Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-29
PRIZE MONEY IN THE NAVY
The Law Uader Which it is
Granted
"A custom about TO &c Abolished II.
united state. Navy PropErt:s
award ,n,o Commanders. al sic,.
seunarons and IndiH. aauni SHIPS

The bill bo'..shlng prize money i
the United .,tatcs navy has passed thu
House. md Will doubtless pass the
Sena;.e During the recent war much
in crest was aroused in the system now
tbout to be abolished The New York
sun gives the following explanation OF
the theory and method of awarding
prize money.
a very unusual and suggestive Incl
dent Of the current House debate on the
Navy Personnel bill has been the APP
plause which greeted the announce
ment by Mr.. Foss. who has charge of
the bill. that he should offer an amend
p1ent abclishing prize money. The pro-
posal of the bill to increase pay OF the
officers OF the navy gave Mr.. ross a
special reason for attempting to abolish
prize money, ana since there is much
more peace than war in the average
officers experience, they Will undoubt-
eddy expect TO profit by the change In
fact, Mr.. Foss estimates that the pro-
posed increases will add $3.50, 900 Il year
to thc payroll.
Close upon a century has passed
since, on March >. 1899, our first bounty
and prize money law was enacted
Bounty s given for the sinking OF de-
rtruction otherwise of hostile warShips,
the amount being reckoncd on the
number of persons aboard the encmy's
vessel. Perhaps the best summary of
the statutes on prize money, as revised
during the civil war and still in force
is one which was prepared in the Navy
department during our war with Spain.
COMMANDlNG OFFICERS SHARE
i'fic communicating officer OF IL fleet or
SIuauron receives onc-twentieth part
OF all prize money awarded to any YES.
Sci or vessels under his Immediate con
iron the !ect captain is entitled 10
ohe-hundrcdth part of the award made
10 any vessel or vessels of the fleet or
spuauron Win which lie is serving, and
IN 'hat case he sha.cs in proportion TO
i'" pay WIN inc other officers and men
on poHrd me vessel. TO the cOmman-
Wei 90 ii lyle vessel is given ouc-tenth
vi 'ne money awarded to his vessel if il
wa. acting at the time of the CAPTURE
'-nucr the command OF The commanding
officer OF fleet. squadron or division
ana three twcntIeths. ii 1t was acting
independently. After these deduct ions
the remainder OF the prize money
awarded to vessel is distributed
among the officers and crew of the vcs-
sol in proportion to their respective
DAYS. All vessels OF the navy within
49,, "'S'"H'" Oh INC vessel or
,.,,ViS ,'"N'HH Inc capture under such
~ V"'',9,' noes anu III such conditions
as To render sufficient aid. if REQUIRED
share in the prize. When the District
Court Of the United States shall deter
,na 'nut tne hrlze was of inferior
c tne HaPlor onc-half the pro-
'i' VI sue sHail 80 To the captor ana
it ~ ''e United states. But if
ne i'I'"e was oI equal or superior force
."c vessel making the capture the
.H'.ie net proceeds of the sale shall 80
- 'iir fhptpi-
IAlD DURING CIVIL WAR.
During thc civil war the amounts
I'ila out IN prize money mounted into
.ne miI.l"ns. Farrdeut, according Ia 4
iIr'sutE ID par.menJ Iis; received over
fliUuu0. Admiral :. +. Lee. who had
m" good fortune TO command for two
years the squadron on the Northern At
!aniic coast including Virginia and
North Carolina. near 100000: Dupont.
who commanded Tor time the saiad
ron on the coast thencc TO Cape Flor
ida. over $4,000; Admiral Porter near
ly Sl25,0o0; Gushing. of torpedo bn1t
fame $4,000; Almy over sli. 600: Hailcv
1Ieariy Si2.0pD. buid over SIS. 600 nnd
50 on. And ia was not high olIircrs
ai0n that rctpcd cheese fortunes. ono
acting master 2ut over s35. 600. an ar;
ing assistant paymastcr over 81, 0n0.
an acting ensign nearly S2900O ana I'M
third assistant engineers nearly s2i 600
,.th \ efut.t .',777T7-- - 80
phis. was valued al over a nlinrtr,. ar
q million, and there were plcntv of OH
or rich prizes. many valuabIa Inv their
caygoes al coton. which rose to an
cnorw us price before The close of the
war = IT, OUR war with Spain. a sug-
EestiTe amendment To the navy apprO-