Evening star., 1958-07-15
The inferior Retired

The writer. q retired naval
oficer. served at sea in COM
bat zones "a World Wars !
and II. Tne views herein are
solely the writer's and do
not necessarily conform with
those ct any Government
agency.
There are several miscon-
ceptions i'm the press cover
age Of the recently enacted
military pay revisions. AS a
matter of impcrtance to our
national interests. these mis-
conceptions should be cor
rected.
First, the title 'pay in
creases" is a misnomer. a
serious one, which beclouds
public understanding. Mill
tary personnel will now get
more dollars, but smaller dol
lars than at the time of the
last previous revision. A COR
rect title would be RE
adjustment of military pay
to partly compensate for
shrunken dollar value"
Second. The many pay re-
adjustments during the past
haf-century. including the
present one have not ef-
fected increases in actual
compensation food, shelter,
c1othing) for most ranks, if
any. except transitorily and
for specialized groups. up
ward dollar adjustments have
not kept pace with the
shrinking buying power of
the dollar.
Third. Retired pay for
those retired before June l
this year is now reduced rela-
tive to corresponding active
ranks, and reduced relative
to those retiring after that
date. This is the first de-
parture from the principle
deemed essential up to now,
of a direct and unchanging
relationship between active
and retired pay. It is tanta-
mount to a breach of faith
by our Government.
Fourth. There are now two
military retired lists, the
ELITE Retired List" (those
retiring after June ! 1851,
and the Inferior Retired
List" (those retired before
that date, including many
who have had high COM
mands in war and peace).
Fifth. The effect of the
above upon active military
personnel cannot but be
highly deleterious, particu-
larly upon young personnel
of superior competence who
should be encouraged toward
service careers.
Sixth. 1t has been officially
stated that ", the official
position of the Department
of Defense in support of the
pay bill contained a recon-
mendation for omission of
the current retired list from
increased pay :" and that
"The Department of Defense
proposal recommended
that retired personnel should
receive no increase in re-
tired pay" 1t is believed that
many in both House of Con-
gress were opposed to set
ting up an Inferior Retired
List" but the Defense De-
partment'S position pre-
vailed.
Seventh. The precedent
having been set, and in view
Of the Pentagon's position,
an abolishment of the Infe-
rior List by a future Con-
gress seems unlikely. Rather,
our active personnel may
expect a further prolifera-
ton Of the Inferior List into
sub-lists based on retirement
dates, when future readjust-
ments of dollar-pay are
made.
Eighth. The conclusion is
inescapable that many of
the cream of our young ac-
tive personnel will be de-
TERED from Service careers by
this demonstrated retirement
insecurity. This makes the
matter one of prime national
Importance.
T. G. w. Settle,
Vice Admiral, USN, Retired.
Ritzy 'Slum'
Shame on Agnes Taylor
Miller! Where has she been
lately?
In her letter July 10 on the
location of the National Cul-
tural Center titled, Arise.
Ladiesl" she says: Ladies,
are you going to sit quietly
by and not raise a voice to
allow the proposed opera
house and theater TO be To-
Gated \. in the slums of
Foggy Bottom?"
Does she know What