Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-28
DICK-CAPRON BILL
SECRETARY TAFT's LETTER TO
SENATE MILITARY CHAIRMAN.

Secretary Taft has sent letter to the
chairman of the Senate military committee
| indorsing the Dick-Capron bill to regulate
and equalize the pay of officers OF the
army. navy, Marine Corps and revenue cut
| ter service.
II will confine myself says Secretary
Taft, Ito so much of the measure as relates
to the army. since 1t Is understood the pay
of the army forms the base Of pay for the
| other branches affected by this BILL
Fixed in July, 1870.
THE present pay for officers Of the army
was fixed by the act approved July 10. 1870.
A comparison Of the present rates with
those given for the corresponding grades
by the proposed measure shows an inten-
ton to make a uniform increase in pay of
70 per cent. which calls up for considera-
ton the question of the necessity for such
an Increase. II desired statistics can be
transmitted showing that the cost of living
has increased more than 20 per cent during
the past 70 years, and that during this time
there has been great increase in wages
by civil corporations and employers of Ia
Dor, skilled and otherwise, to meet the ad-
vance in prices; but, as these facts are so
| well known. such data are not submitted.
as no repetition or application seems
necessary.
A change in situation involving a move
of family and household goods is always ex-
pensive and makes a heavy demand upon
the officers pay. Where the changes are
few and at comparatively long intervals,
conditions that obtained prior to 1893, some
opportunity was given for savings to meet
such expenditures. The service today, how
ever, requires frequent and at times unex-
, pected changes of station, with insufficient
time interval for accommodating sufficient
money to meet the expenses of the move.
Again, service in Alaska and in the insular
possessions in many cases necessitates the
maintenance of two establishments, one for
the officer in the outlying post and the
other for his family in the United States.
In which the most rigid economy must be
practiced in order to make both ends meet.
The education of children is necessary and
expensive charge against pay. The officer
has no fixed habitat and in the majority of
cases Is SO situated that he cannot take
advantage of the public school systems of
the country.
Increased Cost Of Uniforms.
The increased cost of officers uniforms
and equipments calls for heavier expendi
lures than formerly, and an officer must be
supplied at all times in these respects for
any duty that he may be called upon to
perform. and must also be provided with
| suitable civilian clothing. In addition, serv-
ice in the tropics necessltates payment of
extra premiums on life insurance policies.
The foregoing demands upon the officers
pay are applicable to all grades, and the
uniform increase throughout is a more
equitable arrangement than has yet been
considered
The pay Of the cadets of the United
States Military Academy was fixed by the
act of June %, 1902 when, by the addition
of ration commuted at 30 cents per day,
Cadets and their pay were affected by the
advance in price of food products and
clothing. In the question of the increase
of pay on a uniform basis of 20 per cent,
tI,4 of1 -l,N H. IL
and, therefore, to make the full 20 per
cent, IT is suggested that the pay of the
cadets be fixed at $3.50 and the ration
thorized by law. instead of 5000, with no
allowance for the ration, as the proposed
bill provides.
Non-Commissioned Officers and Enlist
ed Men. >..
The bill under consideration provides for
an increase Of 20 per cent Of the pay now
allowed by law for all non-commissioned
officers and enlisted men. This provision,
aside from the intention Of the bill to make
a uniform increase in pay of the army of
20 per cent, Is especially meritorius, more
particularly where applicable to the nom
| commissioned officers class.
| while the increased cost of living does
not directly affect the class whose quarters
are heated, whose clothing and subsistence
are furnished, the increase proposed tends
| to greater contentment. from which follows
greater efficiency and greater inducement
for retention in the service of competent
men, The enlisted strength of the army is
drawn from the classes Of men whose wages
in civil life have been largely increased, so
that 1t becomes more and more difficult to
get recruits on the present rates Of pay.
Legislation of the kind proposed in this bill
WILL In measure, remedy this state of af
fairs.
while it is still believed, as has already
been expressed in the recommendation to
Congress on the subject, that the differ
ences in pay between the non-commissioned
officers and privates should be greater than
that now authorized by law, that pro-
posed in this measure, 1t is not deemed wise
| to attempt to provide in a bill Of this kind
having such general provisions for a par
ticular class based on other considerations
than those which must have weight in
| matter affecting not only the army, but
the kindred services.
1T is recommended that s. 1880 be given
favorable consideration"