The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-24
PAY OF TEE UNITEp sTATEs ARMY.

u . i. L
The subject of increase Of pay Of army officers says
the Baltimore SUM is beginning to excite the attention Of
the press in various portions of the country and If
Judgment can be formed from the opinions expressed by
the public papers, there be doubt that such meas
would be in accordance with the intelligent sentiment Of
the country. The @Mississppisn quotes approvingy the
views Of General Scott in his report to the Secretary of
War; in which Hhe want indispensable to the wel-being
Of the army, and the most pressing of ALL stated to
be increased compensation to commissioned officers"
Gen. Scott says
Our recent in arms adding immensely to the
territory and wealth Of the Unon have suddenly diminished
the necesarie and comforts of officers thirty per more,
making in all forty fifty per centum by corresponding
dimnuton in the value of their stationary receipts while in
every other department Of e public and private the
wards OF labor TALENT and science have by equitable ad
vancing SCALE remained before 1t certainly Pc
cuar hardship upon officers who contributed much
labor talent science, and blood towards those successes
that they should thereby reduced themselves to state
Of comparative poverty"
writer in the Missouri Republican, who appears to be
well acquainted with the subject presents it in very
strong light We quote few extracts
:" Many officers who held commissions, expecting that
Congress would the proprety Of paying them suitable
compensation, having been long and SO repeatedly dap
pointed their hopes have given disgust and resigned
from the army whose is unwilling pay its
tenders in proper Many will leave If the
Congress does not do something relieve their
dition Itshoud not be expected that of intelligence
and energy will DO willing to risk their lives among savages
and be- off from the civilized world without suitable
ward.
"In 1856 Mr. Faulkner, Of Virginia. introduced bill for
reodeng the army and increasing its efficiency by making
retired list well increasing the pay Of commissioned
officers Said bill proposed to do away with the corps of
typographical engineers reduced the quartermsstsr sub
tence ordnance adutant generals Department.
and leave the medical and pay departments organized
Said BILL however, incomplete, for it did not en-
brace the provisions of another bill Of the previous year.
which granted fortkespers and which
positions were to be filed by the faithful and distin-
gushed non-commissioned officers of the army 1t also
failed place the widows and orphans of officers and SOL
diers of tho army the footing those of officers
and sailors belonging to the navy. Why distinction
should be made by law between the navy and the army
this respect what understand both branches
Of the service officers and exposed great danger
defence of their county and Of late years the
army suffered aud been much exposed
ger Tin of Indian hostes) than the navy
enemy the army has to be accounted for belonging to
the United States without the captors deriving benefit
hersrom whereas in the navy prze-money allowed This
is what call distinction without the shadow Of JUS
tce."
Two hundred and thirtyfve officers Of the army have
resigned within the last ten years to seek civil employ
ment