The sun., 1906-02-15
Few Perouisit o.: Much Work.

To THE EDITOR OF The tSUN-Str. Ma.
tional Guard" has made statements In his
letter so at variance with facts that readers
Of THE Sun will get therefrom wrong con-
ception of the allowances. pay. duties, de-.
OF an army officer.
Among his errors are first. His coal 10
placed in his cellar with no cost to him.
My allowance of coal Is little over 1000
pounds a month and costs me $3.50. II l
draw over my allowance the proportionate
cost increases. II l had one Of the large
brick houses with steam heating plants that
the Government is building at new posts the
cost of heating would go up to $40 or even
$50 month during the colder mo nths.
All of the work Of repairing houses Is done
by the Government, but an officer must hire
all of the personal services about the house.
fatigue parties or prisoners work about an
officers house, except under the Quarter:
master for repairs, hauling away ashes and
IN regard i, !9 IA the ID dulles q Kin an Sqssr Ss; a;
case Of a CAPTAIN in command Of one Ct our
dpiis dGhis arsrey and parade Ave days ~eek S6cS
average about three hours day duration
week or oepeT Sahs he i s2hs GSer Of the
duty on courts, boards and special duty OF
cease with the drills, as National Guard
says. He must attend 70 the messing. cloth:
Take the despised subaltern of. whom
may MsSdi be- made e' n Of the post with
hundreds of thousands Of .its d1llaIs worth wort Of
her 81 Td ocers sh"s. haTe similar duties in oonnec
tion with the very valuable heavy guns OF
the most the electric service and HA
may have charge of the athletics Of the post.
with the management OF all the various
exchange or general store, be commissary
officer or summary court officer: any or all
1 me assure eo!ea re M that
sees any real military service he will find that
twelve hour working days are not unknown
In IN iT nTeeard aTd to pay of officer. and men some.
no doubt, are getting more than they earn.
put t the Ga4s TO secure Eod
and cost of living In civil life constantly ris:
pat" on those Of thirty-ave years ago and
get good men, ANOTHER WEST POINTER.
Expert Opinion From an Army woman.
To THE EDITOR OF The SuN-Sir: ma
tional Guard" is entitled to his opinion that
army officers receive more than they are
worth but is not justified In making mis-
statements in res gard to them. In regard to
the $500 residence the lucky ~ officer 10 sup
posed to receive gratis does not National
Guard" know that two years out Of i've OF
an army mans life are now spent In the
Philippines. where it is being found moro and
more difficult for him to take his wife and
children? During that time he must provide
a home for them at the market price. besides
keeping up a separate establishment In
manner beftting an officer and gentleman
under the observation Of an allen people
Then again National Guard" says that
coal is placed in of.icers cellars without
cost to him, while in fact his fuel bill Is sent
in each month and like other obligations
In regard to an officer not having tho OK
pense Of insuring his furniture, so far as !
know this j. not compulsory either In civil
or military life, but II In either case the indi-
vdual goes un insured the risk is the same
Unfortunately also even the servant oues-
tion has not been solved in the army by hav.
ing prisoners" serve their time In officers
Kitchens. On the contrary the pay de-
manded is even higher than In civil life for
the, most accessible of army posts are more
'ssa agree psosfa WtS National Guard" .h.. every.
thing possible should be done to add 10 the
but nothing is gained for them or the country
at large by belittling army off1cers.
NEW ROCHELLE, Feb. 49,