The San Francisco call., 1898-12-28

to his self-appointed task, doing more for the command than any other single man here. Lieutenant Dohrmann has recognized his services by presenting Wage with a gold watch. Should the mothers and relatives of the boys de- sire to express their gratitude to any one they could find none so worthy to receive their mark of favor than this same man-who has given everything while looking for and receiving nothing in return.
 Speaking of illness naturally brings me to our doctors who are having troubles of their own.
 When Dr. Farrell and pr. O'Brien were mustered into service they were given the rank and pay of captains. They have been receiving captains pay, $166, every month. A few days ago some one high in authority was in a moment of idleness beguiling his time with book of army regulations when he discovered that a surgeon was not entitled to captains pay until he had served five yeNrs. Consequently the different paymasters were notified of the mistake they had made and an order was issued notifying the medicos that, though they might retain the rank of captain, they would only receive the pay of a first lieutenant, $133, and com manding that they restore to the Gov ernment the difference between that and the amount of $166 which they have been drawing since their commission. Thus they will not only be cut down $33 per month, but will be obliged to return an amount footing up nearly $200
 This order applies to all volunteer surgeons in the same predicament and has already resulted in eight resigna- tons being promptly sent in and as promptly refused. Captain Kelleher, our regimental adjutant, who has been receiving $166 as a mounted captain, has also been cut down to $150, the pay prescribed in the regulations for ad- Jutants and has been ordered to refund the difference.
 l don't know how the surgeons of other regiments take the innovation. but do know that ours take it pretty hard. Dr. Farrell swears he cannot stand it, especially since his responsi- bilities at home have so materially in- creased. pr. O'Brien, though a rich man, is also "sore" and some day will show the Government that he has not been in either war or politics for his health pr. Mccarthy is not affected by the order, being of the exalted rank of major, but he is and will continue to be little uneasy until the matter of the resignations is finally disposed of.
 
 accepted he would be obliged to work.
 Speakine of pr. O'Brien, would like to call the attention of his many friends at home to the splendid work he has 1 been doing at the smallpox hospital from which place he has only just been released after five weeks of complete isolation, during which time he has been hourly exposed to contagion. Not 1 Withstanding which fact he has come out unscathed, leaving behind him a record it will be hard to equal, impos- l sible to surpass.
 l Who would ever look to a newly cap | tured city, one that is still turbulent and only kept in order by the heavy hand of martial law, for signs of sane l tity? No one, l imagine. Yet should l the eyes of the reformer be turned westward toward the land of the set | ting sun he would behold that which | would cause his spirit to rejoice. The | Sunday closing law is in force in Ma nila. It went into operation three weeks ago, since which time every Sab | bath has found the saloons closed as l tightly as the proverbial oyster and l though I have been over a good por- | tion of the city since the law went into l effect, on each one of the succeeding l days devoted to the Lord, I have not seen over dozen or twenty drunken men (not counting policemen) on any | one day. I don't know the reason for l the movement, but it is an excellent l idea, as it gives the enlisted men at | least one day out of every seven in which to partially sober up.
 The wave of reformation has alsd swept over the canteens, in which whisky is no longer allowed to be sold This occasions considerable inconveni- ence. as it takes a man twice as long l to fill up on beer or wine as or whisky. The difference in the price however, somewhat compensates for | tn difference in time.
 We are still here, but don't want tc be any longer than can be helped. Tel i this to some influential polly who has