Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05
new NAVY PAY BILL
URGED BY OFFICER
Lieut.. Comdr. Denebrink En-
phasizss Inequalities Under
Present System.

Prevalence of dissension in the COM
FiiiSSionec personnel Of the United
States Navy. Spurred on by chickering's.
tealouSieS and animosiues on pay mat
tiers was pointed out to the special
board inQuiring into the salary question
In an imprisoned appeal on bshalf of
the Annapolis graduates by Lieut.
Comdr. f. c. Denebrink. in charge OF
the press room at the Navy Department
who has made study Of the pay Law
Of 1922. which is the basis Of ali Of the
dissatisfaction.
In his plea for new pay bill which
would give pay commensurate with the
responsibilities assumed. Comdr Dene-
brink gave concrete cases OF officers.
having minor responsibilities, drawing
greater pay than the adnirals COM
nnsnding the fleets. These were tbs
cases of men who reached the commits
stoned grades from the ranks. and have
obtained their high pay because of ad-
6itionS for length OF service. He par
ticuiarly condemned the provisions of
the 1922 pay bill which made this pos
Sible. and also the so-called discrinina-
tionS against bachelor officers. who do
not receive any allowance for depend
entS. as do the married officers in the
Navy.
Advocates Pay for Rank.
In urging the passage of new pay
bill. he said that Ii should be based
absolutely on pay for rank 1t should
be simple, ii should provide diScrimina-
ton on account OF dependents: II should
place all commissioned officers on
parity so that the present discrimina-
tons caused by computing of Naval
Academy service may be eliminated: it
should increase the pay Of junior Of
yift yysif
foreign service school graduates: it
should remove the present top limita-
tionS OF pay TO high ranking officers,
through aboliShlng all allowances for
rental and subsistence. so that there NAV
be general increase in pay to oficers
Of the rank of captain and rear admiral.
with appropriate extras for the tempo
yary ranks of vice admiral and admiral:
1t should avoid the use of allowances; 1t
should provide small additions OF pay
annually for years of service in each
rank, such increase to have top level:
IL should grant 10 all officers pay COM
nensurate with their work and the in
roads made by the decreased purchas-
ing power Of the dollar: 1t should have
the pay scale graded eolntably between
the recommended higher pay OF ensigns
and admirals
After outlining concrete cases of
great determinations in the 1922 pay
Law. which, it was claimed at the time
Of passage would put all on the same
plane Comdy Denebrink. said that
discrimination. partial treatment. spe-
clal groups granted ciSpensations al
the sacrifice of the majority-ali these
things have resulted IN mental con-
oltion OF those concerned which has
created strife. bitterness of thought,
and 0etrscted from the efficiency of
the officer personnel of the naval serv-
ice"
Declares Officers Are In Debt.
He cited cases where officers instead
Of Dsing free from financial difficulties
so that they could give their attention
wholly to improving themselves in the
profession Of arms. were considerably
concerned, and gave instances OF where
ofncers, deeply in debt were seeking
leave of absence so that they could 90
into the commercial world for long
enough period to recuperate financially.
Discussing the disparity in some of
Ltle salaries, he gave the case of COM
nander OF - years service, an execu-
tive offlcer Of one of the fast cruisers. |
VINO, DecauSs he was a bachelor re-
cejved less pay than six officers Junior !.
70 him. one Of them being a chisf gun
nsr- There Was another case oil an An
A@kNoAso ~ aAhubSs navigator OF q num- /
lions ship, ana third aboard In point
OF seniority, VINO received less money
than four lieutenants who were Junior
70 him. Three OF them received S9s
per month more than the navigator. |
while one of them, received s242 a
month. CT more than twice as much |
as the man with many times the re- |
sp0risibility. Even pay clerk on the
same ship only received one dollar less !
per month than the navigating officer. /
Such condition, he told the board. /
defies all the laws Of economics, and |
encourages all The elements of dis /
loyalty which should be stamped down /
IN military service at the first out |
cropping, yet it has existed for six
years In the United States Navy with !
out any question being raised.
The sad condition of affairs brought ,
about by the 1922 pay law. and which |
ne sad still exists. were outlined by ,
Conor. Denebrink when he said that /.
officers have been compelled TO live be-
yond their means.