Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-02-22
Facts and Figures About Sums
Paid Various Grades of Off
GERS and Enlisted Men.
HOW and WHEN THEY GET IT
Wide Expansion of the Army Makes
Task of Paying Off Intricate and
DifficuIt-Is Quartermaster's
Job-Precautions Taken to
Insure Meeting Pay Roll
Promptly.

Washington.-The actual pay roll Of
the fighting forces of the United States
is now nearly S100,000O00 per month
This sum is disbursed by the pay Off
GERS of the army and navy in the form
of checks or currency or by the treas
ury department in the form of family
allotments as compensation for serv-
ices rendered according to the scale OF
pay prescribed by law for the uni
formed defenders of the nation.
This figure does not include family
allowances" which are paid by the gov
eminent toward the support of the fam
HES of enlisted men, under specified
conditions, nor does it consider any of
the special compensatory features of
the military and naval insurance act,
under which $176,150;0O0 wars appropri-
ated.
For the purpose of informing the
public accurately as to the system of
pay in the army the following author
lied statement has been issued by the
committee on public information:
Army Pay Nearly Billion Year.
The total pay of the United States
army for the month of December was
approximately SIS, 5SOS00.
Disbursements on account of the pay
of officers and men of the army are
now at the rate of about $3.50, 100000
per year.
These figures consider solely the pay
disbursed by the quartermaster de-
partment and do not include family
allowances or compensation for disabil-
ity of soldiers, provided for by the
military and naval insurance act and
paid by the government through the
war risk insurance bureau of the treas
ury department
Following is a comprehensive state
ment of the system of pay of the army
authorized by the quartermaster gen
eral:
The quartermaster general of the
army, under the direction of the secre-
tary of war, is charged with the duty
Of providing for the payment of the of
ficers, enlisted men, female nurses, field
clerks, and civilian clerks of the quar-
termaster corps on duty at places other
than in the office of the quartermaSter
general. Due to the lack of office build
ings necessary TO take care of the in.
creased number of employees required
to carry on the business of the army at
Washington, it has been necessary to
lease many privately owned buildings
for Office purposes. The finance and
accounting division of the office of the
quartermaster general is charged with
the details of providing funds, and in
terror administration in connection
with the payment of the army, and is
now located in large apartment house
at the corner of Fifteenth and NJ
streets MY.
Intricate and Difficult Task
The intricate task of paying the Of
hcers and men of the United States |
army, made more difficult by the wide |
of the past six months, is
being satisfactorily accomplished. To
prevent failure TO meet the monthly
of every man in the serv
ice, no matter where he may be To-
uUcfd SulllS dtt Tie
various disbursing quartermasters in
order promptly to meet the army pay
oils with their extraordinary demands
or funds.
The officers and enlisted men of the
lrmy are paid at the end of each
month. or as soon thereafter as pos
ible, by the disbursing officers of the
corps, in cash or by
heck, at their stations or In the field.
If on duty in France they are paid in
french currency or by United States ,
hecks, as officers and men may elect.
Pay Of Enlisted Men.
The pay of enlisted men depends on {
heir grades, ratings, and length of
ervice. From June 1, 1917, and con-
Inuing during the term of the war the
ay of enlisted men is as follows:
Men receiving $50: All privates. the
rmy entering grade.
Men receiving $33: First-elass pri-
ates, men promoted to act In minor
officer capacity
Men receiving $36: Corporals, sad
Iers, mechanics, farriers and wagon |
Is. and musicians of the third class.
Men receiving S3S: All sergeant
-ades In the line, which include infan- /
y, field, artillery, coast artillery and i
VARY. cooks. horseshoers. band cor /
,rals and musicians of the second /
ass. |,
Men receiving S44: Sergeants of the I
lrious corps af the engineers, ord i
lnce, signal corps, quartermaster T
rps and medical department band !,
rgeants and musicians of the first Z
ass. +
Men receiving s48: Battalion SER i
ant majors. squadron sergeant ma +
RS, sergeant majors Junior grade). +
rgeant buglers, master gunners and
sistant band leaders of the line. +
Men receiving S51: Eegimental SER +
ant majors. regimental supply SER
ants. sergeant majors (senior grade),