The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-07-21
OTHER SOLDIER LETTERS
FROM THE BOYS AT THE FRONT
WHICH MAKE THIS NUMBER
ONE OF UNUSUAL INTEREST
FIRE AT BRONSON
THE $4,000 STOCK OF l.. Il. COL
Inns d CO., BURNED SUNDAY
MORNING.
San Fern ,ndo, Luzon, UNITED

san Fern Ando, LuzOn, UNITED
STATES. June 8, 1899.
My dear Icntt:-We hear rumors
here Of quite handsome disturbance
at home caused ny the War Depart
ment order To muster out the volun-
teer regimsnts in san Francisco in
stead OF In their various home States,
might be of interest to you aud
othere ii Kansas tn know just how
1t seems to US here in the Philippines.
When We first heard the rumOr
that the Twentieih was to DO tuH-te'-
ed out at Sau Francisco. rOl. Metcsl'
and 1 cabled Gov. stanley that it was
contrary to our wishes. At that time
we honestly thought we we're repre-
sentng the sentiment of tie regiment
and thought that some influence
might be brought to bear to change
the decision. But 10 and behold yes
terday came an order to take the
votes of the regiment on whether
they would be mustered out at home,
that is Topeka or Leavenworth,-
or in San Francisco, aud stating that
If they were mustered out in San
Francisco they would get travel pay
to place of original enlistment, lin
other words q b. be to be mustered
out in San Francisco.
Few people in civil life know what
"travel pay" is. had never heard
of such thing before coming into the
army. 1t appears that away back be-
fore the railroads, in the time of the
War of 1872, there was very proper
law that q soldier discharged at any
other place than his home shou d be
given one day pay for every twenty
miles to his home, on the theory that
he would have to walk the entire
distance. This law has never been
repealed, despite the fact that rail-
ways have made it obsolete, simply
because 1t is the custom of Congress
to encourage wretcbed steals and
fakes of that kind instead of suppress
bihS Poy t10h
Francisco to Kansas means more than
$50 for a private, and officers and nom
commissioned officers in proportion.
OF course when it was submitted TO
the men they voted to get the travel
pay by being mustered out in San
Francisco. | am DOl inclined to crti.
else them for so doing. They want
the money and they do not realize
how much pleasure they are denying
all the people of Kansas who want to
see the regiment come home as an
organization. The result Ia that the
people of the State will never see the
regiment and there will be no home
coming. The men will dribble home
a few at time, and some will never
get home because despite "travel
pay" they will Ego broke" in San
Francisco.
When the matter is properly under
stood in Kansas ! should suppose
there would be very emphatic pro-
test. If the thought at the War De-
partment was to give the soldiers
some extra money TO compensate
them for their services, it was very
creditable. But the travel pay
scheme is simply idiotic because of
the unwarranted discrimination 1t
makes. The California men, for ex-
ample, will get nothing, while the
soldiers of the 10th Pennsylvania will
get $3.50 each. The Tennessee regi.
ment which has not had man
scratched will have bonanza while
the gallant Second Oregon which had
~ killed or wounded in a night fight
will get nothing. AS | said, | don't
blame the men for voting for more
money, but 1t does seem to me that If
rewards were to be distributed some
more equitable method might have
been found and one that would not
have robbed the people OF the state of
the opportunity of seeing the regi-
ment in uniform and under arms.