New-York tribune., 1874-05-30
ARMY ORGANIZATION


DrNORA AIIzATION CAUSED BY TiNKERING WITH
EXISTING LAws-A NEW PLAN FOR THE PAYMENT
OF TROOPs-TTs DEFECTS POINTED OUT By THE
PAYMAsTER- GENERAL.
lyRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNB.I
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-Nothing is so de-
moralizipg to our army as constant Dkering with
its organization by Congress- especially when 1t Is done
by men who almost nothing OF the practical work
ing OF the laws they are so anxious to amend
or repeal The bill for the reorganization OF the army
reported by the House Military Committee contains,
among other things an entire plan for the payment
OF troops letter written by Paymsstcr-General AL
word OF the army from which the following extracts
are made will show how successful the Committee has
been in attempting one reform at least. Gen. Avord
says:
In general terms can say that this scheme would be
very odious to tho soldiers; would deprive them OF
facilities for checks and making deposits heretofore pos
sessed; would put them at the mercy OF the post
traders; would ipure discipline; would delay aud com
pcae the rolls the personal presence OF the paymaster
iu conference with the company commander being con-
stantly needed to clear vagueness IN the rolls ana
lead 70 intelligent payment Of the troops Onercus and
to the soldiers and Officers not imprac
ticable in time of peace. the scheme woud DC utterly
impractcable in time OF war
The obi in detail can be arranged under
VI i. Tns scheme would be very Objectionable and
Gus the soldier He wants not check but the money
for three purposes: little for his own uses, some per-
haps to seud in check checks to make remttances
and to deposit. For all of these purposes the
presence the paymaster il required. He IL always
provided with funds in NewYork TO give soldiers or
officers checks NewYork if they apply for them.
II paid check. not seeing the paymaser he would
accomplish none of these purposes and would generally
city and he GOES on leave to get his check cashed he
absent from his duty and tempted to spend his money
q The deposir system would be broken up by this
scheme Under the act Of May l5 1872 the soldier can
make deposits to remain WITH tne r ar apt % r
for the same. This system is working admirably
and prevent desertions. Under i abou, $1,000 per
month Is being deposted,-he number and amounts OF
known and understood in the army.
The effect OF this scheme would be to seduce the
soldier making deposits and thus in great measure
defeat the benefceut purposes OF the law
3. This programme proposes that the rolls shall go
from the company commander to the paymaster. who,
after making out the figures, sends checks ana rolls to
the company commander who takes the receipts OF the
there would be divided responsibility, and these val
vouchers ntrusted to mails often unsafe and un
certain. =, ,,o.ouoo ., ,o 80 nonto,0,,o
with the %nsn ne % s ans
and errors often occurring on tho rolls There
arise, which. under the proposed system, would
cause along delays for transaction of the business
Dsymaster Seeon' would be deprived Of his vonch-
ers. Meantime rolls covering subsequent periods
accounts be assuredy stated without knowledge OF who
had paid and howl Meantime deaths, desertons,
checks. and the complications OF final accounts.
Now by the present system the paymaster arrives at
the post The rolls made out and examined on the
spot Each soldier receipts the roll with opportunity to
question its correctness any such question Is forthwith
left possession Of assured data upon which to base
4 The proposed system would demoralize and change
the whole theory OF the Pay Department II now t1e
ambition OF the paymaster 10 reach the rank ana ME
with currency, and be as active as possible whereas
the other method would tend to make nun as Inactive
possible and 10 keep him in his office, to an extent
injurious to the public service.
The provlso at the close OF the section says that
"Tne Secretary OF War may, in cases where troops
located at remote points or where as herein
before provided would work hardship to the men,
direct payment in currency as heretofore"
This clause betrays justly founded consciousness
that the scheme would work hardship TO the men.
II the h most remote posts are V6eq Thy mot w6y
To exempt some posts from those visits would make
posts into TWO kinds, one visited. the other not
visited by the paylnaster: would inevitably make
Mississippi, and the method OF payment for the whole
army should be- uniform. Thus the number Of posts not
visited would 3ec9e , ,, nu 81 Ie s h o OF py
not be sufficient Tor the service Indeed the war De-
partment might well decide TN sha fne method proposed
whole army, and thus far practicable make little
change from the old system.
east Of the Mississippi the proposed method would he
Objectionable and injurious to discipline After the
payment the soldiers would seek leaves Of absence In
large numbers to visit the adjoining cities to get the
currency their checks and they would thus get their
money in places where there would be the greatest
temptation It in dissipation Thus discouraged
from making remances to their friends or from max
ing any deposits could better plan to promote the de-
mOralizatiOn OF the rank and file be inyentedf
g. IL has been announced that this project Is based
on the example OF the Pension Bureau which pays the
pensioners In checks. But tho not parallel
The latter receive quarterly invarabe sum- gen
orally live fixed abodes, accessible to banks where
they can readily got their checks cashed. Even
with that Bureau, as with eyerv other Bureau
paying by checks. there Is much delay and
vexation by questions growing out OF lost
checks forged Endorsements &c.' In this
Office these questions still arising checks issued
by the Bounty Bureau at least five years since
OF lost checks tho system OF duplicates is
fraught with annoy ing delays (See I'd February
1872 and General Orders Nos and l5 OF 1872 Toe law
provides that period Of six months must eapse before
o duplicate can be issued.
Z. The Pay Department makes payment nv
check whenever practicable, especially 10 officers
and discharged men, either to them per-
sonaly or by use OF the mail The law contem-
plates that the greenbacks shall not be held in hand
cept when absolutely necessary for the
rank and fiie The duty OF such payments salts
factory accomplished during the late to millions
OF troops 1t accomplished with remarkably small
percentage Of expense and loss to the Government And
II the experience OF the past IS worth anything It
should for economical TO deter changing
OF organization which has been thus tested
8. In time Of the difficulties herein urged would
be multiplied 70 render payments by checks quite
impracticaDle.
Al branches Of the staff and the whole machinery Of
the army should be habuated In time OF peace to the
modes Of proceeding necessary IN time OF war.