New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-28
CAUSES OF DISCRETION.

rae heard
lack Of employment for the enlisted men and the
oonseouent opportunity the sailors have TO hno
FAM. and become disconnected; the other reason IS
the harshness OF Of the officers VINO 90 iIo'
understand that authority can rs exercised WIN
out using strong language 70 suporolh@'e VI
otherwise humiratng enlisted man
Both conditions may be corrected WITHOUT o'Ai-
Guilty although it may require some aoie oIicsiS
to be made over. The criticisms repeated u AHo
Tribune reporter by the enlisted men VINO were
interviewed regarding the service are sad Oy OH
ce-s To be without reason, except in some Small
particulars II IS held that the naval ensIeo I0tee
enjoys many advantages. and comparison OF INC
American with foreign navies cannot help Oelns
favorable 10 the United States service 4here are
g,ch advantages to the men as are expressed in
these qualities:
l The best fed navy IN the world
z The best clad navy in the world
g. The best paid navy in the world
L More diversion allowed than in any other navy
"a the world
& Greater opportunities for young men than In
any other navy IN the world
DEFENCE OF THE FOOD.
whoever made those criticisms to The Tribune
reporter IN New-York," said Paymaster General h
T B. Harris, OF the navy, did not know OF "Hat
he was talking It was arrant nonsense, SO lar
as II attacked the food and clothing and the work
~ the naval paymasters. We pay good price
for provisions such 80 cents pound for Out
ter We buy the best meat the market aItoEo-.
We send it TO the ships in the tropics even On
refrigerator ships. In holiday time the enAsteo
men everywhere had their turkeys of the iee
lust as their relatives in New-York or Brooklyn
had. The same is true OF vegetables
1T is possible that meats have sometimes de-
tsTiorated. Such instances have been known at
home you know among the housekeepers VINO
have their groceries and markets 10 draw upon
But whenever food is spoiled, it is DESTROYED. 1t
Is never issued 10 the enlisted men, and IL there
are instances Of such issue il is the fault OF
the men themselves for not ar once reporting the
circumstance TO the commanding officer. You ask
Armour and Swift and the other contractors, with
whom we are always wrestling, whether they are
allowed TO get in any spoiled canned goods.
THE CLOTHING QUESTION.
Take the criticism On the clothing There must
he 2 uniform for the enlisted men. 1t has to be
made up of various sizes just as shoes are
but we aim to have every sort Of combination OF
dimensions in order 10 fit the variety of sizes and
shapes Of the sailors. We have seventeen sizes OF
trousers for instance, but of there Will now
and then be found men who cannot be fitted even
under those conditions We have shoes OF sizes
from to L. and on There Is no such thing
as handing out uniforms at random and then re-
curing men have them fitted at great expense
There is a difference, OF course, in the notions
Of commanding officers respecting the appearance
of their sailors, and probably sloppy man thinks
he has been unfairly treated when he is hauled up
and told TO present himself in a decent appear
ance We have tallors board ship and there
is no need Of a going to the shore tailor ana
spending all his money his apparel The al
lowauce for clothing is liberal and men are not
expected TO make much out of that item
The attack on the quality OF the material OUT
OF which uniforms are made IS also absurd. We
pay a dollar yard for flannel better than enters
into most Of the suits Of clothing worn by men
anywhere in this country. The British government
paws - cents for cloth, which would, at the out
side. sell in this country for 30 cents a yard. Ihat
Sisposes OF the story that We buy cheap goods In
other respects good grade Of material is bought
even 10 the extent OF not accepting the lowest bid
when something better at higher price offers
itself THIS is the case with the contract awarded
this year for flannel, the two lower bids being
rejected"
The navy paymassers have heard most OF the
complaints BEIGE ana were not specially moved save
by one remark credited Jacky Of long service
He said plainly that the paymasters served poor
food and cheated On the uniforms as 10 put the
savings in their pockets One naval pay ofhcer
expressed the desire 10 get hold of the sailor who
would make such remark Any one, he said
who knows the rigmarole Of official transactions
knows that II is impossible for naval paymaster
20 profit in any such criminal fashion He would
be found out inside Of week and put off the ship
IN disgrace, preliminary TO being kicked out OF
the navy by the process Of court martial. Naval
payrnasters have been responsible for recommend
ing such worthy features as a savings bank in the
service for the enlisted and the right to pur-
chase their discharge-very beneficial elements
operating the profit Of the sailors.
TuETp uEATTu ANN