The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-06
NOT ENOUGH PAY.
Secretary Taft's Explanation of the
Decrease in the Army.

Washington. Jan. 6.-Secretary Taft
is strong advocate of increased pay
for the army and his annual report,
just sent to congress, completely dis
pels any doubt that may exist as to
the Secretary'S position. The report
shows rapid decrease in the strength
OF the regular army in recent years
the loss last year being 4,428 men) and
the pressing need for officers to replace
those now detailed on recruiting duty
as military instructors in educational
institutions The secretary declares
that while many reasons have been ad-
vanced to explain the difficulty a suf-
ficient is to be found in, the inadequacy
of army pay.
Il think it quite probable he says,
that an increase in the pay of the
enlisted men, including considera BILE
additional inducement for the men to
re-enlist and such reasonable increase
in the pay of nome Commissioned Off
GERS as would stimulate men to re-
main in the service and to qualify
themselves for these higher positions
would have markedly beneficial ef-
feet upon the recruitment of the
army"
the adoption for Sthe army of the
naval system under which the presi-
dent is authorized to fix the rates of
pay within defined limits as a means
of obtaining a better discipline and a
higher efficiency. He also recon-
mends the creation of general SER
vice corps to relieve the soldiers of
the vast amount of unrnilitary work
they are now called upon to perform.
In his opinion the miIIuary service
should be SO attractiv and desirable
that it will not be difficult to get and
hold the class of men needed for the
enlisted personnel and to make army
| service a aa RI ha
by Offering rewards for proficiency
and greater increase of pay for length
of service.
The regular army last year lost 139
officers and 26.310 enlisted men and,
although it was a year of peace, IA of
the officers and 358 of the men were
Killed in action or died of wounds and
disease.
Among the estimates. submitted is an
item of Sc, ,4SS,000 for the construction of
batteries at Manila and Subig bay
This estimate appears in connection
with others for the insular POSSESSIONS
accompanying the report are the es-
Inmates for the support of the military
establishment during the next fiscal
year The same being 1,51S,3 341 great
er than vast years appropriations. BY
far the greater part of the increase
(more than 80 per cent? is for coast de-
fense works, of which~ about s21, zoo, 900
is required for sffe United States and
slS,S06oo0 for thes sfnsular. possessions.
In concluding thu report, Secretary
Taft says:
"It seems to me that the time has
come to recognize in the same way the
service of one who was not a soldier,
but who as secretary of war, rendered
heroic service in the preservation of the
union and whose strong personality and
intellectual force made him one of the
great historical fighters in a national
crisis Edward NJ Sf9ntOr, q bored
the maintenance and perpetuity of this
government with unfaltering courage
and with vigor that knew to abate-
ment. 1 recommend that congress
make adequate provision for the erec-
ton of statue to Secretary Stanton i'll
the city of Washington, where his great
work was done and where his remains
are buried"