Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-06-11
ARMY AND HAVf PAY.
Pay Inspector Commented For
PrOmptness In Submitting
Pay Bill.

: Officers at the Naval Academy ar
all delighted with the following edf.
forial which appears IN the Army and
Navy Register of June $. u is 10 be
hoped all other influential paper.
will take similar action and dc
everything possible 10 bring about
favorable action on his just meas
ure:
Pay Inspector +. J. cowie. L.. :.
Navy. is 70 be commended for the
promptness for which lie has sub
mitted. to the Navy Department the
service paw bill prepared by him
last year and which became known
as the Dick-Capron bill. because Of
its introduction 10 the Senate 0y
Senator Dick and in the House OF
Representatives by Representative Cap
ron. II may not now be said that
there has been failure to act sufficient
~ early since the text Of the modified
and improved bill became known and
is officially in the possession Of the
Navy Department seven months before
Congress will meet in the first session
Of the Sixtieth Congress.
s'The text of the bill was published
I'm our news columns last week and
merits not only serious consideration,
but justilies the approval Of those who
in one or another capacity executive
or legislative, are called upon 10 act in
the matter. There is no more laudable
purpose in all the contemplated leg
islation which will be submitted to
the next Congress from any source
than that which is incorporated in the
provisions OF this measure, TO in
crease, regulate and equalize the pay
and allowances Of the Army, Navy.
Marine Corps and Revenue-Cutter
Service
COLLECTION was made to the Dick
Capron bill because it proposed n
general increase Of 20 per ceut. from
the highest ranking officer to the en-
listed man who had the least pay.
IL this really operated rs an obstruc-
ton to the congressional approval Of
the proposition, II will not interfere
with legislative action at The next
session OF Congress. The present bill
makes an increase Of 10 per cent IN
the pay OF the general and lieutenant
general. Is per cent for major gener-
al and brieadicr genreal. 20 per cent
for colonels, lieutenant colOnels and
majors, % per cent for captains, first
and second Iieutenants, cadets and
N midsbipmen, and 30 per cent for all
enlisted men. The bill places all OFF,
GERS Of the same rank and length Of
service Of whatever branch OF the ser
vice on exactly the same pay and
allowances and bases the pay Of re-
tired officers ON that provided for OIL
GERS Of corresponding rank by this
bill.
ssThc important provision Of the
bill, Of course, Is the increase or pay.
Next IN importance II that which
places the officers and enlisted men u
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps. and
Revenue Cutter Service upon the same
footi ng as 10 pay and allowances.
This provision is one which should
meet with he heartiest approval u
Congress. The pay tables Of the four
services have gradually been changed
until ridiculous Inconsistency or
grave injustice Is wrought on every
side. It Is well nigh impossible 10
apply a rule without enc0untering ex-
ceptions which are bound To be unfair
to some one. The result ~ an endless
amount Of claims general dis
satisfaction. There IL every reason
why officers Of the same relative rank
III Ait amy sfAfEg NAtipS ENABp -
Revenue Cutter Service should be
paid the same in all respects, both
as to base pay and as to allowances.
1t Is unfair that the enlisted men
OF tbe Army should have certain priv
iiegcs and cmoluments which are not
allowed 10 the enlisted men Of the
Navy. There should be prompt
adjustment Of all these conditions 10
the end that there may be uniformity
of service emOiuments. THE cOrrec-
tion Of the complicated Navy paw table
Is rendered possible by this service
pay.bill and IL would be promotion
Of discipline because il Will create
contentment II this bill ~ enacted.
The bill as amended by Pay Inspcc-
tor Cowic appears complete In all re-
spects. It's publication 10 the service
IL the first step In what should be an
active and influential campaign Of ed
ucatiOn."