The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
PAY LOW, EXPENSES HIGH.
n STATE OF THING THAT MAKES
NdVAL OFFICERS COMPLAIN.

entertaining nj tho oueehh Sephee anu
Also TO Root the Hiis-'ien'' w
Officers Of the executive or line branch of tho
English navy are complaining bitterly Of the
smallness OF their pay and the slowness OF their
promotion. The English army and Navy
Gazette has taken up their cause and declares
that no class OF public servants OF similar re-
quircinents Is 30 moanly paid as they. LORD
Charles Beresford In n recent speech declared
that, although he had had exceptional good for
tune, nothing would tempt him to enter the
English service had he his life to live over again.
Tho same obtains in our own service to n
greater degree, for an English naval officer who
has made fair advancement-tha is, has reached
the grade of Captain or Admiral-receives pay
and allowances sufficient TO enable him to live
in a style commensurate with his rank and so
cial position and at the same time to support his
family at home; whereas from the grade OF
Lieutenant upward the American naval oiiiccr
finds himself poorer and poorer. Lieutcnahts
In our navy reach the age OF 90 years In that
grade, and then, on promotion to Lieutenant
Commander, receive an increase OF pay OF Sl6a
month. The pay OF a Lieutenant who has been
twenty years In the grade and more than thirty
years in tho service Is $4,000 a year.
These officers are generally married. Let us
consider the case OF one ordered to the brooklyn.
That snip IS on her way 10 Europe lot inc pur-
pose of taking part in the Queens jubilee. Tho
patriotic people OF Brooklyn have presented TO
the ship a magnificent silver service, which VIII
be in constant use and most appropriate at this
time, for the officers VIII DO called upon to do a
great deal or entertaining, to be paid Tor out OF
their private purses. The Lieutenant, taken as
an illustration. probably has a wife and two or
moro children between tho ages OF 10 and 20
years. If he allots one-half of his pay to
their use, their allowance will be 81, 300 a year,
and FAMILY men know now tr That amount goes
toward the support OF a gentleman's family and
k,na,,o,i,r - .is ohildro, u,yiu nrobo hlr al
ee"uoat'ono ptoo"os o.
lot two'thirds OF his pay. Then his uniforms must
Iii haro to no -, ..;J.n.. soo,oIIv an1 ,e,cio,-
VIII nave U DC On ec'aence so',aly IL oinelai-
he would be promn,ly detailed by the command
inc oo,cor Snecial mn drcss social fulI drcse
full dress, dress. undrcss, and white duck uni
forms, dress and undress swords, cooked hats,
epauicttes' all are required by naval regulations
and arc all enormously expensive; besides which
- ~ nir,,,"n Co., ho ,ro -
worn u " e',N""' !" h' new, "oats
o ns J"'' fpnot,o m.sn Them Se 'n too, u bo must ST
nnssoss m unns,I nornt - rndor-
elothins. as no washing is done on ship.
hoard. and he Is often for long periods without
the onrortunitr of sending soilcd linen ashore.
the opPoFtuhi'. vi schuihs soiicu "eh ashofe'
lie Is assessed for mess outht as soon as he re-
| ports on board. for Uncle Sam furnishes nothing
lut tnl1o, asa, I'D, ne loto ,ha
out taoies ana chairs. vi iate the Government
has been providing mess furniture, but the
great that many messes prefer to purchase their
that which was allowed to them in the origi.
nnI naotaras Snnrins ,ohla and s,n,orna,,
linen. which are always furnished to officers
OF the merchant marine. are not allowed
certain number of servants are in tho
ships complement. and must be taken
on enc o1 ,Sr, Ec, mere n"s n rs h ar al in rd am m m me s a.:
tendants extra money above that allowed by
the Government. the pay being too small 70
purchasing and the officers select from their
number a caterer. who assesses each officer for
month. The Lieutenant Joining the Brooklyn
probably paid s75 down for mess outfit and the
expenses Of the first month. Another terror to
wine mess for entertaining will be immediately
and cigars will be- laid in. No hard liquors. such
As sSansiss. whiskeyf, &oSi are sIl@Tsd on board
during the cruise each month his bill is received
for his share OF mess entertaining. VIII one,
il is very little, and yet it is all that he can take
from his salary without terribly crninping his
VIII an. and children at t home: 7 Thus l5s he :, finds DIS, him an
actual salary. Of less than 5000 a year. with
absolute Eea9irs EN- n. laid down by IN naval N;aa. law
not as much by a long shot as tho young dry
goods clerk has.
Promoted to be Lieutenant-Commandcr, and
with his pay raised $40 a month. he may he or.
dcrcd TO command the Dolphin, Petrol. Thetis,
or one OF the small ships. He finds that his Sl6
IA month will hardly permit him to run q whole
mess alone, as now he is Obliged to do. He hasa
steward, cook, and boy. He must have them all.
They arc in tho complement OF the ship. on the
departments station bin u part of her fighting
force. but detailed as his servants. HIS mess eN-
penscs Hre not divided with others now. The
same is true OF his wine. When he arrives in a
foreign port and makes his official visits on the
Governor and other civil officials, on foreign
Admirals and Captains. he knows as their set
is coming and that he must stand II alone. He
is proud to command his little ship, but he is
And so il goes. With each promotion more Is
expected. Foreign nations see the necessity OF
down strict rules about it in their respective
blue books; but they provide u way by which it
can he done. The different messes have different