The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-03-30
THE HAWAIIAN GAZETTE
aoa MADISON 's ssssa n g as nm aaTn7
Equalize the Sacrifices

1 Il
patriotism been desired, the bills now before
the legislature by which the Territory proposes
to keep its employees on its payrolls during their
active service in the territorial forces would con-
vince the most skeptical There is said to be
practically no opposition to the proposal and the
principle set forth is worthy Of emulation by the
Union ".'
In the course OF their progress through the egis-
lature it is probable that some faults in the bills
Twill be and remedied or better that the basis
will be changed to the more equitable one of
affording relief to all of Hawaiis militamen rather
than certain few.
| These bills have the unintended effect Of raising
a class among the guardsmen, class formed OF
Territorial employees as against those who are pri-
vatey employed or working independently, being
more than generous to the first and not at all
generous to the second. They have been framed
hurriedly to meet fast growing emergency and
the changes necessary more of form than spirit
The principle that the civilian positions should be
secured for guardsmen until their return from
active duty is correct and the government only
establish it by setting the example, as it cannot
enforce it among private employers.
The second principle of adding to the military
pay of the men the additional money from civilian
sources enable their families to live is not only
I
which the present bills offer il, however is ex-
tremey inequitable
1t provides in the first place only for the guards
men who territorial employees, which is un Just,
and the proposed distribution Of additional pay
among them is on a basis that is unjust to the
Territory. "ElI a@ N. 3.
| Thus for instance there will be about twenty
men drawn from the central Office OF the board of
health alone, with combined salaries of close to
81
compelled to pay to these men in the neighbor-
hood of $ll9O during their active service in addi-
ton to employing substitutes for them during their
absence This would average about $50 man,
which is not much, but still, when added to his
military pay little too much when every penny
lis going to count. But what is worse one of these
men will draw about $170 month in additional
| pay while another will draw but forty-fve dollars
and both will hold about the same military posi-
ton. ~" ......."
! There is department head, drawing $500 al
month"; who is private in the guard and who will
draw $13 month while on duty. The govern
ment will give him, as civilian pay $287. This is
more than his family needs, while many of his
fellow privates, with families equally large will
draw nothing additional to their $l3 whatever and
their families are going to suffer 49,. w. 1a.s
| The Territory should go the whole distance. tt
cannot compel private employers to pay their
guardsmen employees the difference between civil
ian salary and military stipend. Many houses
would be bankrupted An equitable basis for a
separation allowance for the families of guardsmen
| is not only practical, but it is necessary. The
guard has lost in the past few weeks scores Of
prospective recruits anxious to do their bit but
unable to see provision ahead for their wives and
children. -. r..
| There should be fixed allowance for each adult
and each child dependent upon civilian soldier
with an additional allowance to the rent payer,
1t need be large enough only that the family may
live. The guardsmen themselves ask no more than
that but it is unjust for the Territory to keep the
family of one private in luxury and to permit
anothers to starve. Xxx NJ
| The property Of guardsmen should be exempted
from taxation for the period of active duty, If
the Territorys income be not sufficient raise the
taxes. .s-#|
The first essential of war is sacrifice on the part
of the people who wage it, but there must be a
division of sacrifice and those must who only
stand and wait-even it be only through the pay
ment OF the slightly increased rates necessary to
support the families Of those who have offered
their lives for the field of battle. "
| And it is not certain that the Territory
cannot meet this obligation out of current income.