The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-14

A Correspondent rhiaks IL SAo1la -
Increased.
Seattle, July II. 1885

Seattle, July II. lSa&
To the Editor: had the pleasure OF
meeting many az our soldier boys In Van
couver. They are a fine body OF men, We
may We'll feel proud of them But my
heart sickened when l saw as did. the
amount they received per month. Ii 10
shame that the brave men who endure the
prtvatlons and hardshirs and expose them
selves to the deadly dangers of army life
should have 10 do SO for the beggarly al
lowance of = little more than 10 cents
day, This is the greatest and richest ma
ton in the world and our soldiers are the
best In the world and ought 90 be paid ac-
Cordingly. IL they were paid three ttsaes
as much as at present they would not 10
paid cent too much. Let us pay the boys
at least $50 per month. and every dollars
worth loo cents In any place on earth.
How many here in King county can
maintain wife ana family on the present
soldiers pay With this eountry's rich
ness. the channels for making money are
many and will be increased, and ~ is no
more than fair that those who Join the
army and thus deprive themselves of thu
opportunities enjoyed by those remaining
at home should receive pay large enough
to keep those near and dear and depend
ent On them In a fairly decent manner. %
give the yv.ng man without those ties
chance to lay up sn.sle capital. that he may
have a more equal chance with those who
remain at home. Justice should he done TO
the private soldiers by whose prowsss ana
sufferinss the battles and fina victory
must DC won. What man IN congress has
offered to endure the privstions, hardships
and perils now being endured by the p<i-
vate soldiers at Ssntiagof Yet every sena-
tor and representative receives just about
the same amount per day for his services
I'm congress that the private soldier re-
ceives per month. Besides. IL will cost
TAD
the war as IL will coet TO pay all the prf-
yate soldiers on the battleneids OF the
war. A congressman receives In salary
more than than do twenty-six private sol-
ders.
The man who thinks dollar day too
much for a private soldier In time OF war
is not patriot. The pay received now -
but a relic of barbarism IT 10 the pay Of
scrfs and handed down to us from the
dark ages. No other labor IL SO poorly
paid This country has too long caAered
10 the customs OF nobility. To Us II looks
as though the man fighting for his country
ought to get as much pay q tAEd-rats
school teacher any way. The prompt In
PRODUCTION and passage of bill providing
for doubling the pay OF the private soldiers
would be a graceful act, Shame on a gov
eminent that will permit that disgraceful
condition TO continue after congress adj
tourhs. Why. the average river and har-
Dor Dill sisalH Will pFpStdG unSHcy
10 do this graceful act. Shame upon the
people of the United States. that they will
permit IT, hut II can be removed by
prompt, united and active demands upon
congress to enact q law doubling tho pay
Of the private soldiers.
What answer do hear from the peo-
Pile? Let the people say. regardless ct
party ties. that no man shall be returped
10 congress who viii not vote for our
country's defenders and their families this
slight recognition ana Justice. Remember.
they are lighting for little more than u
cents q day. We want an answer from
our two senators and two representatives
In congress and We want prompt 9enerai
demand from the people which no aspar-
ant for congressional honors will dare TO
neglect And | am sure your thousands of
readers would be more than pleased 70
have placed before them on your editorial
page YOUR views on this subject OF double
pay for the private soldier during the
war" and why II should or should not be
granted. j. Z. MURPHY.