The sun., 1919-10-06
HOUSE TO CONSIDER
HIGHER NAVY PAY
Extensive Hearings This Week
Forced by Wholesale
designations.
DANIELS FIRST WITNESS
Readjustment All Along the
Line Favored Above Flat
Increases.
snecinl pnspatch to Tnn suS.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.--Increased pay
for naval officers and men to prevent the
disintegration of the naval service VIII
be considered by the House Naval Affairs
Committee in extensive hearings, begin
ming this week, Representative Butler
(Pa. chairman Of the committee, stated
to-day.
Members of the committee are practi-
cally united in the belief that some re-
adjustment Of naval pay should be made
because of the increased cost OF living
Mr. Butler said. The best men In the
navy are resigning rapidly. he saio, 10
accept more lucrative civil POSITIONS
while thousands who served during tne
war have been discouraged from contin-
uing in the service permanently because
Of the small pay.
To make just and satisfactory re-
adjustment. Mr. Butler has asked tne
Navy Department to send before the
committee not only high officers sta
toned in Washington but officers and
men from all branches of the naval ser
vice The navy has such a complex al
lowance system, Mr.. Butler said, that II
is impossible to get an accurate view OF
lust what the men are receiving by tables
submitted by Pay Corps men here.
More Omcers Are Needed.
LEGISLATION also will be considered at
the hearings, 1t was learned, to increase
the number of officers in the navy EVIL
dence has been submitted to severai
members OF the committee that the large
reductions made by the House committee
in the naval appropriation bill last June
have made 1t necessary to cut the NUM-
Der OF officers down to such figure that
not Only the lighting efficiency of the
navy but its upkeep IL impaired. The
situation is made more serious by the
small pay, which naturally has the ef-
feet Of driving the most capable men
into civil work.
The frs, step of the committee will
be In the nature of emergency legisla-
ton. The committee will urge the pas
sago during Congress before the end Of
October of the bill repeating section
Of the naval appropriation bill, which
discontinued to officers on October l
communication of shore quarters while
they are serving on board ship. This
usually amounts to about $40 to $35 a
month, Mr.. Butler said, and was granted
during the war to assist naval officers In
providing for their dependents while
they were serving at sea. The bill al
by the naval committee, with the recon-
mendation that 1t be enacted because
war prices still continue. When the
bill is passed, Mr.. Butler said, 1t would
be made retroactive to October l, SO
that the officers will lose none of the
allowance.
Flat Increases Not Favored.
Sentiment in the committee. Mr.. But
| Ter and other members indicated. does
not favor fiat percentage increase for
all officers, but instead a readjustment
OF the salary scale. An increase of %
per cent for Rear Admirals and Cap
tains would mean an additional sum Of
from s1,75O to s2,250, while the officers
OF lower grades such as Ensigns and
Lieutenants would be increased $500 10
$500 a year. The increased cost of liv-
| ing has hit the lower grade officers prac-
| tically as hard as those with -four
stripes" and the committee apparently
does not favor granting such large ad-
ditional amount to the officers OF higher
grades. Increases that the men of lower
grade deserve would increase the sal
aries OF the higher grade to figures
above the amount paid Cabinet men,
bers, II was pointed out.
Mr.. Butler also said he favored in
creasing the pay on-commissioned off,
GERS are receiving. Many ,of them, he
said, are in the same position that
Junior officers are and have several de-
| pendents.
Secretary Daniels probably will be the
| first witness before the committee, Mr..
Butler said.