The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-09-03
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Corsespondence.l


Small pay is the main reason for de-
sertions from the army according to
the annual report OF Major General a.
w. Greedy, commanding the northern
division, which includes the depart
ments Of the lakes, the Dakotas and
Missouri.
This factor, General Greedy says,
is seconded by the lack of the canteen,
resultant trouble in dives surrounding
the army posts, and "the low standard
and general worthlessness of recruits
The moral deterioration of the recruits
is characterized as corollary of the
small pay.
The Pay of Soldiers. :
General Greedy urges increase of pay
of officers and men, five year term
of enlistment, material Increase in
strength of the infantry and restora-
tion of the canteen privileges to the ex-
tent of selling beer. He recommends
that the pay proper to all enlisted men,
except recruits of less than one years
service, be increased from 20 to so
per cent and that the minimum penal
ty for desertion should never be less
than the unexpired term of enlistment.
General Greedy urges the necessity
of materially increasing the pay of Of
fcers and declares that unless it is
contemplated the army shall be Of
ficered from an aristocracy Of wealth,
for an officers position is fast becom-
ing impossible for a man without pri-
vate income, increased pay should be
given him. He says the minimum in
fantry strength should be fifteen regi-
ments, but if duty in Cuba and on the
isthmus is to be part of the army
work 1t should be twenty regiments.
Army Ration Criticised.
General Greedy holds that the army
ration, while excellent In quality and
doubtless of sufficient nutriIive value,
in quantity and variety does not salts
fly the American soldier.
He suggests that various edibles
found on every American table, even
of the poorest people, are entirely
lacking in the army ration, although
they appear On the naval list.
May Change Army Uniform.
The plan to provide the enlisted men
of the army with a more serviceable
uniform is engaging the attention of
officials of the war department. This
subject has been agitated for some
time, and the need of a uniform more
practical for everyday service purposes
is gradually becoming more apparent.
Various recommendations are made
by officials of the department as to
the style to be adopted. Colonel L. NJ.
Maus, who has had much experience
with soldiers in the field, believes that
the present regulation felt hat is not
adapted for campaigning purposes in a
hot or tropical climate. The infantry
marching trousers, he declares, should
be made full around the knees and the
cuff extended down the leg far enough
to be Enclosed by the top of the march
ing shoe, thus doing away with the
Logging.
Government Workers Organize.
The Government Employees Mutual
Relief and Cooperative association has
been launched by employees of the
national government in this city, and
plans are now being perfected for the
permanent organization of the associa-
ton.
Only employees of the United States
government and Of the government of
the District of Columbia, employed
within the District, are entitled to
membership. 1t is proposed to estab-
lish an insurance department, whereby
a member can obtain insurance protec-
ton based upon the plan of "old line''
life insurance companies without hav-
ing to pay the charge of those compa-
MES for agents commissions, mainte-
nance, etc. The policies will have guar
antee cash surrender and loan values
and will offer all of the advantages of
the policy of regular insurance COM
pany-insurance protection to be ex-
tended to life, health, accident and old
age insurance.
To Establish Savings Bank.
1t is also proposed to establish a
savings bank building association, in
which the reserve necessary to protect
the insurance policies in force will be
invested and which will be required
to earn 4 per cent interest. 1t is pro-
posed to lend money to members of the
association on proper security at
rate in excess of the required earn
ings as will pay the operating ex-
penses of the bank.
Other features will be added from
time to time as good business methods
direct. A two-thirds vote of the total
membership is necessary for the cleo
ton of officers, all of whom are to be
bonded.
Homage to the President.
The new union railroad station here
will be supplied with unique feature
Ia special entrance and reception
room for the president of the United
States. The presidents entrance is an
archway of marble thirty feet IA
width.
On alighting from his carriage be-
meath 1t the foremost citizen of the ma
ton will step into vestibule of noble
proportions of the same width as the
archway and twenty feet in depth. In
this vestibule the persons who accom-
pany him will be waited upon by
trained attendants, while the president
himself will seek privacy in room
set apart for his exclusive use on the
right hand adjoining.