Appointment & Disappointment

Appointment & Disappointment

While last week the Navy Department considered plans for building up the U. S. fleet to the terms of the London Naval Treaty, the Bureau of Navigation pleaded for officers to staff the ships already in existence. There were 718 Congressional appointments to the Naval Academy going begging last week. Moreover, officer resig- nations in 1929 totaled 309, of which 219 were junior officers; 77 have resigned thus far this year.

Reasons given for this depletion of commissioned Navy personnel: disappointingly poor and unequal pay, a bad promotion system. After the strenuous four years of instruction at Annapolis, an ensign receives $1,500 a year, $699 allowances, or about the pay of a District of Columbia policeman. After seven years in the service, he may be promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) with a total salary of $2,899. These rates are based on the military pay law of 1908, as revised by War bonuses and the hastily passed law of 1922. In 1929 a pay board representing the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard determined that while living costs since 1908 had risen 104%, U. S. officers pay had risen only 11%, and junior officers' pay had decreased about 2%. Under the bonus system, a certain lieutenant is now receiving $6,357 a year, $138 more than his rear admiral; a certain Chief Petty Officer (noncommissioned) is receiving more than the commander of his ship.

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