Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-14

Vocal Music For Privates and
Celibacy For Officers.


Pay OF Young Omcers IL Too Small
to Enable Them to Properly Sup
port Families - Would Teach Sol
aiers to Sing Regimental Songs.
Bachelorhood for lieutenants.
Vocal music for the rank and file.
These are two new and original rec
concentrations made by Major General
Corbin, adjutant general of the army
in his annual report to the secretary
Of war, recently made public, says a
Washington dispatch to the Philadel-
phia Press. They are expected to ex-
cite comment, some criticism and hui
morous discussion. They are made in
good faith and based on general
common sense analysis of conditions
in the army.
In recommending celib&cy for the
young officers Of the army General
Corbin has In mind the struggles and
oftentimes lamentable failures of lieu
tenants to support themselves and fam
lilies on their small salaries. His own
experience in rising from the lowest
to the highest grade in the army
taught him a severe lesson, which, he
believes, can be Of profit to young off,
GERS.
In a few sentences In his annual re.
port the general discountenances the
early marriage Of young officers who
are entirely dependent upon their pay
and allowances for support Such mar.
riages, he declares, are greatly to be
deplored and should be discouraged.
"A young officer should have only
one allegiance, and that should be to
the service" is the maxim laid down
In his report. In conversation the gen.
eral further elaborated this idea.
when young man makes up his
mind to enter the army, with his oath
of office he should take vow as bind
ing almost as that Of the priesthood"
he said. knowing as l do personally
the many lamentable cases Of lieuten-
ants struggling to maintain their
standing as officers and support their
families on their meager pay and Of
many that have to go down under the
crushing weight of debt incurred in
these struggles. l believe it my duty to
warn young officers who have no other
source Of income not to marry
In continuing his comment on this
point the general says in his report:
Those without private means must
necessarily divide their pay between
the demands Of Office and family The
pay of second lieutenant is $116.67
per month. sum only sufficient for
subsistence and equipment. In fact, it
requires prudence and care to get along
properly, and particularly is this true
of officers of the mounted service who
must provide mounts. A considerable
number are required for service In the
Philippines. where living is expensive.
and the accomplishment Of this tour of
duty results in actual hardships to off,
GERS with families"
The general knows there would be no
use in asking congress for an increase
in officers salaries. as the budget is
now as large as the appropriation COM
mittees will recognize His remedy,
therefore. is for young men to forget
there Is such thing as love and de-
vote themselves to lives of single bless.
edness until majority or colonelcy
may bring them sufficient income to
support wife and family.
THE instruction of our men in vocal
music would be step in the direction
of cOntentment and better discipline.
Every regiment should have it's march
ing song. Frequent practice in singing.
particularly during the long winter
evenings, would do much to make our
men satisfied to remain in quarters
and away from the baleful influence OF
the barrOoms that exist In too great |
In the vicinity of all our mill
tary posts. These barrooms are under |
the protection of the license and laws !
of the several states and are beyond |
the control OF the military authorities"
This paragraph in the generals rec
has subjected him to
good humored badinage !
from his fellow officers. They want to
know if he proposes to establish
EOIpS VI SluSluS udSlcFS Ut whether |
The regimental officers are to be re
luired to teach vocal music to their
men. The general takes this chatting
good naturally, but stands by his rec
as proposition that
means moral reform In the ranks
During his trip to the orient last year
General Corbin had an opportunity of
the personnel and habits Of
'ome English troops that were on the
same vessel. For the amusement OF
hese men they were organized into
choruses, and privates and
officers were called
m to sing songs or tell stories. Often
he Tommy Atkins" ordered to sing
lad no more talent for that exercise
han a night owl, but orders were or
lers, and he would always attempt to
comply. The man who couldn't sing
Usually contributed more to the enter
than fine vocalist. There