Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-13
GEN. HUMPHREYS PLAN
FOR LARGER ALLOWANCES FOR
OFFICERS QUARTERS.
Prevailing Rates of Pay Were Fixed
More Than Thirty-five Years
Ago-The Situation.

AS result OF a general movement on the
part of officers of the army for increased
allowances for quarters, Quartermaster
General Humphrey has prepared a plan to
that end. 1t involves an increased allot-
ment of rooms TO officers according to rank.
A second Lieutenant is allowed two rooms
at cost of S2A; first lieutenant three
rooms at S36; a captain four rooms at S4S;
a major five rooms at $50; lieutenant COLO
mel six rooms at $72; colonel seven rooms
at SS4 brigadier general eight rooms at
$50; q major general ten rooms at Sl20 and
lieutenant general twelve rooms at STA.
This Is an increase of communication in the
case of all grades over present allowances,
except IN the case of second Neutcnants.
First lieutenants, captains and majors are
allowed an additional room; lieutenant colo
nels and colonies two additional rooms;
brigadier generals three additional rooms:
major generals four additional rooms. and
lieutenant generals six additional rooms at
the rate of 81 per room per month
In a paper explaining the urgency and
desirability of a readjustment of the al
lowances for quarters and rates of commu-
tation Gen. Humphrey says:
The matter came up last year in hear
ings before the committees OF Congress,
when l explained some of the conditions
confronting officers duty where quar-
tiers are unavailable and consequently the
acceptance of Communication in lieu thereof
is necessary. The number OF rooms al
lowed Is fixed by regulations according to
rank, and has been the same for more than
a genera ton, having been fixed in the regu-
lations of 1862, forty-three years ago, when
the cost and manner of living Were very
much below the standard Of the present.
The Communication allowance of ST. per room
was established by act of Congress APP
proved June Il, 1873, previous to which time
the rate seems to have been fixed by the
Secretary of War. At the close OF the civil
war the rate was SIS per room, which al
lowance remained in force until the passage
Of the act.
Prevailing Rates of Pay.
1.-The prevailing rates of pay for officers
of the army were fixed by the act OF Con-
gress approved July Il, 1870. There has
therefore been no increase in pay for more
than thrty-five years, while the rate or
Communication of quarters has actually been
reduced one-third during that period, and
at the same time the cost of living. espe-
cialy in the matter of rents, has been
enormously increased. Necessarily large
number OF officers are detailed to cities
where public quarters may not be pro-
vided. While upon such details an officer
is actually subjected to a practical reduce
ton in his pay, for the reason that his
Communication is not sufilclent 10 rent Tor
him suitable quarters. 1t Is believed thar
few if any, of the officers now on service
that requires them to hire quarters and
draw Communication therefor as fixed 10y reg
uiations are able TO provide themselves
with suitable quarters for the amount al
lowed. As the price per room and the
number of rooms allotted each officer are
fixed by law il is not possible to prescribe
regulations that will alter the same. The
matter can be corrected either by increas-
ing the number of rooms hitherto allowed
to officers or the amount OF Communication
per room.
Gen Humphrey prefers the former plan
and suggests an increased allowance or
rooms as already indicated. THE allot-
ment of quarters to officers of the service,
saws he In support of the proposed sched-
ule .'in the proportion proposed will be In
near relation to the present allowance or
quarters at military posts and Will enable
officers serving in cities and at places
where the government does not own quar-
ters to rent suitable quarters for some
thing near the amount of Communication, re-
moving the necessity of drawing upon pri-
yate funds or curtailing the regular pay OF
the officer in order to make up the de-
fciency for rent. Therefore, taking into
consideration the conditions above de-
scribed the allowance recommended is
deemed reasonable and the money allow
ance no more than sufficient to rent very
modest quarters for officers Of the army
serving in cities