The sun., 1903-12-07
TIE SOLDIERS PAY.
An Enlisted Man Contradicts Col. Heus'
toms Calculations.

Au Euibtcu lSu WI .~~S
toms Calculations.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN--Sir: have
read an article in the Army and Edru Re0isfe,
by Col j. F. Houston, Nineteenth United
States Infantry. entitled "The Pay OF the
Soldier" In which that officer states:
| Almost any soldier can save from $40 to sl2
a month out Of his pay Of SIS. and he can save
500 out Of his clothing allowance, and $500 to sioo
from his pay that any ordinary careful man mas
| In three years saving Of 800 more or less
think it will be $500 less For ]. as an
enlisted man, can tell OF some Of the necessary
| expenses to be deducted from Sl3 per. In the
| first place, a soldier does not receive Sl3
| month, but Sl2. .s7E, the other l2n cents going
| to the Soldiers Home, soldier Is required
| to have clean bed clothing and underwear.
| For this item he pays 1l.5o per month; and for
| white duck or khaki clothing, for about
| eighteen months out of the three years, he
pays at least 81 per month for laundry bill.
| as he has to pay extra for these different
| uniforms at the rate Of so cents per month
| For the remaining eighteen months he has
| to have his blue uniform pressed and cleaned.
| which costs about 81 per month This Is so
| that he can stand an inspection once week.
Then his Captain comes along ana says.
| you are not properly shaved: so another
expense occurs of rs cents per month. Then
| the soldiers shoes and brasses must be
! shined to suit his Captain: hence another
expenditure OF so cents per month. Now the
Government does not provide towels, soap.
| combs. hair brushes. tooth brushes and
| tooth powder and other toilet necessities.
therefore the soldier is required to spend
| at least rs cents per month. all TO be deducted
from the 3l2s7h Of his pay.
| As to the saving Of 500 for three years
| from his clothing allowance: In the first
place. the total allowance for three years Ia
only $3.50. To start with. when he enters the
service he draws from the Quartermas,ers
| Department the following articles Two
| blankets, two pairs of blue trousers. two blue
blouses. two forage caps, two ornaments,
| two canvas coats. two pairs OF canvas trous-
| ers, one uniform dress coat. eight linen col
| lars, two pairs underdrawers, two under
shirts. one pair leather gauntlets. eight pairs
| white gloves. one campaign hat one pair
| leg gings. one overcoat. two darkbllie shirts,
| two pairs calfskin shoes. twelve pairs stock
| ings. two linen shirts.
| This is a total of SOS for his first drawing,
| and he has two years eleven months ana
| twenty-nine days to draw on the remaining
| liberal" allowance OF S6s. From my own
experience l can state that soldiers have
paid a. much as $50 from their own pay Tor
the three years clothing overdrawn.
| This is not the spick and span suit the soldier
| is seen on parade with, but hand me down.
| SO to be provided with q neat suit and one
| that will suit his Captain at inspection, the
| soldier has to pay $50 to have II made over.
| tho said $3.50 to be deducted from Si2S1a.
About six suits in three years are used. All
| these expenses have been necessary to keep
| up soldierly appearance. and the soldier
has not yet spent one cent for lu1uries. such
| as tobacco. stationery to correspond with
| his people, or to keep in touch with the out
side world. for which daily paper is neces-
| sary. This Is q list Of the probable e1pendi-
lures a soldier will be compelled to make
| from his pay:
To Soldiers Home for three years ,,......... s!S9
For laundry work. three years, ,......,...,.. 40
For extra laundry work, three years ...,... 5000
For pressing and cleaning blue uniforms ,.. 5000
Barber bill for three years. .,,,....-.,,.,... 270o
For cleaning material three years s@
Alterations 10 siI blue uniforms. ',,...,...... 27.0o
For stationery. stamps, &c. three years Is 90
s,sosO
| This $3.50 is to be deducted from total
Ss the extra ira dollar per month M nth he receives on
his third yss which Leaves balance 81
| OF a saving OF $780, which Col Houston claims
seef shex 1 ms TIE e: eO sso1ns % man
SsS for ples.uPe hes sPe"e Of some % SOFT Where
the soldiers pleasure come in2 soldie5,s
aba blank as to money The Colonel also speaks
about the soldiers ration and an !S sss profits offs
eTrns rHm .ns rOse N de makes
allowance for him to spend anything. where
| does the profit from the Exchange come in?
| In my opinion a private soldier when he
hrst enlists should receive zee at Least s ,n sis per
mans pay Of to- day. and not all laborers can
MI the position Of private In the Coast Ar.
arts OF war they should receive pay e9uiva.
lent to that OF a mschanic in civil life A
| corporal's $ pay should be a bout s7S per month,
and sergeant and 1rst-clas. gunner should
| receive at least sSs with service increase pay
| good soldier deserves good com Densation,
as II can readily be seen what little, oppor-
tupty for promotion they have al apd r,onn, i can
work. and the best service Is expected from
| reward in the way Of promotion and the pay
that makes It worth while I think that by
more efficient non-commissioned officers. but
| q more efflcient army.
In closing I respectfully invite com parison
! of the work and pay Of the Engineer Corps
| with that of the Artillery Corps
| W. r. DoNAHuE.
Sergeant, EiGhtieth Company. Coast Ar
-Four SCurrrpp New York HRrbor Dec 4