Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-05
Reasons for Opposition.


tables now In use were prepared pursuant
to department circular No. 81, issued from
the Office Of the controller July 1, 1899. and
approved by the Secretary Of the Treasury.
On two pages Of this book are contained all
the regular rates of sea pay for the line
for full year, for a quarter, for q month
and for any fraction Of month. so tabu-
lated that the proper credit for any one Of
those periods may be seen at a glance
These computations are based upon equal
monthly payments, thirty days to the
month.
Tables for the same purpose, prepared
in accordance with the inclosed table A.
$500 per annum. would occupy forty-four
pages, allowing one page to each rate Of
pay. For each rank below captain there
would be five different tables or pages; on
each page would be one table for the year
of 1856 days, and another for leap year, It
would be difficult to devise a more in
genious or more complete scheme for facili-
tating error by the accountant when work.
Ing under pressure.
with regard to tables Of pay Of enlisted
men, established by a monthly rate, the
considerations are not less forcible in OPP
position to the proposed change, though
differing In character. With a pay table
based on the thirty-day month, the practice
would be always the same In preparing pay
rolls. settling claims or calculating check
ages; no matter what kind OF month or
which variety Of year might be in question.
An enlisted man receiving $3.50 per month
and sentenced by court-martial to the loss
OF ten days pay would be checked with
So. IL, and there could be no doubt as to the
correctness Of the amount Under the pro-
posed plan ten days pay would have four
different Wholesome each for 49, o. 30
and 81 day month. The question would
soon arise as to which should be applied.
would 1t depend upon the date of the APP
prevail OF the sentence and If so would the
ten days be reckoned backward or forward
from that date? and IL either course should
involve parts Of two different kinds OF
months, would the total have to be made up
from the respective tables applicable to
those months? These questions may seem
fanciful or even ffippant as here presented:
but they are none the less logical, and are
certain to be presented for decision by the
controller Of the treasury, in case the plan
In question shall be adopted. Instances
might be multiplied for the purpose OF
showing the inconvenience and sources of
error sure to follow upon the proposed
change, II made. I think however, that
enough has been said to justify the bureaus
opinion on this subject. If necessary. as a
means Of escape from an unfortunate d.
lemma. cannot too strongly recommend
that Congress be urged to sanction the
present method by law
Secretary Moody's Recommendation.
The army appropriation bill contains
provision for the payment of the army on
the basis Of the existing system, viz: Pay
ments to be made monthly at one-twe.fth Of
the annual rate; payments for fractional
parts of month to be at the rate Of one
thirtieth of month, for which purpose
every month Is held to consist Of thirty
days. whether the actual number Of days In
the given month be greater or less For the
sake of. uniformity of method in the two
military services, the Secretary of the Navy
has recommended that a similar provision
be incorporated in the pending naval appro-
priation bill.