The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-01

Justice TO the Army-Miserable Remunera-
tion or United States Onioers-An Appeal
to the Liberslity or Uncle Sam.

Justice 70 the Army-H1iserable Remunera-
tion or United States Onicers-An Appeal
to the Liberslity OF Uncle Sam.
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD.
The nadequacy of the pay Of army officers 10 their
support has often and strongly been urged upon Con
gress, but yet with no beneficial result.
1t is believed that bill viii be brought before Con-
gress this session. providing for increased pay officers
That the passage Of such bill is emnenty necessary,
that officers may receive decent support and fair
pensaton for their services s ncontroyertble.
The i'll Of the previous efforts of advocates for
increase of pay may be attributed in great
the vague and ideas among civilians
unacquained with the details Of army affairs respecting
the pay and emouments Of officers of the army.
Nearly every officer has at period Of his service
received something like the following for answer,
when stating the amount of his monthly pay:"Oh yes,
but you fed clothed and equipped at the of
res y
OF course every with the subject knows
that officers neither fed clothed equipped at me
public EXPENSE that instead of receiving ample provision
for their support, barely sufficient for the
res of life is granted them and in some not
this For what officer does not know instances OF
poor lieutenant the frontiers being obliged 70 transfer
his entire monthly pay 10 liquidate his mess bs or
course the residue in this casenOhng 70 the pur
chase OF clothing, equipments, &c.
II is evident that like the foregoing the private
soldier il better paid than his officer, for he is fed,
clothed and equipped and receives in addition compcn-
sation for his services.
~
tnguished officers have left, and leaving the army
They obtain much celebrity and far better com
pensation with less hardship and privaon, out of the
army than in it,
officers are daily receiving offers of responsible
tons in civil life with four or i've times tho comrcnsa-
ton they receive in the army. Some, however, have
formed SO many attachments that link them to the army
that they cannot leave it. others resign in despair Of
thing being effected IN their behalf and that they
may acquire competency to support and educate their
families.
The officers of the lower grades in the army do not
allowed government
good aborer, under the supervision OF officer fire.
quently receives more than the officer Many subal-
tern performing the duties Of Assistant Quartermaster
and Commssary has paid his clerk far more than he
himself received.
essonal duties and not be bged to perform duties
becoming his position he is allowed by law the pay
and maintenance OF servant on bis (the ehcers) cer
fcate that he actually keeps such servant Therefore
this amount commuted (sl9 SOY per month, cannot be
considered part Of the officers pay Should he not in
the expense and actually keep in service servant
he receives no portion OF this amount.
Dcductng this the pay Of second lieutenant of artil
ery infantry is $40 per month, $500 per annum
the pay OF fret lieutenant of 1--we years service
in the same branches is $50 per month 1920 per
num- and of captain, after than fifteen years
vice, Is but So per month or S9Ss per annum In view
OF the increased rates Of living the social position the off,
must sustain and the comparative pay of other
wants OF the gov ernment il very evident that class
OF poorly paid officers of the army Subject
TO service that may entail upon them runed consttu
ton ard early grave often out of reach Of every
fort subjected 10 hardshps and privatons of which no
foreign army oilers PARALLEL l. just Is proper that
they should be compelled to exc out miserable live
lhood when all other public servants in comparison
literally paidf
Whereas Congress has justly provided in most instances
for the increased expenses Of public servants incident TO
the vastly augmented price of provisions &c the pay OF
officers remains precisely as when the cost OF living was
not one half it, present amount.
well that officers actuated by higher motives
than by the attainment Of money for certainly there are
but few positions in which man OF ordinary intelligence
and respectable education could be placed in which
he could not earn more liberal subsistence than that
granted 10 officers Of The army
is most earnestly to be hoped that some measures
will be taken before the adjournment of Congress TO
place officers footing with other public servants.
There various methods suggested-one by the Sc
cretary OF War by the General in Chief and others
by distinguished officers OF the army by which this
be effected. Any of these, should be
embodied in bill and passed. will be most gratefully
| cciycd by the JUSTITIA