The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-21
POVERTY IN THE NAVY.
II Reaches Every Oficer Who Must
Live on His Salary.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The
navy pay bill is now before Congress
sional committee. When the papers are
full of reports concerning the conces-
sicns to be granted strikers in various
industries "a word about an organiza-
ton of men whose code Of honor for
bids their resorting to strikers methods
migl be timely. The officer personnel Of
| the United States Navy is facing prob
lem that should be of vital interest to
the country. Either proper salaries must
be given to officers or those who have
no private means must resign from the
Sc vice and seek livelihood in civilian
life. 1t is a clear cut issue: More pay
or enforced resignation.
1t has been just eleven years since
any increase has been granted. Con-
slider the rise in the cost Of living since
1908. Even then the salaries were not
munificent. To-day they are ridiculous.
The general public has never realized
the peculiar demands naval officers have
to meet For instance:
Any official entertainment offered them
in foreign or home ports must be re-
turned. These entertainments are paid
for by the officers themselves. II you go
to a reception aboard a man-of.war you
are not accepting the hospitality of the
nation but that of the officers of the
ship. Often enough their families must
deny themselves the very necessaries OF
life that the husband and father may do
his part as a fit representative of the
service.
know of Junior captain whose fam
lily consists OF three boys. His wife told
me that when one of the boys was asked
out to lunch the others could have more
to eat.
The cost of uniforms is appalling
Though civilian may wear an old suit
Of clothes. a naval officer may not APP
par in a shabby uniform without cast
ing public discredit on the service. Trans
portatlon is another important item OF
expense. An officer may be ordered to
three or four different places during the
year. His own fare will be paid but not
that of his family or the cost of moving
his household goods. An order to the
west coast means an expenditure Of sew
eral hundred dollars.
II has been proposed that 80 per
cent increase be granted but that com
mutation for quarters-or living allow
ance to officers families while the Of
ficers are at seas-be taken away. In
the grade OF lieutenaut-commande for
example, this will mean a net gain of
$40 month. II is also proposed that
naval officers be no longer exempt from
income tax. That gain of $40 a month
will not cover the tax payment. So we
will have less than before the promise d
Increase
In the British Navy the pay of Of
ficcrs has been raised to four times that
OF the pre-war scale. Do we think any
less of our men?
come from naval family. Our
women have time and again denied
themselves Injuries for the sake of the
service. That we did gladly. But for
the past four years we have denied our
selves and our children necessaries That
we cannot do any longer. In justice to
tho navy, in justice to its officers let
the Government raise the scale OF sala-
ries that they may in some degree meet
every day expenses.
A NAVAL OFFIcER's WIFE.
ERIE, Pa. October 90