The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-09-17

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, "the
public is apt to believe that sailors are
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
large percentage of the enlisted men
of the navy is well known to those
| who are in a position to judge. In
| vetigation has shown that as a-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
large corporations have provided means
to so and their employees, few people
know of the steps taken by Uncle Sam
in the same direction.
Percentage OF Savers.
at has been ascertained that from
10 to 90 per cent. of the employees of
various corporations 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, Balti-
more, Washington, Norfolk and San
Francisco enlisted men are depositing
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 payable
accordingly.
GAS the system was established for
those who could not readily communi-
cate with their families and savings in
stitutions, only men serving afoat are
permitted to leave allotments. For
this reason but $4,000 of the $4,000
men in the navy have the privilege.
The average pay of an enlisted man is
about $50 a month. Accordingly, the
men afloat are receiving more than
$l2,000,000 annually.
Provision for Those Ashore.
"The navy department presumes
that the 10000 serving ashore can
provide for themselves. However, they
|
and NAV make use of the deposit ac'
count mentioned later.
"There are $4,000 men who leave
, allotments. The average amount allot-
: ted each month is $40. Consequently
$4,000, 900, in round numbers, is being
allotted every year. Seven Thousand
seven hundred men are saving, and o.,
300 are helping to support their ram
, lilies. Almost $4,000, 900 is assigned fol
the former and $l,500,000 for the lat
ter purpose. In short, two out OF every
five men alot two-thirds of theiI
wages. One in every five saves IN TINS
way, or, to be exact, % per cent. Inc
Bowery Savings Bank and the naval
branch of the Young Men S Christian
Association have been very popular de
9 positories among the men.
: cat least once month word Is
r passed aboard ships that the men may
Q name allottees to whom they wish tc
: assign a portion of their wages. The
l necessary data is then forwarded to the
4 proper pay office, where it is entered
: upon specially devised cards and pay
s ments to the allottees are made iron
: them promptly by check on asslstan
1easurers of the United States at thu
= end of each month. If sailors wer'
= compelled to send money orders, week
3 would frequently elapse before thei
d receipt Information regarding tn
status of their allotments is Furnished
i the allottees when necessary.
: Divisions Well Equipped.
n HAllotment divisions of the nav,
e paw offices are supplied with the mos
T modern mechanical devices to faclitat
d the work. No receipts for payment
e are required Paid checks are used a
), vouchers. This materially reduces tn
work of accounting.
= "The navy department has asslgne
= twelve clerks to allotment work. A
n New York a pay officer gives his Who'll
e time to the supervision of the worl
s while at the other pay offices the pul
/ chasing pay officers have charge @
alJotments in addition to their othe
II duties,
e "About per cent. of the men hav
o deposits aboard ship with their pa
= officers. -Four per cent is gratuitoui
?. " paid by the government on these az
o counts to further encourage saving.
"There is no means of ascertainin
n how much the men save in other way