Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-21
Reform in Military Matters.

1t has always been assumed that military
service was one of the duties which the cit-
zen owed to the state-as fair and equal re-
turn for its protection aind benefits. To a
certain extent the assumption is a correct one,
and when the necessity is upon the country,
no good citizen can rightly escape from it.
But the obligation is universal resting as we'll
upon those who are not competent to military
service, as upon those who are-upon those
who remain at home, as upon those who as
sumo the labor and hazard of the field. When
the burden of personal service, then, is une-
qually distributed, it is pure equity that the
rewards should be made as nearly impartial
as possible. For this reason, the increase of
the pay of the private soldiers belongs TO that
rare legislation which is genuine reform.
The proclamation of the governor states,
with great clearness and simplicity, the ad.
vantage accruing to the private soldier under
the new order of things. We run the risk of
repetition, in stating them in any other form.
The new enlistments are for term not ex-
ceeding three years. If, by any possible con-
tngency, the war lasts SO long, a volunteer
who has not before been in service, and who
takes his full state bounty in hand, receives
the following compensation -
State bounty in hand. 1925
U. S. bounty Gin instalments) ...... 302
Three years monthly pay......... 46S
1Olal. SlUJ0
If the volunteer has already seen nine
4
the United States 500 additonal-Sll95 for
three years service. This is understood, of
course, as exclusive of rations and clothing
which are furnished by the government. Let
any person, dependent on his own efforts for
support, make an estimate of the results of
an equal period of service at home, and lie
will readily see how near to full justice the
state and the nation have attempted to come,
in the care of those who take the burdens on
their shoulders. But suppose the war termi-
mates in less than three years, then the volun-
teer receives (l) the state bounty 1925, (2)
United States bounty 1902, or $4O2 if a vet
eran, CO the established monthly pay of $l3,
and az state aid not exceeding Sl2 month,
to one who leaves a wife and two or more
children at home.
This is one alternative. But there is still
better one for the volunteer. In the event of
his choosing to receive his state bounty in the
form OF monthly wages, rather than as boun
ty in hand, and if the war lasts three years, he
gets paid as follows -
State bounty in hand. ..................$50
State bounty in monthly payments OF $50
for three years. ...............7 20
u. S. bounty in hand. .................. 81
u. S. bounty in instruments. .240
Three years monthly pay...............4 GS
If veteran 500 additional. .......... l640
The volunteer is here as before provided
with rations, clothing and equipment, and his
dependents receive state aid as before, not
exceeding one hundred and forty-four dollars
per year. The war closing in less than three
years, the volunteer electing to receive state
pay instead of bounty, has still for single
years service seven hundred and seventy
three dollars if he takes the state bounty in
hand, eight hundred and forty-eight dollars
if he elects state assistance in monthly pay
ments-yeterans in each case receiving one
hundred dollars in addition. For a longer
period than one year the compensation is
proportionally increased, as any one may
readily see by making the computation for
himself.