New-York tribune., 1905-05-21
that these things occurred just exactly as tell
EIsFIT UNIFORMS.

Next TO the question OF grub" there would
seem to be no grievance which is causing more
general discomfort throughout the navy than the
matter of uniforms The men interviewed were
bitter over the present system OF distributing
Uniforms to the enlisted men. They complain
that they are compelled to wear uniforms that
do not lit them, under the present system; and
here again the paymaster is the officer who is
blamed.
At first glance 1t naturally might be supposed
that whether a sailors uniform IS too loose or
tight is at the best trivial matter, Jack
Tar however. is a vatner creature than many
folks imagine, and besides it is than
matter OF vanity which makes him so bitter over
the uniform question.
The sailors complain that the question OF "ft"
is entirely dfsregarded by the payrnasters Of
the various ships in doing out the uniforms.
Men get Jackets and trousers several sizes too
small or too big for them They are compelled,
they allege to pay for tailoring alterations out
of their own small wages Grom $12 to $50 a
month";, and to rub il in" they are oftentimes
punished by their captains for untidiness and
excuses listened to.
To put this grievance IN the words of one of
the sailors interviewed:
If you don't believe gets an unfair
deal in the navy just look into this matter Of
uniforms. According the navy Blue Book
we are supposed to have uniforms fitted
to our measure bv the ships tailor Is tfis
any old kind Of a uniform to wear. It is a COM
mon occurrence for newly enlisted man 10 get
a uniform three four sizes too big for him
l have seen man six feet tall forced to wear
q uniform originally designed for a man five
The uniforms, too are made of moor maj +ar,.1
we wear the suits as well as we can Then
comes the captain along and orders an insDec-
ton. That uniform doesn't lit YOU SAYS he
Have 1t altered, or III punish you severely
That means spending half your months nav
perhaps to have the uniform, - t Pc
IaT,
washed they shrink, because Of the poor oueIitL,
OF the STUFF Of which they are made. That
means buying new uniform and II costs us
81 a suit.
THEIR PRIDE IS HURT.
What does the paymaster care whether the
uniforms ft US or not what expenses the
misfit puts US to? He has certain number of
uniforms his hands. and they have to be got
rid Of he hands them out at random There
is any attempt made to fit a sailor. If
you happen to be tall short you may come
within a size of a fit, but if you are medium
size there isn't chance in the world Perhaps
you think 1t doesn't hurt our feelings TO have to
go ashore in these slouchy blouses especially
ports where there are foreign sailors Look
at the British sailor; how neat and tidy he looks
compared to US! There was a time only a few
years ago, in the American navy. when they let
US buy own uniforms ashore. 1t costs us
SO TO get uniform made a tailor's So more
uniforms are so superior in quality to make
the higher price real economy IN the end In the
army they wear uniforms that f1t and why
should not we7
You wouldn't think that sailors would desert
from the service just because Of al i'll fitting
uniform would you? They do however This
uniform question is causing more discomfort in
the navy than any other, except grub Moth
ing makes American sailor more savage than
TO be punished for untidy appearance when the
fault IS not with him. but the man who sup
piled him the uniform"
A Tribune reporter walked into a saloon
the Brooklyn Navy Yard. where group Of sail
ors lust come ashore were lined up against the
bar II did not take two minutes conversation
to start the Jack tars complaining about their
uniforms
Look at the way these things fit" they
growled in chorus "Ain't this pretty way to
dress jack tar2 Those tOgs must have been
made by a lot OF old women who never
sailor in their lives. Look how shabby they are.
too and they're only two months old!"
II certainly did not need a taiior's expert eye
to observe that there was not man In the