers cannot leave allotmants.''
I ne controllers decision is based or an
iiem in the accounts Of Pay Director + e.
Cosby, who says he is Paying 1Gi Off
GERS allo:ments monthly. ranging f.om
these made by rear adns.lals 10 those mad"
H.. naval cadets He says the aggregate
doubtless FIVE or SIX times as great. ard
cover allGtmentS made 10y officers IN fag
distant parts of the world.
Admiral Ram~ay'S Request.
Admiral Ramsay. chief Of the Juneau of
navigation, and acting secretary of the
i'aNy, has written a letter OF the subject 10
the chairman of the Senate naval commit
tee, in which he says that the matter is one
OF the greatest prac teal Importance To the
large number of officers Of Tie navy who's.
&h",mcnts must be discontinued under the
decision OF the assistant Ccntroilcr .,Gn!c=s 9"
ne says, Legislative sanction Of the custom
OF allCtr@nts is obtained. 1t IS observed
ifat in the case Of officers of the aavy Or
GcIed 10 duty on distant stations. suitable
provision for their families and those de-
pendent upon them can be maGe oiliy hy
some properly regulated system OF allot-
E.ents.
TO suddenly discontinue the allotmei.: $
nov authorized would work great nardsE,ip IN
and injustice TO the officers concerned now.
absent On sea duty. and to those Gepend-nt
Upon them. In view of its very great i'm
pc Crtance and urgency. l have The hcror 10
request that the committee VIII give the
n'attcr eaily attention. aud take the neccs-
sarN steps to secure the passage Of an Ell
actment authorizing allotments by officers
of the navy and marine corps. under suaa
limitations and restrictions as may !,e
Proper With respect to the limitations
" hick should be imposed upon alIoimeuts
il is suggested that this is a matter which. D..
in consequence of the varying circun.-
stances of different cases, might properly lie
left to r2gula tion by the department.