The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-09-12

mat all DlueJackets are not easy
Marks and that the standard of
thrift among them is as high as it is
in other walks of life, is demonstrated
in a statement in regard TO "Savings
by Enlisted Men in the Navy" pre-
pared by Passed Assistant Paymaster
Jere Maupin, U. s. N, in charge of
allotments at the navy pay office in
Washington.
''For two reasons he says, sfthe
public is apt to believe that sailors are
a thriftless class. First, tradition is
against sailors, and, second, when be-
fore the public they are usually seek
ing amusement.
.'That thrift is Characteristic of a
large percentage of the enlisted men
of the navy is well known to those
who are in q position to judge. In
ve5igati0n has shown that as class
they compare favorably in this respect
with men outside the service. The
government has made special provisions
to encourage men in the navy to save.
While the public is aware that many
to so and their employees, few people
know of the steps taken by Uncle Sam
in the same direction.
Percentage of Savers.
cit has been ascertained that from
10 to 20 per cent. of the employees OF
various corpora tions take advantage OF
savings systems established for their
use Twenty-seven per cent, OF the en-
listed men of the navy save part OF
their earnings This high average IS
due to the allotment system which the
navy department has maintained since
the early days of the navy, and the
more recently established deposit ac-
count kept by pay officers of ships.
"Through the medium Of allotment
divisions in the navy pay officers at
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltl-
more. Washington, Norfolk and san
Francisco enlisted men are deposltlng
money in the best savings institutions
in the country A certain geographical
division of the United States and terri
tories is assigned To each Of these Of
fees. and the pay officers Of ships are
instructed to make allotments payaole
accordingly.
GAS the system was established Tor
those who could not readily communl-
cate with their families and savings IN
stitutions. only men serving aioat are
permitted to leave allotments. For
+bis reason but 5000 of the 45,00V
men in the navy have the privilege
The average pay, of an enlisted man IS
ahou+ $50 a month. Accordingly, the
men afoat are receiving more than
60 O0O OnO annually,
Provision for Those Ashore.
"The navy department presumes
that the 10000 serving ashore can
nroyide for themselves. However, they
are allowed to purchase navy drafts
and NAV make use of the deposit ac-
count mentioned later.
s.There are $4,000 men who leave
allotments. The average amount allot-
ted each month is $50. Consequently,
e.. 800 900. in round numbers, is being
allotted every year. Seven thousanU
seven hundred men are saving, and o.
900 are helping to support their TAM
lies Almost $2,000,000 is assigned foT
the former and $1,500,O00 for the lat
fer purpose. In short, two out of every
FIVE men allot two-thirds OF thelI
wages. One in every FIVE saves IN TINS
way, or, to be exact, p per cent. Inc
Bowery Savings Bank and the naval
branch of the Young Mems Christian
Association have been very popular de-
positories among the men. :.
HAt least once a month word Is
passed aboard ships that the men may
name allottees to whom they wish &c
assign a portion of their wages The
necessary data is then forwarded to the
proper pay Office, where it is entered
upon up specially devised cards and pay
mepts to the allottees are made from
them promptly by check on assistant an
tr4asurers of the United States at the
end of each month. IF sailors were
compelled to send money orders, weeks
would frequently elapse before theil
receipt. Information regarding the