The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-10-15

MR.. EDITOR Through the medium OF
your excellent paper, We desire TO cali the
following facts, and request that they give
them their earnest and honest cons;dera-
ton.
From the beginning of this war there
has been bitter crusade against the salA-
ries of army officers. With the people,
who simply count these salaries in dollars
and cents, but who understand nothing of
the enormous and necessary outlay of Off
Gers, there IL yome excuse for this prevail
ing prejudice; but, for our public servants
those who make our laws and whose
duty it is to apportion justly and equitably
the public burden-there IL no such excuse.
and the only explanation We can find for
their conduct in the case in question is
their willingness to cater to the prejudices
of the people, thereby making themselves
popular, and enhancing their chances for
reelection.
By the income tax, as interpreted by
those who are entrusted with its enforce
ment at department headquarters, army
officers pay at leas: 200 per cent. III ore than
those who prosecute their business at
home; or those who hold civil Offices in
the State or under the General Govern
ment, and it happens in this wise: What
ever an army officer buys, land it is made
his duty to live till he is killed in battle or
dies of disease), he pays three prices for.
A pair of boots that cost s. at home cannot
be bought of an army sutler for less than
Sl5. All articles Of clothing are in the same
proportion and in the line of provisions,
If an officer INDUCES in anything but
bareback and sow-belly" the extOrtion
is still greater. We can safely say, that if
the necessary expenses Of civilian are
$500 per aunum, those Of An army officer
are u 500. Now suppose the salaries of q
civilian and Of an army officer are 81, 500
each; $500 are exempt from taxation. De-
Quoting the necessary expenses of living.
the civilian still has q 600 ont Of which to
pay his 8 per cent. tax on $500; whereas
the army officer has only 5000. We mean
that $500 at home is equivalent to 81, 800 IN
the army; and this is n fair statement.
which will be substantieted by all who are
acquainted with life in the army.
Our Congressman did Q patriotic act in
raising the pay Of the private soldiers
they would have done better had they
| raised it still higher. And nearly all the
acts Of their last session meet with our
warm approval but this system Of prey
unjust, and merits the condemnation Of all
honest men. We will say nothing Of the
claims an army officer has upon the Gov
eminent for its Eberaliiy, nor Of the fire.
quent sufferingh Of the families OF those
who have been killed IN battle, which are
occasioned by the unavoidable delays O!
the Government in making final settle
ments but we cannot omit mentioning one
matter which, though tritiing, did not fail
TO stir our temper. When we complained
CT the injustice OF this act, we were told by
ranting hypocrite, qa.osa Government OF.
ncial, who breaches for his bread on Sun
Gays, and during the week days lies snug.
~ 20 the breast OF his bountiful public
mother, sucking a nice little fortune; who.
!or the good Of! his country, has never per.
iled hair Of his head, nor expended dol.
lar OF his money except that extract ed from
nnM y virtue OF law-we were told by this
man that we soere not patriotic
"A %