Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-10-22

Tho follow interesting article D.
ffam the army and Navy Register Of
occtober i9. under the caption The
Service Pay situation.
promising phase If The prelim
inary situation attaching 10 the OH
cial effort to obtain an increase ~
service pay has been the Iessening 81
the objections which were raised IN
fhe nrat instance and expressed ia va
rfous quarters against the prov isions
10 tine hili, which has been prepared
- conferces representing the War
Department Navy Department and
Treasury Department, which had the
approval ~ The President and which
sill be introduced 10 the House by
representative capron and Ia tine SEN
ATE bv senator Dick. The President
wil make a special reference in his
annual message Co Congress next De-
cembcr to tbc subject 90 increasing
service pay aud there viii be acces-
sthle 60 members 81 congress much in
formation which is now being ac-
eumulaicd ~ representative 81 the
war and Navy Departments bearing
upon this vital question.
There is me- lack II eonv incing
statistics and significant examples
xhich show that the commissioned
personnel and he enlisted force Of the
services arc entitled 10 this eonsid-
Grafton. We printed last week a
statement which furnish comparison
~ the pay of the Canadian soldier
and the American enlisted men. Il
showed 30 great a difference in favor
of the former that there could have
been 40 doubt a. % the inadequacy
81 the pay of the enlisted men of the
United states Army. Further com
parisons have been made based upon
tho receipt of information from Mon
treal show ing the pay of the police
men OF that municipality. Without
going into details, the pay Of a ser
gcani OF police in that city is about
500. The pay Of a sergeant Of police
ca New York city is $500. Neither
receives amy allowances. 4 sergeant
major ia the Canadian army receives
$50 month and a sergeant major in
the United states Army receives 81 a
month. Ticking the police sergeants
pay as basis OF necessary income IN
q community where money must be
paid cut for the privileges of living,
81 Is seen that the Canadian soldier
gets as much as the standard at least.
The American soldier Of the position
quoted gets one-fourth the pay Of the
New York Policeman and he has non
of lhe allow anCes which increase the
pay If the Canadian soldier.
III is gratifying 60 again record
iho fact, published last week in our
news columns, that there is a grow
ing appreciation of the fact that the
service bin must not be amended by
any attempt 10 include in its provi-
sions features which are outside the
present restricted purpose of the
measure.
If the prov isions, through somcOver-
sight. will operate 10 deprive any
set ~ officers of the pay which they
are now receiving, OF course this
omission may be supplied, but any
change viii he in the nature of a
menace. The chances of enactment
are Ina proportion 90 the remoteness
from amendment. IL any 81 the nu-
nerous Irrelevant improvements Is
urged for incorporation in the bill,
there is No reason why equally worthy
prov isions should be ignored. This
viii result IN a preparation Of bill
which viii invite attack aud afford
much desired opportunity to obstruct
favorable congressional action. IL
will be appreciated by those who
know something 81 the sentiment in
both The House aud the senate that
there are members who will be very
glad az the excuse to delay final action
IN ihis subject in order that full justice
may he done conflicting elements.
The hill should afford no occasion
cor tho ventilation Of grievance.
which. however justified, will only
serve 10 block the legislation which
is 50 ereatly desircd and 50 much
nceded.
-o--