Evening journal., 1918-07-09
ALLOTMENT Of PAY
IN ARMY EXPLAINED
American Soldiers Depend
ents Benefit Under
Two Laws
WAR DEPARTMENT
MAKES STATEMENT

WASHINGTON, July 9.-Because there
has been misunderstanding regarding
the payment OF allotmenis TO the de-
pendenis Of soldiers and also on ac-
count OF the confusion in the minds Of
many persons concerning the allotmenls
under tue old system and those paid
under the War Risk Insurance act the
War Department has issued an explana-
tory statement
"The law Of 1899 authorized an allot-
ment system" the statement said, "anc
the War Risk Insurance act Of last year
also provides for allotment TO depend
ents OF enlisted men.
Under the FIRST law the army per-
fected an allotment system which en-
abled enlisted men who are ordered for
duty abroad TO have withheld from
their pay a stated amount that would
be paid 20 their families In this
country. These payments were made
through the Depot Quarlermaster at
Washington. The War Risk Insurance
act provided for the dependents OF the
enlisted men called into the service
under war conditions. This enactment,
which is more liberal and generous In
the scope Of its provisions than any
similar law enacted. provided that in
addition 90 the amount withheld from
the soldiers pay the Government should
pay an allowance 10 The soldiers family.
"The army allotment law. as origin
ally drawn, provided for the inierven-
tlOn OF q complete month between the
date OF the accruing OF the soldiers
pay from which the allotment was de-
Quoted until the time OF payment; that
Is. an allotment Withheld from the pay
OF the soldier due on May 81 could not
be paid until July T.
For the purpose Of advancing the
date OF payment and doing away with
this intervening month, the law was
amended and steps were Immediately
taken to bring the payments up 90 date,
two payments OF allOiments being made
in the month OF November, 1917. At the
present time the allotment payments
for any one month are made beginning
with the flrst OF the succeeding month.
AT the beginning OF the war the
army allOiments were less than 10000
In number, while at the present time
they are in excess OF 10000. N0iwith-
standing the Increase in the number OF
allotments. payments have been made
each month promptly and accurately,
except where allotment forms were in
correctly flled out. address incorrectly
given or other causes over which the
dlsburslng officer had no control
"These payments have been made by
the Finance Division Of the Depot Quar-
termaster, which Is now the Central
Dlsbursing Division, Office Of the Quar-
termaster General The total payment
for May was approximately s0,OOOO0O
and this payment was completed June
The allotment law. as amended october
6. provided also Tor the allotment OF
commissioned officers as well as enlist
ed men, and at the present time some
10000 commissioned officers have been
advantage Of this provision, alloting
approximately si.OOO0OO per month.
"Included In the allOiments are the
thousands OF monthly payments for
Liberty Bonds allotted for by c0mmls-
stoned officers and enlisted men. Dur
ing the month OF August the Central
Division viii be faced with
the duty Of distributing a million fifty
dollar bonds OF the Second Liberty
Loan which were contracted for by Of
ncers, enlisted men and permanent ci-
william employees