East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-01-24
WashingtonLetteT

Washington, d. c., Jan. 23.-The
coast artillery bill which is now being
considered by the senate, provides for
an increase during the next five years
Of 296 officers of all grades, and an
Increase of 5O43 in the number Of
coast artillerymen, together with an
In crease of S5S field artillerymen.
The number of electrician sergeants
is increased from 100 to 14S.
These 100 electrician sergeants now
draw $34 per month each, with al
lowances The 14S provided for in
the bill are divided into two classes;
"a of them will draw $S5 per month,
and "A will draw $45 per month each,
allowances being made for both
classes. The total increase in cost
for these special services will be $780,
24O. An additional master electrician
is provided at a cost of 5000.
sixty engineers are provided at $3.50
each per annum, a total of $46,S0O
Forty-two master gunners at $4O9
each, are provided for, the total cost
being $17,136; also 60 firemen at
$3.50 per annum. a total of $21,600.
Slight increases of pay are given as
follows; "A casemaker electricians,
SlOS per annum; 10 observers, first
class, $1OS per annum; 10 plotters.
SlOS per annum; A chief planters,
$S4 per annum; A chief leaders, sS4
per annum; 10 observers, second
class, $S4 per annum; 37S gun point
ers, $S4 per annum; all in addition
to their present pay, which is that Of
sergeant or corporal, or SIS and SIS
per month, respectively, with certain
allowances for length of service.
In this connection it is worth noting
that a gun commander in the coast
artillery receives $24 per month, while
turret captain in the navy gets $50
to $40 per month. Gunners in the
coast artillery stationed at guns of
S-inch or larger calibre, receive So per
month extra for the first-class, and
81 per month for the second-class.
For guns of to inches in the navy
the gun pointers receive $S per month
for the first-class and Sc per month
for the second-class, and for 3-inch
or smaller calibre, first-class gunners
get 81 per month and the second-class
50 per month extra.
The gunners for the coast artillery
for all calibres of guns receive only
S2 per month extra for first-class
gunners and 81 per month for second
class. These figures show that the
most poorly paid naval gun pointers
receives the same additional compen-
sation as that given to the most high
ly paid coast artillery gunner.
Must Have New Recruits.
"Of the forces authorized by law"
said Senator Warren, chairman of the
senate committee on military affairs,
the artillery corps is short from 80
to 40 per cent because of the inability
of the recruiting department of the
army to keep the artillery supplied
with recruits. This is due to the fact
that these men are called on to do so
much in consequence of a shortage
of men, and get such little compensa-
ton for their labor that they will not
re-enlist. Many of them desert before
their time expires and the officers are
becoming somewhat discouraged.
congress has been adding to the
defenses from time to time and turn
Ing over to the artillery new fortifica-
tions and new works, new accessories,
new power plants, new electrical in
stallations and new search lights un-
til 1t Is about to give way under the
burden. 1t can not properly meet the
responsibility that is accommodating
about it,