New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
TOBACCO FOR TROOPS.
ARMY OFFICER FAVORS ALLOWANCE
FOR THIS PTRPOSE-THE SOL
DER WELL PAID, But
WORTH THE MONEY.
WORTH THE MONEY.

There is a movement on foot to give to the
American private soldier an allowance Of sulok-
ing and chewing tobacco. and a bill has been in
tro5uced in the House Of Repres natives by
Peter J. Otey. If Virginia. which provides for
snpplying regularly enlisted men with this COM
modify.
Give it 10 them" said an officer Of the army
Yesterday. Il have been iu the service for more
than thirty-fiye years ard in that time have
seen great deal Of the enlisted men. My du
ties have taken me abroad occasionally, and
have seen the enlisted men in the armies Of
other nations. This inspection that l have been
able TO make has convinced me. if l needed any
convincing that the American soldier is the
best that the world produces. Nothing is too
good for him. But, in the discussion that is
bound 10 follow the introduction Of the bill L
hope there viii be nothing said about our en-
listed men that will make them appear like
paupers. They are a fine body, sometimes
little rough, but in no sense men that either
need or desire more than is coming to them
When l say they are the best paid of any
soldiers in the world l am not arguing against
giving to them a little more than they are now
receiving. The fact remains, however. that We
pay enlisted men better than any other
country under the sun pays its soldiers, and
that there are very few mechanical trades
where the pay is so large as that received by an
enlisted man in the United States Army.
"For the first two years of service an enlisted
man receives S13 a month; for the third year,
sl4; for the fourth year, SO, and for the fifth
year SIS month. If he enlists again after
that he receives SIS month. The amount
seems small when ii is taken alone, but there
are 50 many other things that go with the pay
that the aggregate is really large.
Il have been al some pains to find out a few
things that VIII make the comparisons concern
ing soldiers pay clearer. a carpenter. for in
stance receives from 50 to s. % a day for his
work. But there are days when the carpenter
Goes not work either because he has not a job
or because The weather is such that it is impos-
slble for him 10 work. That is lost time and
brings no income From my Investigations
am prepared To say that the average pay of
carpenter is s. a day all the year round. This
means to him about $3.50 a year. out Of this
ne must pay for rent, clothing, carfare and
iood and when the end Of the year comes he is
either very lucky carpenter or a very saving
one who has anything left. The expenses of
"'lhg are enough TO completely consume his
earnings
Now how about the common soldier? The
sO'efhnent allows to him the amount l have
sITclhed according 10 the period Of his service.
II ADDITION 10 the money he receives there are
coats. boots, shoes-WelI, all that a man needs
u uothe himself for all sorts Of weather, from
le sAln out and that Of the best quality suited
y 'ne purpose. In the winter he has better
4Ofs TO keep his hands and head warm, better
unoerelothing and better outer garments than
We average wOrkngman. His food is good.