New-York tribune., 1907-01-20
FUNSTON PLEADS FOR HIGHER PAY
Says San Francisco Bricklayer Receives
More Than Captain.

Washington, Jan. 1e-"In San Francisco a brick
layer plasterer plumber receives more pay than
captain Of twenty years service stationed at any
OF the posts near that city. even considering the
latter's quarters at the Communication of his grade
A hodcarrier in the same city receives more pay
than second lieutenant
This statement Is made by Brfgadisr General
Funston. commanding the Department Of Cali
fornis. In his annual report to the Secretary OF
War He makes a strong plea for increase OF
army pay. not for the officers just entering the
service. but the increase for length OF service
should be much greater than at present. mo one"
he says. believes that army officers should. even
IN the smallest degree attempt compete in style
OF living and display with persons OF wealth but
they should be able to live decently. maintaining
dren without being continually hsrassed by ths
question OF keeping out of debt
officers pay is that OF the enlisted men Of the
service. for the army will always have all OF the
crease OF pay, but the very existence Of the army
IS threatened II wages IN civil life continue 10 rise
unless steps are taken % increase the pay OF the
rank and file. IL is notorious fact that recruits
organizations are below authorized strength. The
wonder Is that. with the wretched pay offered the
saW sGy Of shsm rssnas after % their rst term Of
service. and many desert IN the first few months.
most poorly paid man in any occupation in the
country to-day cannot be refGted There Is no valid
increase IN the pay OF non-commissioned officers
Gstment as A Should work Yevoiution In holding in the
service the best of the men we now have.
General Funston finds himself much Obstructed
in improving the military posts BY the high price
OF labor in San Fr lnctscO and voinity-a condition
much aggravated by the great demand <OT labor to
rebuild the part Of the city destroyed recently By
fire.
In addition to the fact that abnormally high
wages are being paid, he says the building trades
in that city completely dominated by tyTannical
and unreasonable labor unions which harass build
and contractors almost beyond endurance by
senseless strikes and boycotts" Therefore he rec
ommends that all construction work on the army
posts be carried by the labor of general pris-
oners, as was done in the Of the barracks on
Alcatraz Island. II such course would throw
In civil life out of employment II would not
be advocated. but such is not the case he says
General Funston does not wish any more big
guns or emplacements in San Francisco Bay nor,
for that matter. IN any other harbor adequately
protected In that respect He SAYS the crying need
Is rather for auxlliaries. such powerful search
lights fire control systems. adequate submarine
mine defences and ths accumulation OF an ammU-
milton reserve.
'One does not need to be an ordnance or artil-
lery expert he says, ITO know that II would be
suicidal for the most powerful feet in the world to
engage in a serious battle with the coast de-
fences OF San Francisco attempt to BY them
10 they adequately manned and the auXillariss
mentioned were restored AS a matter OF fact,
he adds, there are not nearly enough men 70 man
the existing defences: the pending artillery
bin would not provide a sufficient number So he
strongly urges the creation OF a reserve composed
of men who have returned To civil life from one
term of enlistment In the army.