The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-01
PRrvArEs SHOULD GET MORE.
savannah Officers Think the Dis
parity Too Great.

parity Too Great.
Several Of the officers of the First Regi-
ment. who were with the troops at Darien,
agree with the Governor in his expressed
| opinion that the disparity between the
pay of the enlisted men and the officers
of the service is TOO great. In view of the
sentiment that IS springing up and meet
| ing with expression upon this subject, II
does not seem unlikely that bill may be
] introduced into the legislature, If such
is the proper course. or some other action
| taken 10 bring about a new scale under
which the enlisted men may fare better.
Col. A. r. Lawton, Capt. P. +. Gleason
and Capt. ]. T. West are among those who
have said they believed the enlisted men
should receive more than is at present al
| lowed them for services rendered the state.
| They think the amounts the officers re-
celve should be reduced and that the
| money thus placed at the state disposition
| should be added TO that of the men.
| Col w. G. Obear inspector general In
the state service, was at Darien for
day or two TO inspect the Mcintosh Drag
! oons, troop the trouble at its home has
/ benefited greatly. 1t was the means OF
uniting the command wonderfully and
building it up by numerous enlistments
to a strength of some sixty men. Drills
have been frequent. and the troop is fast
attaining great proficiency Col. Obear
| found it in splendid shape. He was seen
| while in Darien and again in Savannah
| several days ago by the Savannah officers,
and to them he gave assurance that he
would recommend the reduction Of Off
| GERS pay and the increase of the mems.
| Such a change would not be retroactive.
Col. Lawton had quite a discussion with
| Col Obear about the matter. They agreed
| thoroughly in their opinions, and no doubt
| the change will come about as a result
| of the recommendation of the inspector
| general In the stay of the troops at
| Darien there was an object lesson afford
ed. and the officers were enabled to judge
of the effect the disparity in the pay
| showed. The officers could. as a rule
readily afford to be absent on a few days
| duty, even without pay, while the pay of
many of the men was stopped during their
| absence from work. and the nominal daily
compensation allowed them was wholly
inadequate to meet their expenses at
| home.
The regulations provide that the pay of
! the Georgia volunteers while engaged in
| the state service shall be the same as that
in the regular army. In time of war the
| RaJ - ~ pei cent greater III lDt army
than ordinarily, and it is construed by
| some of the officers of the Georgia vol
| unteers that TO be ordered out for such
| service as that at Darien Is equivalent to
war ard that TIE troops should be paid
accordingly. When the state camp is es-
| tabllshed the paw is on the peace basis,
| but for riot service it Is said 1t should be
| 20 per cent. more.
Figuring even on the peace basis. there
| VIII be very neat sums coming in for the
| companies that went to Darien. 1t IS
| not known when the money will be re-
| ceived, Is 1t is understood that the Iegis-
| lature viii have to provide for the pay-
| ment. Some say the Governor has or
should have, a contingent fund from which
| the expense will be met, but that Is a mat
! ter OF conjecture among the military men,
| The officers have been instructed to hurry
| in their reports and requests for COM
| pensation, as the sooner they are passed
upon the sooner they will get the money.
| With such instructions, 1t is presumed
| that the Governor has funds at his dispos-
| al and that 1t will not be necessary to
await the action of the legislature.
The pay of private in time of peace
| in the army is $l5 a month A corporal
receives s15. a sergeant $1S, a first sergeant
SIS a second lieutenant $116.66 2-3 a first
| lieutenant 1925, a captain $3.50, lieutenant
| co.onel, sos, and a colonel. $266 66 2-3. Ig-
noring the fractional parts of cents che
| daily pay for each grade, ascending is as
| follows: 4S cents, 50 cents, 60 cents, 50
cents, $3.sS, $416. Sc SO. sS.sS
The disturbance at Darien will cost the
| state a pretty penny. Apart from the
| transportation furnished. which must
amount to at least $500, there will be a
| fancy figure for compensation for the
| troops, and the supplies necessary for their
maintenance. During the trouble there
| were varying numbers of troops under
| arms, running all the way from about 2O)
| down to 80. The average for the nine DAYS
| the troops have now been out would prob
| ably be 800 If all were privates the nav
would not be very much a day, S51 so Gov
ering 1t. But they are not. and the pay
| OF the non-commissioned officers will run
1t to something like $lOO day. The per
| diem for maintenance would proba blv
| amount to about $50. Therefore, $50 q day
| Is fair estimate of the cost to the state
When the troops went down from Sa-
vannah and came back with Delegal on
| the first train il was suggested that the
! pay for each company be made part OF
| It's fund. The suggestion met with favor
and that would probably have been the
| course adopted Now, however. that six
| days additional service have been seen
and the pay for officers and men has as
| sumed nice proportions, it Is doubtful if
the company funds viii be swelled by the
contribution of the pay, unless for some
srecifc purpose, such as the purchase of
| uniforms or equipment, for instance
Talk is heard of having the pay of the
| Cadets go TO the fund for the trip to New
! York. II would form a nee addition 10 the
sum, Tor the Cadets and the OGlethorpes
carried more men 10 Darien than the other
! companies. The Cadets fund yesterday
was considerably augmented by a presen-
! talon by the Savannah Steam Laundry of
$50, which was a percentage on its collar
and cuff business fer week.
JURY LISTS CnNIpIETs