Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-10-04
Historical 2
2 Episodes
By Colonel ]. A. watrous. Z, 5. A. retired


+ the same kind Of dangers and hard
ships, doing the same Kind Of exhaust
| ing wcrk, is the customary thing with
/ the paymaster and his clerk in the
Philippine islands. Sometimes a
tour lasts for six weeks, ana every
day nerve wrcncher.
| Most of the clerl-s are so much IN
itefeSfH+ in successful payments that
they keep a close watch on The pay
masters counting and often it occurs
chat thse clerks quick eye saves the
master generous sums.
This is a good point at which to
say that the paynaster's business in
the Philippines is little. if any, less
than a regular banking business. He
frequently starts cut with a quarter of
a million dollars and pays it all out
before returning his station. The
/ payElastcr is presiden of the bank,
vice president, the board of directors,
assistant cashier aud teller, and
! his clerk holds ever! other position
in the bank. And there are hundreds
If not thousands of banks IL Che
nited States that 10 not handle as
much money in the course Of a month
as the paymaster handles in a Philip
/ pine Jay tour, and the clerk accounts
! for in complicated records. This bann
ling institution pays out large sums Of
money, receives money in deposits,
Iretains alIotments, exchanges checks
fer cash and supplies nearly every
station with more OF less ii. he way
# small bills, silver, nicltles and pen
MES.
Owing to lie hurry hustle ant
hustle necessary in a pay trip the
clerk cannot keep his books, can only
PACK away the vouchers and take
tLem back to station All of the I'M
packing, keeping of the records,
everything pertaining to the paper Of
the bank. must be transacted after he
returns to his station. It WAS tc this
work that I called attention IN the
opening of this chapter
The hardsh ships of the payn1Isters in
! the Philippine islands are greater
than have yet been enumerated, much
;eater: but the hardships of the pay
masters are no greater than have been
those of their faithful Gle. ks, and
sometimes not as taxing Their
minds, if good clerks, are constantly
active They arc very industrious
! they must be-always painstaking,
ana they must be absolutely exact
There is no clerical position con-
nected with the army that is SO exact
ing, makes SUCH constant drafts up
on the energy and vitality
7 have sometimes wondered why
provision was not made to give the
: paymasters clerks not only the pay of
second lieutenants, but the rank, so
that they might have the honors of
officers, the honors and benefits the
Pleasures and comforts. A good
clerk earns all of these. and there
would he a good many advantages to
the paymaster were the rank given.
II would entitle him to Communication of
quarters and to the same mileage that
his chief receives; and at retirement
he """.;id be ready for the rainy day.
| hope some day TO see the paymas-
ter's clerk thus remembered, thus hon
! ored.
IIalf dozen paymasters nave been
! attacked by insurgents. In all cases
the clerks have been founl to be brave
and active in repelling the attack.
when not ordered by the paymaster to
remain with the funds. In such
emergencies they have stood their
! ground manfully, rife ready for i'm
mediate action | nave never heard
Of a cold-footed paymasters clerk.
Like the paymasters, .hey have not
hesitated moment to take their lives
in their hands in crossing swollen
rivers. in facing great storms in small
hoas 5. in travelling over country in
tested ny the enemy, liable any mo-
ment to be ambushe1. In,Ieed, these
entitled officers, these bank officers Of
constant activity and most eXactins
effort, have been as loyal to country
and superiors as any OF the men sent
| IN INV now nOccasGiCDS