The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-13
INCREASE OF THE PAY OF ARMY OFFICERS.

INCREASE OF THE PAY OF ARMY OFFICERS.
We know of subject of legislation which there is
SO much unanmity in the public mind, far the ind
cations of the press reliable evidence the question:
the necessity for increase of the pay Of army Off
GERS The two articles below from the Journal of Com
merce and the other from the New York Tribune furnish
striking proof Of the fact;
From the Journal of Commerce.
INCREASE THE PAY ARMY oFFIcERs.--We are glad
to that there is prospect that action will be taken
this session the bill bills to increase the pay Of the
officers OF the army Among the many useful
qurng consideration which have been neglected for the
proess and unnterestng discussion upon the President
message hefe Is scarcely worthy of prompt
tenion than that TO which we allude
When the present rates Of pay for army officers were
tabhed twauy-6ve years ago. they considered and
doubtless WERE sufficient to enable officers live comora
bly, and support the dignity of ther position Since then
the necessary expenses of living have than doub
that what liberal compensation then is wholly in
adequate now aud not only officers unable to
make provision for their families for their main
in of sickness disaster, but they find i,
barely possible TO their expenses The officer
OF the present. day receives liberal and accomps beo
educaton his profession debar5 him from the pursuit
wealth through the many avenues open to the civilian
and he devoes the best years Of his life the service
his country After twelve fifteen years service be per.
haps asins the rank Of captain, and his pay including
allowances for ratops, &c. is but fraction over SlO0
month. The inferior grades receive much less, and yet
of middle age with large families to be found 10
q
certain STYLE and less abe do Than many the
ploytes public works and ia counting houses
TIC necessary consequence has been that very many off,
of standing aud distinction have resigned their
missions to seek other and lucrative employ
and unless con be taken promptly by the national legs
laure to remedy this injustice it may reasonably be
peced that many viii quit the service during the
present year. We believe that all agree in the necessity
this reform While people opposed lavish
itures they always willing that public should
be amply and literally paid and would heartily approve
he nav
have been heard and conceded Members Congress
voted Increase of their pay the ground Of the
made in the salaries OF the civil officers of the
the army alone has been neglected 1t is high time
justice be done to those who devote their lives to the
of their country and dare danger and death to main
tain her honor and defend her interests
From The New York Tribune.
Among other bills pending before Congress is one for
increasing the pay of the officers of the amya class
the public servants who have hitherto had share in the
increase of compensation so generally granted within
few years past
The monthly pay and the number Of ratons allowed to
the army officers remain with only trifng alterations
the established long ago 1902 The price OF
raons fixed in 1903 at twenty cents at which rate it
still continues. captain in the artillery infantry re-
ceives scarcely 81 year. pay rations and eryhng
included. lieutenant receives about 5000 These were
handsome salaries forty years ago. and adequate the
support OF family but with the changes which have since
occurred in the of living and The value of money they
have ceased to be And in the of army officers
this deficiency aggravated by the fact that they are so
constantly the move and frequently required to under
take expensive journeys from extremity of the country
to the other.
We have been advocates for high salaries but
policy less than justice requires that all persons en-
poyed in the public service should receive reasonable
corresponding to the qualifications and du-
ties required of them The army has already suffered the
loss of of its best officers whom the necessity of prov
ding adequate support for their families has compelled
return to private life We in danger of retaining in
the public service only that portion of the officers whose
serv might best be spared do any cure for
this evil except by increase Of pay II the question were
about dispensing altogether with army much might be
ssid that tOpic but we to have one let have
one Of which we shall have reason TO be ashamed