The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-11-24
RAISE THEIR SALARIES.
Adjutant General Rugcles Advises Ii
for Soldiers OF the Line.


for Soldiers OF the Line.
WAsHINGroN, Nov. l6.-The hope is
expressed That congress at the coming
session MAY look into the question OF
increasing the pay of the enlisted men
of the army, and particularly of the
,noncommissioned officers OF the line.
The military authorities have often
urged This matter. and in the current
report of Adjutant General Rugglos
he strongly advises an increase,
with u proper rcNdjustment. He recon-
memo that the nrivates of the line
should hereafter receive SIS per month
instead of S13 on enlistment. as now.
The pay OF %corporals he would fix ut
s25, whereas in the line they o only
receive sl5 month during the first two
years. To sergeants who now receive
SIS u month for the first two years he
would give S35. 70 first sergeants and
scrgeH>s majors, the former OF whom
receive in the line S25 Il month for the
first two years, and the latter $23, he
would give $50 Il month. 10 the band
musicians he would give S25, whereas
the ordinary musician now receives S13.
These are increases sc great that it
is not ut ill probable that they will
find favor with congress-; but perhaps
setting the new standard so high may
be more likely to secure consideration
for a compromise. One point which
may receive attention is the necessity
of closer equalization of pay in proper
ton to rank and duties. And, vs Gem
eral Ruggies points out, under the
system of extra duty pay, and the
exclusion of the corporal from it,
the ~latter's total pay in q month
| ,,,,,- tA Inc than - t,.. at n rp1vnta
under his command. The amount of
increase iii the annual appropriation
required under General Ruggles' sys-
TEN is put ut $500, 900. 1t must be
borne in mind that congress has re-
Gently lone something i'll this direc-
ton. The net of February -, 1898. in
creased the pay of first sergeants from
S22 to $50, II that OF sergeants from
SIT to Sis. But tho sergeant major
was overlooked. He now gets as has
been said, S23. General Williams
pointed out TINT this discrepancy ought
not to be.
1t is admitted that in recent years
the duties of noncommissioned officers
have been increased, particularly by
the new drill regulations and the open
order formations for battle. More de-
ponds upon the sergeant and the COR
poral than in former years, and it be-
comes more necessary to secure q high
degree of qualification aud ability.
The last year Colonel =. 7. Swaine,
Twcnty-second infantry, and Colonel
C. II. Carlton, Eighth cavalry, pointed
out the need of increasing the pay OF
sergeant majors, the latter oh.
serving that both they nnd
the regimcn,ai quartermaster ser.
.--tu.4-l -. a. E,t 49,.
genuis as Il promotion. Colonel q. S
Poland, Seventeenth infantry, though
that the pay of rcgimental sergean'
majors and quartermaster sergeants
should be Increased to at least $50 PEE
month. They do more work per dal
than many general service clerks in tn,
employ of the government who get$l0t
per month. The pay of each grade O
noncommissionod officers should be in
> creased also.
Major keycs considers that the pa,
of first scrgcnnts should be $40 pc
month. with increase for service, ant
TINT, of sergeants i'll proportion. Colone
Langdon, then commanding the Firs
artillery. proposed $50 per month TO
sergeant ma ors and reginental quarter
master scrgeants, and pointed out tina
the increase of the cost would be slight
there being but forty of each grade
Besides, they must show high charae
> ter for appointment. The srrgemn
major has long hours, and needs t
. look out for Il great deal of ~clerica
work for which the adjutant is rcspor
sible 10 the colonel, and he has TIL
daily guard mounting and the bnitalio
:. paradcs, inspection and drills.
, Perhaps the present anomaly in n
" spect to The pay of these two regimen
tai staff officers can be at least co
rec.cd. 1t is not, of course, elaine
that the pay for enlisted men in TIL
7. country is low compared with that
ii foreign service, but the pay of civil o
n, equations in foreign countries mustai:
be taken into comparison.
The Kansas City Federal building.
WAsHi%GToN, Nov. l6.--Thc ne
specifications for the Kansas City, Mt
public building have been complet,