The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-01

Men Who Are Poorly Paid, and Who Make
No Provision for Their Families.

Men Who Are Poorly Paid, and Who Make
No Provision for Their Families.
Special to the IndiShapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb 2S-The recent death of
three of the greatest generals of the Union side.
Grant, Mcclellan and Hancock, has caused
great deal of interest to be taken in the finan-
cial condition of the officers in tho army and
naval service Of the United States Everybody
knows that General Grants widow is dependent
almost entirely upon the posthumous sale of the
Generals book for her means of support Gen.
eral Mcclellan left very modest fortune. while
Mrs. Hancock would be dependent upon her rel
atives for support during the remainder of her
life, but for the fact that the Generals
old admirers have taken the matter
in charge just in nick of time. Very few officers
of the army are in comfortable circumstances.
We hear great deal in Washington Of their
movements in society, where they, together with
their brothers of the navy, take leading part
in all the festivities but there are very few even
among those who shine with the greatest brill
fancy, who have anything more than their salar-
les to depend upon. OF course. some young fell
lows with wealthy parents and long purses get
through West Point or Annapolis, and serve
their country with distinction as we'll as grace,
{but the majority of tie graduates of
these two iustitusiaas, especially in later
years. have been from the ranks
of the people who have large families and small
incomes. Again, there are perhaps dozen or
two. or the number many even run up to a hum
dred, who have made matrimonial alliances that
have been of material financial benefit to them.
or the 5000 odd young men and gray heads who
wear the shoulder knots and epaulets more than
half would leave their families entirely destitute
if they should be suddenly taken away. The
pay OF an officer In the army ranges from 81, 200
to 81, 500 per annum, and it is very difficult for
| them to make both ends meet and live within
their salaries. Your correspondent sat
with party of naval and military
men last night in the Ebbitt House. when the
subject of finance in the service came up One
of them remarked that he had Just Joined the
Navy Mutual Aid Society, and that when he
died his wife would have tho muniicent sum Of
81 600 on which to support herself and educate
the little ones. In the party of ten who were to-
gether there was just one there who had made
any provision of this character for his family,
and he had about the same amount in some as
sessment insurance society. This led to talk
upon insurance in the service, and the opinion
was very freely expressed that. like Generals
Hancock. Mcclellan and Grant, the officers gen.
orally had never INDUCED in the Injuries of a
life insurance policy.
'Is it because you are considered bad risks"
asked your correspondents, that you gentlemen
have never gone in to this thingW
NO" was the reply. 'There are very few Of
us shot by the Indiana, and it is many years
since naval officer was killed in action at sea;
that you there is little greater risk in issu-
ing policies on our lives than there would be on
an ordinary banker, merchant, or other business
man. 1t is said that Secretary Endicott has
looked into this matter to some extent and that
he is contemplating the idea of recommending to
officers of the army who have families depends-
ent upon them the wisdom of providingrsome-
thing towards their support in case7theY are
taken away