The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-14
UNIFORMS COST
YEARS SALARY
Junior Army Officers Strug-
gle to Make Ends
Meet.
Either in Debt or Have
Some Outside
Income.
Arguments for Increased
Pay in All Branches Of
SerViCe.

ehcers. of the army are making q
strong appeal just now for an increase
of pay. Lately 2 number OF them have
appeared before the House Committee
on Military Affairs and urged the enact
ment of the bill Ito regulate and equal
ize the pay OF officers of the Army,
Navy. Marine Corps, and the Revenue
Cutter Service
This bill provides. generally speaking.
for an increase in the pay OF TIE officers
of the Army and putting their pay on a
plane with those Of equivalent rank In
the Navy, Marine Corps, and Revenue
Marine Service. and for a % per cent
increase in the pay OF the nOn-commLs-
Eioned officers and men Of the Army and
Marine Corps. 1t would operate chiefly
to increase 20 per cent the pay OF Army
officers and OF the nOn-cOmmissioned Of
ncers and the men Of the Marine Corps,
though known as a bill to equalize pay
OF officers Of the different services re-
ferred to-
There is no prospect OF legislation on
this matter Of increased pay for Army
officers and men this session.. but it's
supporters propose TO keep at it, They
are now conducting chiefly a campaign
OF education.
Must Exceed Income.
According to Che testimony before the
House committee. the Army officers
have a hard time making their pay meet
their needs. An interesting showing has
been made before the House Military
Affairs Committee by Capt. Johnson
Hagood. on duty at the War Depart
ment- On the subject Of living expenses
in the Army. Captain HagOOd declared:
Il believe that I can say that IS
per cent of the junior officers Of the
Army are either living beyond their
means and are head over heels In debt,
or are receiving some income from out
side sources. At some Of the more ex-
pensive posts-West Point, for instance
feel justified in asserting that there is
not one married Lieutenant who lives on
his pay During the last year ] was on
Cuty there between twenty and thirty
officers declined details there or request
ed TO be relieved from duty there on &C
count of the prOhibitive price of living.
] could give individual cases, with de-
tails, II 1t were proper. where officers
of junior rank lived as much as s, 600 a
year beyond their means"
Captain Hagood gave to the Military
Affairs Committee OF the House the de-
tailed household expenses OF Heuten-
ants families living at Fort Monroe
which Is not considered an expensive
post He took the case OF a lieutenant
Of seven years service, whose pay was
sl2S per month. 1t cost this lieutenant. a
married man. S92 per month for his or
binary. household expenses. leaving but
S56 out Of his pay Tor all other bills.
Uniforms, S1,O4s.
He said he had been in correspondence
with several manufacturers OF uniforms
and equipment for the Army. and haC
tabulated a statement Of the uniform
required OF an officer in 1873 and tina
required under the present regulations
with a comparison OF cost. The 1873 re
quirement amounted to- sos. This wa.
for officers OF the Light Artillery TIT
outfit for a Light Artillery officer o.
the same rank this year. in the instanc,
cited, captain, would cost Sl,Oi9.
In addition 10 this uniform a complete
outfit Of civilian clothing is necessary
for officers, no matter where they are
stationed.
The proposed bill would make a 20 pei
cent increase in the pay OF commits
stoned officers Of the Army.