Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
Inequalities Cited.

Inequalities Cited.
of service of officers who have risen
from the ranks, and allowances for
married men, that much Of the dis
satisfaction has arisen. These allow
ances have caused inequalities Of pay
that are ludicrous. For instance, In
one case, two lieutenants receive
$138 more a year than the rear ad-
miral. four grades above them, in COM
mand of a force of SO destroyers, one
cruiser and two repair ships. Two
other rear admirals are drawing the
not subject to the humiliation of hav-
ing the higher paid lieutenant on their
ships.
Still another case which was cited
by Comdr. c. M. Austin is that of a
lieutenant who was in command of a
submarine, on board of which was a
chief petty officer. Since the World
War the enlisted man has risen to the
rank of lieutenant and he gets more
pay than his chief, who is In command
OF whole division Of submarines.
Instance of the Maryland.
One Of the most striking illustrations
OF the inequalities of pay is that on
board the Maryland which took Mr.,
Hoover on his trip to South America.
In that case the physician who had
81 years Of service for pay purposes,
was the highest paid officer on board.
He received a salary of $7,172, or $3.50
more a year than the captain in COM
mand Of the $30,000,000 ship, who had
served 80 years In the Navy.
Numerous cases could be cited where
paymaSters are getting more than cap
tains, gunnery officers only about $500
less than rear admirals, innumerable
lieutenants getting more than their SUI
periorS two and three grades above
them.
The complicated pay system also is
blamed for the inequalities, and the
controller generals ONCE comes in for
its share of criticism for delays, red
tape and unfair deductions. AS one
ohcer, who had 10 per cent cut from
IF they would simplify the system
they could cut down the huge staff
the controller generals Office has to
maintain and recompense us fully for
our expenses without adding to the
budget for that purpose at least"
Expense Accounts Sore Points.
Expense accounts are sore points with
officers who travel short distances and
AA%e'O w AA0AAboAA tA1ChloCltCS 1Olls
periods away from their base. One
such case was that of an ofiicer whose
mileage was only about $50 and whose
maintenance expense was $156. He re-
ceived the mileage, but had to pay the
rest OF his expense out of his own
pocket.
Allowances, according to naval
officers, and men Of the other services
as well, should be included with the
lie 1fnk
tend, for pay to be used on conditions
of family life rather than the respon-
sibilities of the job. Married men may
nave dependents, but, on the other
hand, bachelors may want to save to
get married. Besides, as one bachelor
officer put 1t: 1T costs more for q
bachelor to take O girl out for an
evening than it does for a married man
to sit at home by the fireside with his
wifer"
Economic on Servant Hire.
Tales of vacations and furloughs
spent in trying to earn money on the
side were also numerous. Taking care
of the baby while the servantlesS wife
gets little rest or goes to an occasional
matinee are common. Most married
naval oflcers-and Army officers, too
know what it is to help with the house
hold tasks In order to save money fol
other expenses. In one case, when or
shore leave, an of1icer made 1t custom
to get up before daybreak to do the
wash and hang it out before the neigh
bors were up.
1--WE can't save any money to leave
to our families" one married ofdcel
said, $50 1t Is up to us to give oul
children the best education we can. sc
that they can fend for themselves after
we are gone. That costs money, and
there is many petty economy that we
have to make in order to educate ouI
sons and daughters for a fair start In
life"