The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-31

THE ARMY-THE PAY OF THE OFrIcERs.-
Should members Of Congress ever get tired of
discussing the everlasting niger question, or
discover that there are white men in the United
States, Of which at present we see no signs, 1t i
to be hoped that they will turn their attention 10
the legitimate affairs Of legislation and attend to
the business for which they we're elected. TIL,
people are getting weary and tired of their petty
squabbles, and the time has arrived when they
must look after the interests Of the country, or
meet the just indignation Of an outraged aad
abused constituency. There are hundreds of
bills awaiting their action, which will not be
reached this session, now rapidly drawing to q
Close, unless members cease defining their posi-
ton, OF which nine hundred and ninety-nine out
Of a thousand Of the people do not care q straw,
and 60 to work. Amongst these bills the one
brought forward by the Chairman of the Military
Committee in the House for increasing the pay
Of the officers Of the army requires prompt ac-
ton, unless we wish to see our army virtually
disbanded.
The present pay, established some twenty-five
or thirty years ago, was amply sufficient at that
time to support our officers comfortably, but at
present, owing to the greatly increased cost Of
living, IL Is nothing more than genteel beggary.
Opposed as our people always have been, and
Justly 30 too, to large salaries, the other hand
they are equally opposed to the Inadequate ~
ment for services rendered. The bill above re-
ferred TO slightly increases the pay, but is all tie
army asks, and if granted will enable the Officers
to live more az becomes their position, and re-
licvc them from the constant anxiety TO make
both ends meet. AS body they are more poorly
paid than any class of men in the country. Most
Of the clerks in our stores receive better salaries
besides being in the road to fortune. We educasc
our officers at West Point and then send them to the
army, where they spend their lives altcrnatins
between the everglades Of Florida aud the West
ern prairies the wilds Of Texas and the noun
tains of Oregon, devoting their best energies to
their country, and receiving and expecting no
thing but their pay. Cut or from business, there
is no road Tor them which leads to wealth, and
the country should therefore zee that they have
enough to live upon, which is all they ask.
At present, an officer who has served from fif
teen to twenty years receives about sll0 per
month, including everything, pay and emolu-
ments This Is supposing that he has reached q
captaincy which he generally does in this period;
but il he Is still a lieutenant his pay is much
less. This miserably small pittancc Is driv-
ing the officers from the army in crowds, and
unless the pay is increased we shall soon lose the
majority of those that stu remain. During the
past year over eighty officers have thrown up their
commissions and retired to private life, where
better opportunity offers for providing for them
selves and families
The pay Of all the civil employees Of the go
vernment has been increased, and VIC wait TO sec
IL Congress will do like act Of justice towards
our gallant army. We hope that we shall not be
disappointed, and that IL win not turn out that
the members have exhausted their generosity In
increasing their own pay, but will extend the
same relief to their military brethren.