The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-27
The Daily Argas.
Constructive Allowances.

subcommittee of that on military affairs.
has inserted the probe pretty deeply into
the abuses of the army ring, and brought
| to light facts that cannot fail to impress
the house and the country. In addition to
the large pay of the officers, they are
allowed extras by the act of July Is, 1870.
as follows:
Fuel, quarters, and forage may be furnished in
| kind by the quartermaster's department according
| to law and regulations"
These words, law and regulations. I"
have no meaning for the ordinary citizen.
except what they ostensibly profess: but
for the expert in their construction and
application, they have a professional
significance in emoluments added to regular
pay, which run into hundreds of thousands
when aggregated.
Gen. Melgs reports, in answer to in
qulrles on this law, that the Communication
of quarters, fuel. and forage to officers has
ceased" This answer is technically true
but it is not practically true. because pri-
vate residences or hotel rooms are charged
as quarters; fuel for supposed military
quarters Is turned to private account, and
forage Tor horses allowed for public use is
either transferred to livery stables or
utilized at the private houses of officers
tor their families The law allows a
major general forage for five horses; a
brigadier- general for four horses; colonel
for two horses; lieutenant-colonel for
TWO horses; major for two horses: cap
talns and lleutenants, mounted, for two
horses; chaplains for two horses; ordnance
storekeeper and paymaster at Springfield
armory for two horses, and all other store
keepers for two horses.
Now, there are eighty officers on duty IN
Washington who receive fuel, forage and
quarters. These are the general of the
army, nine brigadier-generals, thirteen
colonies, three lieutenant, colonies, twenty
three majors, six captains, eighteen lieu
tenants, and seven acting surgeons. For
rent" alone they draw five thousand two
hundred dollars, and in many cases the
| quarters" are in the bed rooms of the
bene6ciaries, and the horses charged to
the treasury as kept on duty are iobbed
from the public stables.
In New York there are one majsr-
general, eleven colonies, FIVE lieutenant.
colonels, fourteen majors, nine captains,
and five lieutenants, in all forty-6ve
othcers. who draw three thousand one
hundred and thirty-two dollars under the
head of rent" In Chicago there are one
lieutenant general, three colonies, five
observation-disclosures, six majors, two cap
talns, and two lieutenants, who draw one
thousand three hundred and fifty dollars
| tor rent" In St. Paul there are one
brigadier-general. one colonel, two lieuten-
ant colonies, seven majors, five captains,
and four lleutenants, who draw one thousand
two hundred and forty-two dollars for
rent"
On the stationary rolls these cities
house one hundred and sixty four officers
including some of the very highest ranks,
to say nothing OF the classes who do moi
get quarters. fuel, and forage. Besides
there are other benefits enjoyed, especially
/ by the favorities who are stationed a,
: w Washington and in the great cities, which
are not visible on the surface, and which
count up considerably where families have
to be supported, and choice provisions are
supplied at wholesale prices.
No man. not an expert and familiar
with all the laws and regulations anG
practices, can figure up exactly the emolu.
ments of any officer of high rank The pay
: is alone positively fixed, and the extras
8 cannot now be computed in money. That
: Is to say, an officer cannot convert his al
ioWduces INTO caSn IN the nandS OF the pay
master. But he can convert them in
directly. in a round about way, though
perhaps, at the sacrifice of some persona
Inconvenience, and the strain of profess
i ional feeling
, A system which encourages departure
from soIdierly integrity, and at the same
: time lntllcts a gross extravaganza on the
3 public service, ought not surely to be
L tolerated at time VIXEN every materia
interest is depressed, the revenues arc
falling off, and relief marches at a snaiPl
pace. The intolerant advocates of Yves
. Point, of the Naval Academy, Of a larg,
standing army, and of a useless navy
a stand IN the light of the institutions they
n thus sustain against the general demand
t for economy, by refusing to conform t.
: the public necessities, They are every
day making enemies. and provoking
e sentiment that will, if fully ARGUS ed max,
! short work Of these nurseries of an aristo
: cratic class, and OF the prodigality tina
n now burdens the taxpayer-N Y SIM
!
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