Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-04-16
UNCLE sam, PAYNASTER
Task of Getting Money to Two Mil
lion Men Not an Easy One-What
Soldiers Will Receive.


big field army. The army on the
border was designated as a depart
mental force, With 100000 men
scheduled to serve with the colors just
as soon as they can be obtained, Dig
lob faces the quartermasters at each
of the six, department headquarters
and the finance division of the depot
here.
The finance division of the depot IN
Washington is under the direction Of
Mai. George c. Barnhardt, 1t pays
off all retired officers and soldiers
under the war depot in the city, some
in the Philippines and some in Texas
Already it has big task, and with
the increase of the army 1t Will be.
loaded down with work.
Face an Arduous Task
Paying 100000 officers and men
IS no mean task. AS the army is mo-
bilized at points near the department
headmarters in San Antonio, San
Francisco, Charleston, Chicago, New
York and Boston, each department
martermaster will have the arGuous
task of paying all officers and men IN
his jurisdiction and his forces Will be
augmented from the quartermasters
reserve corps or other agencies.
The Washington depot has an al
Iotment branch to which it pays mem
hers of the soldiers and ofilcerS'
family when he so requests, and any
other allottee he may designate. 1t
also pays the regular army reserve
but that has not amounted to much
vet. The depot also pays all tele-
graph accounts and these have DE-
come formidable since the declaration
of a state of war with Germany, as
have railway transportation accounts.
Pay to Guardsmen's Families.
There is also dependent relative
branch at the Washington depot.
When the troops were called to the
border Congress appropriated money
for dependent relatives OF the men
called into the service. This IS no"
being paid only to the men WAC were
not mustered out of service.
The families of the men in the ma
tional guard who have been called
back to the colors will not get TINS
money, unless Congress again passes
. hill similar to that which was drawn
especially for the families Of men VINO
went to the border.
Several such bills have been IN
troduced into the present session OF
CONGRESS and a bill doubtless viii be
passed. This will increase the work
of the paying forces, for any depend
emit relief measures makes many close
distinctions on benefits. Fer the
army that went to the border the
maximum benefit for the dependent
relatives of any man was $50 a month
Paw of Officers in the Field.
The highest pay of any officer N
the field is that of lieutenant gener-
al, which is $1,000 year. There Is
no active lieutenant general now,
however. Gems. Bates, Young and
Myers, who reached that rank, are all
retired.
The pay of major general Is So
600 a wear. at the time OF his appoint
ment. and he gets 10 per cent IN
crease each five years. This III per
cent increase each five years also APP
plies to brigadier generals, colonies.
lieutenant colonies, ma. Iors, captains,
first lieutanants and second lleutcn-
ants.
The pay of I, brigader general Is
$4,000 year; colonel, $4,000, ana
lieutenant, colonel, $500. Other sal
aries for line office are major S3,OOO
year; captain, $1,000; first ileuten-
ant. $4,000: second lieutenant, 1,1OD.
Lieutcnants in Demand.
First and second lieutenants are
very much in demand. Examinations
are being held in many parts OF the
country to fill up the ranks Of lieu
tenants in order that the big army of
recruits may be drilled.
Lieutenants OF the medical corps
are entitled to the pay of captain
after three years service. An act
ing judge advocate detailed By the
Secretary of War is entitled to the
pay Of d captain.
In the event an ARMY goes to Eu-
rope, all officers from major general
to second lieutenant will receive 10
per cent increase in pay while on such
service.
Increases 10 Army Filters.
The aviation corps, which offers Il
,.;I +;oI; -, nj ,,-l, ;,b -. 70 -ooo;,,o ,,,,,n,