The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-16
WILL GET GUARD PAY
FROM CAMP RAMSEY AT OUT
BREAK OF WAR
MINNIE WILL LOOK TO UNCLE

Samuel Is Expected to Reimburse
the State for the Money Thus
Paid Out, Attorney General
Douglas Ruling That the Claims
Are Just and Valid Christmas
Presents for Many Boys
AdJt. Gen. Lambert will today issue a
special order stating that all enlisted men
who were rejected by the mastering or
medical officers at Camp Ramsey at the
beginning of the Spanish-American war
will be entitled to the difference between
the national guard rates af $l.5O per day
and the amount paid them by the state at
regular army rates. The last legislature
made an appropriation to pay those men
who were rejected on account of full
ranks and later re-enlIsted when it was
found that 1O6 men were required for a
company, but 1t made no provision for
those who did not enlist. Attorney Gen
eral Douglas yesterday submitted an opin-
ion to Cen Lambert to the effect that the
latter class was just as much entitled to
pay at national guard rates as those who
subsequently re-enlisted. The officers
have and will receive no additional pay
as the regular army and national guard
officers scale Is identical The comp.ica-
ton grows out of the misunderstanding
when the troops were assembled in st.
Paul as to the number of men required to
fill company unGer the presidents first
call for volunteers.
The national guard authorities con-
strued the call to mean companies of 1O6
men, and assembled that many at the
camp. Later an order was received from
the war department which said that
eighty-six men would be the full strength
of a company. A short time after 1t was
discovered that the presidents call au-
thoriZed full companies at JOG men each.
Recruiting officers from the Thirteenth
came back to Minnesota in July and Au-
gust and secured the required number OF
men. Quite a number of those who had
been rejected re-enlisted, but many did
not Those who did enlist were paid at
national guard rates for the time put in
at Camp Ramsey, but those who did not
again offer their services were out the
difference between the regular army pay,
which they received from the state. and
the national guard rate of $15O and
board, which they did not get The Iegis-
lature having voted to pay the men who
had re-enlisted, Gen. Lambert thought
that the other men should be paid as we'll,
and the state then look to the war de-
partment for the settlement.
The opinion submitted by the attorney
general yesterday holds that those who
did not re-enlist after the misunderstand-
ing about the number of men to a COM
pany was Strengthened out are just as
much entitled to pay at national guard
rates as those who enlisted a second time.
The ruling affects about 600 men, who
Will receive amounts ranging from 81 to
$12, according to the time of service and
rank.
Gov. Lind, the state auditor and state
treasurer will constitute a board of audit,
as provided by law, and draw a warrant
payable 30 the adjutant general, who will
in return issue warrants to the men who
may apply for this money. All who are
entitled 10 the back pay should make APP
plication to the adjutant general.
In cases where the claimant is dead
the money due will be paid either to the
widow or mother All applications must
be made by April Is.
Adjt Gen. Lambert stated yesterday
that the volunteers should from the start
have been paid at the national guard
rates, instead of regular army rates,
which would have obviated the trouble
Of going to the legislature and asking
for an appropriation, and later finding that
there was a class who had been unWit-
tingly left out of the bill. The federal
government pays for it all in the long
run Minnesota only put in a claim to
the war department for $4,000, paid the
troops while in camp. while Wisconsin s
bill was $75OGO. The men from the Bad
ger state were paid at national guard
rates from the first, and the state has
received every cent back from the govern
ment.
No discrimination will be made by the
adiutant general between those who were
discharged by the mastering officer and
those refused by the medical officer, ex-
cept that, in the last instance, it will be
necessary for the applicant to submit the
certificate as to the causes of his rejec-
ton.