Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-16
TURKS REJECT TERCRY LACK Of CASH NUKE FAY FOR CltRkS Il
Satisfied Applies the They Bal
for Balkan Conference Whippe,
SAFE FAVORED
AA"0A~A~~
in Anglo
ubfu
They Deserve 1t, Says Gen.
WhippIe, in Report.
RETIREMENT ALSO FAVORED
Justice Due Them After Long Years
of Faithful Service.
WORK OF THE ARMY PAY CORPS
Millions in Money Handled During
the Year Without Any Loss
to the Government.

In his annual report to the Secretary OF
War Paymaster General Whipple Of the
army takes occasion to pay a tribute to
the government clerks generally. and
more particularly those in his own de-
partment. for their faithfulness in the
performance of their duties. Gen. Whip
pie makes strong appeal for increased
compensation for the clerical force In his
pathy with the movement for the retire
ment of clerks when they have reached
an age which incapacitates them. He OK
presses an earnest hope for favorable leg
islation on the subject at an early day
and continues:
ITO those unacquainted with the bust
ness OF the administrative bureaus OF the
government the position Of clerk in the
government service is generally looked
upon as a much desired berth. carrying
good pay. short hours and little work. NC
more erroneous impression could possibly
exist. The work Of this Office will COM
pare favorably in amount and character
with that of any business house or corpO-
ration in the country.
Ability Of the Highest Order.
I'm efficiently meeting it's requirements
| the clerks have generally proven their in
telligence and that they possess those
qualities OF application and industry
which are recognized in business life as
an indication of clerical ability of the
highest order. Promotions have been nee
essarly slow. dependent as they are upon
the resignation or death Of a clerk of a
higher grade. and 1t is surely time. after
| the lapse of nearly forty years. that the
clerks be given more adequate compensa-
ton for their long and faithful service.
Drawing the same salary from year to
year. with no advance to meet the con-
slant and ever-increasing demand OF
greater living expenses, they have cheer
fully performed their duties, and I earn
estly hope they will receive their reward
through a substantial increase of salary
which will extend to all classes OF govern
ment clerks
Vast Sums Safely Handled.
According to Gen Whipple's report. the
officers of the Army Pay Corps accounted
for the vast sum of s71.O71 1854 in various
transactions during the past year with
out any loss to the government. These
transactions included payments to troops
in the Philippines. in Hawaii. Cuba. Porto
Rico and Alaska. "The officers and
clerks said the paymaster general:
have promptly and faithfully performed
all duties intrusted to them" Among
the interesting disbursements made by
the pay corps was &5O6516 on. account OF
the military occupation Of Cuba from
October, 1905. to July last; and $f96.913
for the pay Of militia troops for partici-
patton in joint seacoast defense maneu-
vers during the past year.
During the year sc. S98 deposits amount
ing to 1856, TOO were made by soldiers.
on. which interest at the rate of per
cent was paid. The amount now held to
the credit of depositors Is $3.O54, 351. The
total amount deposited since the begin
ming of the system in 1878 Is $31 ,0SS 1913.
Soldiers Saving Money.
These figures. says the paymaster gen
eral. are ample evidence that enlisted men
recognize the advantages of making the
government the custodian OF the savings
from. their pay. He says the influence
Of the system has been to develop a
spirit of thrift and saving which unques-
tionably elevates the standard OF the en-
listed personnel OF the army
1t is recommended that all grades In
the pay department above that OF cap
tain he made permanent. and that pro-
motion to major be made from the cap
tains who have served or who may be
serving a detail in that department and
who have shown the greatest proficiency
in their work. II Is also suggested that
the force now known as paymasters'
clerks he Incorporated In the military
establishment. In tina. way. the pay
master general says, they would be given
a status appropriate to the duties re-
quired OF them. and would thereby con-
stitute a permanent trained force ready
at all times to meet any exigency of the
service.