The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-16
ADJUSTMENT Of
PAY OF OFFICERS
Congress Asked by Sec. Bak-
er to Vote Standard AL
lOwance to Field Men
SYSTEM
MUCH CRITICISED
Discrimination in Favor Of Men on Desk
Duty, While Others Bear Load of
Debt-Action Taken on Appeal of
Men Having a Hard Time


WASHINGTON. Feb. IG.-In an eff
fort to correct what is regarded as an
injustice to officers of the army serv-
ing in the field, at home. and in France,
Secretary Baker, through the general
staff, has requested Senator Chamber
lain and Representative Dent, chair
men, respectively OF the military affairs
committees OF the senate and the house.
10 provide legislation Immediately
granting computation of quarters, heat,
and light to all officers on field service
in the United States and foreign lands.
An effort is being made in congress
20 enact legislation to prevent the
mulctiug Of young officers through com
Peiling them to pay eXorbitant prices
for uniforms and other required equip
ment. Many officers have become in
VOWED dceply>in debt through the exac-
tions imposed upon them and the abol-
ishmeut of allowances heretofore made.
The striking feature OF the situa-
tion that has caused Secretary Baker
10 seek a correction is that an officer
doing desk duty in Washington or some
other large city receives allowances,
while the officer who is living in a tent
IN France or is under training in this
country for active service ut the front
receives nothing from the government
except his pay.
The action Of Secretary Baker was
taken on the basis of an appeal to him
from officers in the field which amount
ed to Il despairing cry for financial as
slStance. Officers of high rank Joined
their juniors in the petition. which was
born of the rising tide of debt. About
"o,po0 officers of all grades are affected
by the proposed legislation.
II the request of Secretary Baker is
granted, officers on duty in the field
VIII, In measure, be relieved of their
present anxiety of trying to support
families on allowances said to be barely
sufficient to SUPPORT even one person as
field officers viii receive cash in lien of
the quarters, heat, and light to which
congress has decrecd they are entitled
but which cannot be furnished in ran-
tonments aud camps in this country or
in France. The allowance for quarters
light, and heat amounts to from IS per
cent Of his pay for a second lieutenant
to - per cent for a colonel.
In their appeal the officers assert that
50 TAR the only vocation that has not
been recognized in the new scheme of
high prices Is that Of "offering vour
life for your country. Workers in
every other line of work, they say.
have received increases in salaries 70
meet the upward trend of prices or
S'eh increases are contemplated by the
government through legislation.
The officers state that, Though the
congress and the people evidently do
not think 30, as the officer serving with
troops III the field 50 far has been let
severely alone in the recognition of the
new scheme of living cost, they are lust
as much affected by every increase in
price IN living commodities as the ci
william living in the city,
Though the officers in going TO the
secretary of war admit that they have
practically thrown up their hands in
despair because they cannot stand tbe
strain of debt accommodating through
conditions they are powerless to avert
they declare they are not seeking to
impose greater burden on the com.
try, but merely asking for money they
are supposed to receive under the army
act, the governing fac
Tor III the computation of the salaries
Of officers.
The officers say they have been in.
formed by those active in framing tbe
act passed by congress in Nav. 1908
that the pay of officers was purposeIy
made low in order that when on duty
with troops in the field or on detached
service there might be an allowance for
heat, and light which would
permit them to have their families with
them.
This schedule Of pay. it is said, was
based on the appropriation act of Feb
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