The Detroit times., 1908-01-06
TAFT MAKES PLEA
FOR HIGHER
PAY IN ARMY


tAftu OF tue t~U1lpplut O(DutEs u,
a net increase Of II in the Porto RicO
regiment. and net decrease Of 66T IN
the Philippine scouts.
Including the hospital corps. Porto
Rico regiment aad Philippine scouts
with the regular army. there was to-
tai net decrease from last year OF
Maximum Authorized strcnxth.
At the date of tina last annual re-
port, the maximum authorized strength
OF the regular army exclusive OF the
hospital corps), as provided by law
and txed by executive order made in
and .62.4S9 enlisted men
The present authorized maximum
strength rs 1897 officers and es,ssl en-
listed men This increase of lbs of
ficers and 1879 enlisted men results in
the main from the provisions or the
act or congress approved Jan. %, 1907,
ing the efficiency OF the artillery arm
OF the service.
This statement OF the present au-
thortzed strength does not include the
III officers and ga enlisted men in the
Porto Rico provisional regiment, the
J l6 officers and 5.20S enlisted men OF
the Philippine scouts. or the hospital
corps, which has an average strength
or about $500 men.
As TO Abselteeism.
Regarding absenteeism. the secretary
says:
The fact remains, nevertheless. that
Nht abStHtt VI a idTbt huuibti va cAsf
GERS from their commands is not with
out its bad effect upon the discipline
and efficiency OF the army. The num-
Der OF officers absent from their com
year. On June 80. 1906, $50 per cent
OF the original officers and officers
OF the stan corps and departments and
cole per cent OF the line officers were
absent on detached service. On June
80. 1907. those percentages were 1856
for general and stan officers and .s2s
for line officers.
The seriousness OF this situation Is
such that a majority OF the command
ing generals or military departments
comment upon this undesirable condi-
ton of Affairs In their annual reports
for 1907. In a general way the rem
edies suggested by them are broadly
i'm the direction OF an increase in the
total number OF officers for the service
rather than a reduction In the number
OF places that must necessarily be I'LL
ed by detaching officers from their
commands for longer or shorter
perfod-
1t Is apparent from an analysis of
the figures given In this report and In
reports of preceding years that the
great bulk OF absenteeism of officers
from their usual military duties with
their commands results from detailing
officers for recruiting duty and for
duty in connection with the extensive
system of military education that is
being carried on both in the army and
in the several states at institutions OF
learning and with the militia forces IL
goes without saying that many ofn-
GERS must always be needed for re-
cruiting service. IL Is equally certain
that the number of officers engaged
In work of an educational character,
either as students or instructors, can
never be materially reduced without
serious impairment of the efficiency OF
the army and the militia.
These facts are incOntrOvertible and
the statements made are but repetitions
In substance of what has been said IN
annual reports for several years past.
In my judgment IL Will be the wiscst
sort OF economy for the nation to rec
ognize the situation and 20 provide ad-
ditional officers to meet condition
Il cannot but feel that II has a very
decided, IL not direct, bearing upon
the failure OF men TO re-cnltst In the
arms and upon desertfehs-Th eFe-ean
BE- no reasonable doubt that the more
constant presence OF company officers
with the organizations 10 which they
belong, and whose military training.
discipline, and general welfare II Is
their Legitimate function TO maintain,
would, next to Increased pay, prove one
OF the most potent factors for promot-
ing contentment among the enlisted
men of their commands.
with the, present rates or pay IL IS
especially difficult to keep the ranks
OF the coast artillery full. This ser
vice requires for it's proper perform
ance "A high degree OF mechanical skill.
and the training necessary to develop
the men leads to their acquisition or
a considerable knowledge OF electricity
and a skill in assembling and mantpu-
lating various kinds OF electrical APP
paratus in general use In the CONNER
cial world The result Is that by the
time these men have served one enlist
ment they nave attained proficiency
which commands very much higher
remuneration in civil employment than
IL does in the army, and they do not
re-enlist | think IL is quite probable
that an increase In the pay or enlisted
men, including considerable additional
inducemont for men to re-enlist and
such reasonable increase in the pay OF
non-commissioned officers AZ would
stimulate men to remain In the ser
these higher positions, would have
markedly beneficial effect upon the re-
cruitment OF the army.
Il earnestly recommend that the same
system be made TO apply to the fixing
OF the pay of the enlisted men and of
the non commissioned officers that now
obtains in respect to the navy. so that
the president may FIX the rates or pay
within defined limits. This would en-
able the president to classify enlisted
men according to length OF service and
meritorious service and vary their pay
accordingly, and also to make large
p-oportionatc advance In the pay OF
non -commissioned officers, which would
secure them as permanent members
of the army. Such results would make
much for better discipline and higher
efficiency.
When the supply OF mere laborers is
not equal to the demand for them. AL
though the wages offered range from
S1.75 to 1850 or more day. IL IL not
strange rnHt men do not care to enlist
in the army at Sl5 a month. Althoush
their real compensation Is much more
than this. because they are well housed
and fed and clothed and receive medi-
cal and dental services in addition, still
the life Is full OF hard work with the
drills and practice marches and fatigue
duty that are essential to the proper
training OF a soldier and inseparable
from the maintenance OF an army post
in good condition.: and there is, OF
course, a far greater degree OF disct-
pline required than liz usually found
In civil employment. At small and lso-
lated posts thu HHeHeteHy- of the rou.
tine naturally becomes accumulated and
the soldie . life correspondingly be-
comes less attractive.
General Service Corps
Another measure that would I'M
doubtedly secure greater contentment
In the line OF the army and reduce de-
sertions IL the establishment or gem
masters. engineers. hremeh, overseers.
transfers. packers, carpenters, black
smiths. laborers, clerks, etc. This class
OF work is now performed In part by
civilian employees and in part by SOL
diers detailed on extra and special
duty Under present conditions there
must always be large number OF SOL
diers detached from their companies
for work OF this kind. II they are
given extra pay for IL. IL encourages
them to seek duty other than that for
which they were primarily enlisted. II
they are not paid extra for this class
OF work. they are dissatisfied at being
employed upon work for which they
did not enlist and at wages which are
command i'm civil employment: and In
either event the organizations to which
they belong are depleted OF their prop
or strength and the soldiers deprived
~ mil w