Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-11-08
Scheme to Increase Interest in
Workmanship Among the
Soldiers
MONEY INSTEAD OF MEDALS.
Expert Rinemen Will Receive an 10.
crease Of Two Dollars Per Month
The First Year.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, D. c.. Nov. i,--The ad-
visibility Of increasing interest IN
Workmanship among the soldiers Of
the United States army has been rec
ognIzed by the army authorities and, In
connection with the work Of the nation.
al board for the promotion Of rifle prac-
tlse with the militia and civilians, It Is
interesting to note that there is a plan
on foot to increase the pay Of soldiers
in the regular army who qualify as ex-
pert marksmen. In the infantry and
cavalry the expert rineman now re.
ceiyes one dollar month extra for the
year In which he qualities as an ex,
pert, but after once winning this in
adequate prize there Is no additional
reason for the men to keep up their
standing 1t has therefore been sug-
gested that there should be a fair-slzed
Increase Of pay for qualifications Of
this kind and a small one for each sue
ceeding qualification thereafter. In this
manner the mans pay would be in
creased each year accordig TO his ac-
curacy In craftsmanship and eventual
ly the amount received would become
commensurate with the value TO the
government Of a skilled shot In com.
parisOn with a poor one.
with this end IN view Il has been
recommended that each enlisted man on
his first qualification as an expert rife
man receive a monthly Increase In his
pay OF two dollars and an additional
increase OF one dollar per month after
every yearly qualification as an expert
marksman so long as his service To.
mains continuous IL Is further recon.
mended that each enlisted man on his
FIRST qualification as sharpshooter re.
ceive a monthly increase Of one dollar
ana an additional increase Of 50 cents
per month for every yearly qualifca-
ton as sharpshOoter so long as his SER
vice remains continuous. IL is also sug-
gested that instead Of donating medals
at the various competitions as the sole
prize for the ones winning thereat, the
following icteases IN the enlisted
MAYS pay IN addition 10 the medal
prizes be authorized so long as the VIM
ner's service remains continuous.
For division rifle, carblne and pistol
the winner OF The gold
medal, monthly Increase Of three dol
lars first silver medal, two dollars
second silver medal, $3.50, third silver
medal, one dollar except that no man
may receive the increase cited above
for more than one medal In any one
year
For army rife. carblne and pistol !
the winner Of the gold !
medal, a monthly Increase OF Ave dol |
lars, first silver medal, three dollars, |
second silver medal, $3.50; third silver !
medal. two dollars: with the proyiso |
that no soldier may receive the IN |
crease for more than one medal IN any |
one year
The retention OF the medal prizes is
as advisable on sentimental
grounds az II furnishes a tangible evil (
ience Of Individual fitness but In itself II
Is not regarded as an incentive TO the
best sort OF continuous effort. The pro.
posed increase In pay would require
legislative action and H. for any reason,
hese recommendations are not adopted, !
congress viii probably be asked 10 in
'rease the pay OF expert rlnemen and
Of the infantry and cav
Try branch to the amount now received
" the first class and second class gun
iers Of the artillery corps,