The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-15
TO DEDUCT FIRST PAY
SOLDIERS COMPLAIN AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENTS NEW TACK.
Majority of Men Thus Far Examined
at Camp Mount Claim to Have
Suffered in Health.


What the soldiers at Camp Mount believe
to be new ground for complaint was de-
veloped yesterday They are not disposed
to treat kindly another deduction from
their pay rolls. and an order which has just
been issued threatens to bring about that
very thing. Quite large part of Indiana's
volunteers will suffer some loss, and the
ed-and-fifty-seventh Regiment is
especially loud in objections
In answer to the Presidents call for vol
unteers the State summoned the National
Guard The members of the Third Regi-
ment, Indiana National Guard. now the
acknowledgements Regiment,
assembled at indianapolis on April 70. They
were mustered into the United States serv-
Ice on May 10. The State, at that time, had
large wagon filled with money come out
to the camp, and every man was paid 81
for fourteen days service as National
Guard member, at the rate of $3.50 a day.
This $1.50 a day is the regular hire of
member of the National Guard when on
duty. On May 81, when the men were paid
for their service to the United States, an
order was given which allowed them pay
for the fourteen days service in the Ma
tional Guard. This, at 81 cents a day,
amounted to 1928. The officers did not re-
ceive the extra pay at that time, but did
receive it in August. Now the order comes
to deduct the $72S from each private's pay
when the final settlement is made, and in
similar proportion from each officers salary.
The soldiers say that if there was mis-
take made it is not their fault, anu they
should not be made to suffer for it. When
they were in the South they were compelled
to buyla large part of their food because
the army rations sometimes unavoidably
spoiled, they say. On that account they
claim nearly all the money paid to them
was consumed in the government service.
Besides this, the soldiers feel it is hard
ship to see the hoped-for amount they are
to receive cut down more and more.
GOVERNMENT WANTS TO RECOVER.
Most of the men believe the trouble is
caused by the State trying to press on the
United States government a claim for the
$21 it paid to each volunteer on May 10. AL
together it amounts to nearly $4,000. The
general government, finding that it has al
ready paid the men for the same period of
time, is trying to deduct the amount it has
disbursed, or about $500.
The soldiers also point to the action of
other States. Massachusetts has recently
isused an order giving to every man who
served in the United States army bounty
of 81. Another State is said to be giving her
volunteers half-pay for the entire time they
have been in the service. Still other States
are considering steps of similar nature.
Right or wrong, the members of the one
d-and-fitty-seventh Regiment feel
that this State has not dealt with them in
exact justice. This new dispute also COM
plicateS the question of the price or clotn-
ing, which seems as far from settlement as
ever. 1t is difficult, however, to see now
the soldiers can get out of paying the price
Iaxrf hn hOa r6 nf
redress, apparently, is in action by the
Legislature, as was suggested by Governor
Mount.
Yesterday was busy day for nearly
every one at Camp Mount. The soldiers
turned over their outfits TO the captains,
and as soon as everything is counted the
outfits will be placed in charge of the chief
mastering officer. Guns, haversacks, KNAPP
sacks, canteens, meat cans, knives, FORKS
and spoons were all handed in. Henceforth
the soldiers must be fed on restaurant cook
ing, for they will have no cooking utensils
of their own.
MANY CLAIM INJURY.
Seventy-one men of Company M were ex-
amined yesterday by the surgeons of the
Observation-Disclosures fty-ninth Regiment, NAL
II. c. Standard, Capt. Eugene Hawkins ana
Lieut. Harry Moore. Some delay was
caused by the necessary changes in the
examining room. About 80 per cent. of the
men so far examined claim to have received
some definite injury or disease In many
eases the surgeons have considerable diff
Guilty in finding traces of ill health. -Four
Of the men were referred to the board or
surgeons which will be appointed by the
adjutant general of the United States. ThlS
board is to examine all men who claim TO
have serious diseases of which no trace can
be found by the examining surgeons. inc
board when appointed will probably be COM
posed of some of the regimental surgeons
here but it will have an opportunity 10 eX-
anime each mans record and trace mis- nos
pital reports. This cannot be done py the
present board. 100 =
About 165 men of the Twenty-elghth IN
diana Battery are now on the GROUNDS
They have already turned in their ordnance
and will begin eating at the restaurant this
morning. 1t is not probable that they VIII
he mustered out under two weeks Thlr-
teen men are unable to be with the pattery
on account of sickness. They are as 1ol-
lows: Corporal Charles Haak, Privates
John Scheffer, Walter Hasentuss Henry
Zollinger. Carson, Dayton Geness, Joe
Smith. Charles Jocquel, Rabel Paul I'm
norman. Nathaniel E. Niehoff, Ernest Me
hoff j. S. Harper. None of these is serious
ly i'll with the exception OF private HARPER
who is at the hospital.
There has been some complaint OF the colu
because all the buildings could not be sup
piled with gas yesterday. Wednesday night
about half a ton OF coal was taken from d
Mr. Brown, who lives near the grounds. "A
guard is now around Mr.. Browns premises
and he has presented claim 10 tne Onlteu
States government
Lieut. NJ H. Baldwin of the signal corps
who has been in Chicago on leave OF aD-
sence, joined his company yesterday.