The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-01-23
= RIGHT MOVE.

f9& 4&E" - I--E ~-N.--S &N $s X
Since the commencement Of &hiss re-
bellion, and the departure Of our armies
to4ths Geld Of action, people have not
only commenced to count but really
feclthe great expense which is involved,
in supporting so large an army 10 carry
on the war. Dollars are counted out
and demanded bys.millions, where even
less than thousands were expended in.
times Of peace. SO fast is our money
being expended, and a national debt
accommodating, that every individual is
perfectly appalled, ut the immense
amount required t lubricate the machi-
merry OF war. For a long time has the
cry arose from the mouth ofevcry loyal
man, save that perhaps of the fortunate
recipient, not only keep in eagle eve
upon government contractors, hut cur
tail the c%xtravagant pay Of gentleman
in epaulctts, the loyalty Of to many Of
whom was manufactured to orlc, and
is now measured BY = liberal bcstow-
ment Of government pap. Who does
not know that the enormous pay Of all
commissioned officers and especially the
higher grades is greatly d%isproportio-
nate to the pay received by the humble.
soldier, thr trm patriot, the brave heart
that has enlisted to do oil the dirty
work Of officers and to face the
mouth in defence of his country's flag,
and not for the honors or dollars and
cents. Had the pay OF officers at the
commencement oftl,is war been reduced
one half we should not have had a
single soldier the less in the field to-
day, while many officers, caring but
little what is done, except to keep The
machinery 50 moving that they shall I've
certain Of their monthly pile and extra
r%ations, would have been at home and
others having less last for the filthy
lucre and more %nnbought patriotism
would now be filling their places, and
VIC have more effective army, clothed
from the highest to the lQVcst with 4
panoply of unqncs,ionablc patriotism.
The cry ot exorbitant pay to officers
has at length reached the halls Of Con-
gress and they arenow engaged in consi-
dering the matter. We sincerely hope
that tlasr councils will be marked with
wisdom and their action in accordance
with the demands Of . heavy tax pay
ing people.
Senator Sherman has introduced into
the Senate . bill regulating the pay Of
all officers, and reducing the pay Of all
commissioned officers from one fifth to
one third. The reduction we consider
small although it is better than nothing
in these hard times.
The following is What an officer Of
large experience and high rank, says in
regard to the pay Of army officers.
Coming from n ofthem, and aclose
observer it certainly is entitled TO much
consideration: a.flef #a.
"In my opinion the pay Of commits.
stoned officers is to high, and greatly
disproportioned to that OF the rank and
fle, and OH the other hand the pay Of
noncommissionel officers is too low
and aught to be increased. An Orderly
Sergeant renders more service at $50 a
month than a lieutenant who gets sos
and s1lO; while the Quartermastess
Sergeant, dhc hardest worked man in
the regiment, receives but *17. Tic
duties Of Sergeant Major arc severe,
and *2l is cut Of all reason, compared
with the pay Of 4 Chaplain, $l4G,50I
Now what service does a Chaplain rem
der to . regiment commensurate to his
pay !? AT TIM very most, even # q Chap
lain does attend to and discharge all his
duties, and expounas, in his own way
the gospel oncs a week, and attends
funerals when he is well, and the wea-
Their is not unpleasant, does he earn
1,768 dolls. . year?