The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-03
Army Fay.
Heavy Expenses That OfHcers Are Obliged
10 Meet,

to Meet.
To THE Enron OF THE SuN-Sir! The
letter dated Washington and signed West
Point" put the arm officers pay in it's most
favorable light. 1t dealt with the pay OF a
mounted Captain, after twenty years service
only about one-fourth OF the officers draw that
much pay-a closer average would be from
81, 800 to g.. 900 a year.
If the army officers had the allowances
(perauisitesl that the majority OF civilians
think they have their pay would be ample
There Is an allowance of fuel-hot a free git
of the Government, but sold to officers at a
reduced rate. This allowance" was made
on the basis Of two rooms to a Lieutenant.
three to a Captain, &c, and Is hopelessly
inadequate to the needs OF modern quarters
! have known officers to spend one-nfth their
monthly pay In the heating OF quarters.
This fuel allowance" Ia the last of the
many perquisites formerly allowed officers
They no longer receive ration, lights. serv-
ante, DO. These were stopped long ago
when the present rate Of pay was adopted:
Nor are officers furnished with uniforms. and
I am sure your readers will be surprised to
know that an officer has to purchase his
revolver. sabre and the balance OF the equip
ment he uses In his country's defence when
called into the field.
When all Is considered the army onlcer
Of the present day has less to live upon than
the average hack driver or brlcklayer. !
believe these get from 92.6o to IS a day. and
have no doubt that they earn 1t and need 1t
with the present cost OF living: but they
ances that rests upon officers OF the army.
An oflcer must have a servant, to answer
is to the visits Of foreigners. i would bring
contempt upon the country otherw lse.
Az 0fhoer must have on hand and in good
forms-he oannot do this on less than from
$50 to 5000 a year.
as a gentleman In public on occasions where
civilian clothing 10 required.
An officer must be prepared TO entertain
becomingly public officials and officers OF our
own or foreign Governments, who visit MS
post. This is a comparatively rare occur
fhe as mo 19. tRSs once 4s e0 speaf SO y; Of "a a sisH.st
and had to do i for tho credit Of the country
whose uniform he was wearing,
books S Ssi needs sf IN the study 81 his precision.
SUBJECT 81 Sfi as be T Is 70 G q es{l q At f any l tine in for ssPe.
oially dangerous duty. and WITHOUT the busi.
ness relations that enable a civilian to maxi
method he has. OF leaving his family enough
to keep them from penury.
station with the expense OF packing his
household effects. unpacking them. buying
suitabls things for. various houses, replacing
for bis family, Or LEAVING them behind and
keeping up two households. This is a greater
expense than any Of the others mentioned.
that enough have been cited to show that an
oSiGer; when the expenses Of his Gfi Ella.
to i've upon than the ordinary day laborer,
He must be q finished mathematician, He
must have a fair knowledge OF chem istry,
He must have a practical working knowledg &c
OF electricity and electric machines. He
must have a knowledge of law. He must
others In their use. He must know his drils,
regulations and orders. INVOLVING the use OF
tion finding service; He must take, charge
of the drill, instruction, accounts, clothing,
feeding. &en Of a hundred men. He may
quartermaster, oommissary or any other
position involving increased responsibility
and work. He, must be ready to leave. his
home and family and give his life cheerfully
Ali this and more for a day laborer's pay!
The writer came into, the service, through
years In civil life before that and he can as.
sure National Guard" that he has worked
harder and had greater responsi Utilities for
every, dollar earned in the service than in
1t may be asked why we stay in a service
where the expenses are so great and the pay
so small that about hall. OF the officers are
In debt up to their ears. There are two main
reasons. A man who has had field service
with an army and who has the soldier spirit
hope that our countrymen viii soon. awake
to the fact that living expenses have doubled
since our present rate of pay was fixed, and
that introduced. by Senator Scott, or will
fuel, lights. arms, uniforms, %rations, &c,
that srt Gine-tenths of the public think we have
wAsHIYoToY. Feb. is.