Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-14

remain in active service two years
| longer than formerly.
Efforts will be made, it is stated. to
establish exact uniformity in the mat.
ter of allowances which would elimi
nate the present distinction now made
between officers with dependents and
those without dependents, to the none
tary advantage Of the former. This
situation has been the cause of consid-
cradle discomfort among the personnel
Of the services, and, 1t seems, will be a
difficult matter to correct, at least in
the near future. 1t is recognized
however, that a grave injustice is be
ing done in denying unmarried officers,
without dependents, the allowances ac-
corded to their associates who are
married or who have, if unmarried, de.
pendent mothers.
For instance, there is a difference in
compensation for ensigns of the Navy
and second lieutenants Of the Army OF
$3.50 a year. depending upon whether
the officer concerned is with or with
out dependents: there Is a difference of
1898 in pay between junior lientenants
Of the Navy and first lieutenants of
the Army; that between Heutenants of
the Navy and captains Of the Army is
1.179; while that between a lieutenant
commander in the Navy and a ma jor
in the military establishment is 81 ,63s
a year, which averages $4,000 per
month, a considerable sum-
1t is recognized now that 1t was the
gravest Of mistakes in the establish.
ment of a difference in the allowance
to officers of the military and Navy
establishments. Fair provision was not
made, it is said, to adequately deal
with those unmarried officers upon
whom was imposed the necessity of
supporting dependents not mentioned
ir the law, but who We're, notwith-
standing, none the less dependent
Much confusion has resulted in execut
ing the present stipulations Of the
law, and disbursing officers especial
ly who have had to deal with this
perpleXing situation would be greatly
relieved in the administration Of their
accounts if modification is made of
the present statute. The establish.
ment of pay and allowances. without
distinction for any reason not only
would result in uniformity of compen-
sation. but it would appreciably bene
fit the entire service personnel.
NAVY.
OF absorbing interest TO the entire
naval establishment was the report
Of a board of officers on the policy re
| ating to aviation personnel OF the
| Navy, which was approved this week
! by Rear Admiral W. II. Shoemaker
chief OF the Bureau Of Navigation
with some interesting comment. Grea,
! Interest was attached 10 that para
graph which prescribed that Officers
| ordered TO Pensacola for training as
naval aviators shall take the regular
course being given. except officers Of
ha Of Ny4iy, nd oh
not take radio practice beyond ten
| words a minute and where found
necessary in any case a safety pilot
may be in the plane
The purpose Of this paragraph. II is
pointed out by Admiral Shoemaker. in
commenting upon this phase OF the
boards report, is TO provide captains
for air craft carriers and important
air stations. AT the present time there
is but one naval aviator holding the
rank of rear admiral and but one Of
the rank of captain who are sufficient
" familiar with line duties to be as
signed to details appropriate TO those
grades. Going still further down the
line, Admiral Shoemaker continued
there are but three naval aYiatorS
holding the rank of commander. but
an examination of their service rec
ords reveals the fact that they have
not had sufficient previous executive
and command duty which would JUS
| tify any one of them to be ordered 10
! command an airplane carrier. AS the
| result of this situation. the Navy De
partment is compelled to detail line
captains with the requisite executive
| and command experience to qualify as
naval aviators. OF the five captains
! who are now under orders to undergo
the course Of instruction at Pensacola
four have the required aviation eX.
perience necessary to command air
plane carriers.
Six ensigns have been selected by
the Navy Department for post
graduate instruction in naval con
struction. They will be ordered to the
Naval Academy for a one-year course
beginning in June. upon the compile
TOURS.