The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-06-26
GREENE FAvoRs STATE PAY
Congressman Says Guardsmen Should
Have Extra Compensation.

Congressman Says Guardsmen Should
Have Extra Compensation.
The Burlington Free Press Thurs
day published the following communi-
cation from Congressman Frank l..
Greene representing the first Vermont
district:
Washington, June 22.-lf present
| plans prevail, the House tomorrow
morning will be asked to pass joint
resolution drafting the national guard
into the military service Of the United
States because of the Mexican emer-
gency. This is in pursuance of the
law laid down in section Ill of the army
reorganization act, approved June as
means OF federalizing organized
militia. If this joint resolution passes
in Congress, the Vermont National
| Guard will, on order of the President,
| become part of the federal army for
the time being and be paid and main
tanned by the federal government on
the basis of the regular army pay and
| allowances. There has also been dis
| cussed here unofiicially the idea of
| bringing before the House soon a prop
osition that the secretary of war be
| allowed an appropriation to pay in his
| discretion not more Than $50 a month
to dependent families of national
| guard soldiers during emergency SER
| vice. Whatever Congress may do
think the State should at least follow
| the precedent of the wars of 1861 and
| 1898 and vote from its own treasury
pay to enlisted men in addition to pay
| from the federal government and per-
| haps other allowance besides. For that
| matter, if the present call of the ma
| tional guard means the absence Of
| soldiers from civil employment any
| considerable time, additional pay
| should be granted by the State even if
| actual war service does not follow
| Whatever the federal government
does, Vermont should do something for
| her soldier sons, too.
Both allowances will never cover
| the actual economic loss to most of
the men and their families by reason
| of their service. 1t is true, of course,
the State should administer its funds
with prudence at all times and observe
| reasonable limitations in expenditures
| and taxation. | am not urging senti-
mental extravaganza for the mere
| pride of sentiment itself But the prin
| ciple involved in this exhibition of
citizen soldiers willingness to the
last full measure of devotion" is
| above pettiness of day books and
| ledgers in a very grave sense. Men
willing to risk life, limb and health for
| country should not be obliged to make
| serious economic sacrifice beside,
| when countless more men are put to
no personal sacrifice at all and yet
share in all the benefits of heroism of
| others.
Nor do | believe the families of sol
diers should be put to double sacri-
| fee of the risk of loved ones and pos.
sible endurance OF want and distress,
| also just becau.e the man of the fami-
| ly is patriotic
AT this time as in all emergencies
of this character, it is not the duty Of
every man to bear arms for his coun.
try, but | believe those who do not
| are willing to stand their share of the
| cost in some way and make their pro-
| portionate sacrifice for the flag, even
If 1t is no more than paying few pen
MES In extra taxes. Moreover, | do
not believe that either federal or State
aid to soldiers families should so to
them as an act of public charity, but
as a recognition Of the highest right.
Under present conditions | think the
State should help the federal govern
ment IN appropriating for her own
soldier sons in the field by giving them
some part OF their support and that
of their families, to maintain the
States own dignity of affectionate
motherhood of brave men, New MeXi.
co, South Carolina. Mississippi, and all
the rest cannot be expected TO be more
generous through the federal treasury
to Vermont men willing to die for their
country than Vermont is, herself
through her own. That was Vermonts
spirit in 81. | believe that spirit is
with US now, or else Memorial day has
been observed for half century with
out sincerity. Vermont boys in the
field today are not responsible for the
emergency that brought them there
but many have to pay the cost of ii in
something beyond the value of money
81 have not yet lost my memories OF
Chickamauga in 1898 nor forgotten
how much of aid and comfort to suf
fering soldier boys there the timely
and wise expenditure of little money
could have been. Our boys in the field
today, ! am sure, will not be permitted
to undergo those same needless priva
lions and hardships through any mis-
taken notion Of bookkeeping account
with the federal government. They
are our boys still, even IL loaned fol
n time to Uncle Sam. If this question
is brought before the Vermont Legisla
ture, as you suggest it may be, ! hav,
the utmost confidence my kinsmen a
home will be as generously solicitor.
for the welfare Of the Vermont soldier
In the field as that soldier will be tru,
to the patriotic traditions of the ole
mother State, herself
Frank l.. Greene.
A Pou Markar