Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-19
ALLEGES GOVERNMENT !.
IS UNFAIR TO SOLDIERS.
George A. King Regards Treat
ment Of Men Back From War
as "Disgraceful."
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Your article on rehabilitation or
the Army in a recent Star shows the
difference between our practice and
that prevailing In England. The gov
eminent there does not discharge
man until there is a Job ready Tor
him. Here men are being discharged.
by the thousands and are finding dif-..
ficulty in resuming positions in civil,
life.
A correspondent in a recent morn
ing paper calls attention to the fact
that the soldiers are getting the
munifioent amount of 3is cents
mile from the place OF discharge 10
their homes 8 cents being the regu-'
lar rate for railroad ticket and, as;
the correspondent expressed 1t. "a
margfn"(!) for subsistence.
In no previous war since the be-
ginning of the nineteenth century I
has there been such disgraceful
failure of the government 10 make
provision for men leaving the Army
II was stated in a very able opinion
nv Judge who was himself . vet
eran of the civil war a few years
ago. at has been the invariable pol
10y to allow to volunteer troops
after their discharge one, two or
three months extra pay.
Cites War With Spain. {.
Tn the war with Spain as well Al :
in the suppression of the insurrec-,f
ton in the Philippines every omcer
and enlisted man who served oeyondsi
the limits of the United States rec
ceIyed two months extra pay on dis-'
charge.
nay was given. limited, however, TO
officers, perhaps because or the ne1Ny
bounties allowed by the laws OF that
dav TO enlisted men, as well as the :
liberal provision of one days pay !.
for every twenty miles Employed IN .
travelling to their homes, whfce prpb
vision of law was repealed iaf nes
very time that men who had yolun-
feared under il were fighting fof'
their country in the Philippines. S,ogo.
In the war with Mexico threec'
months extra pay on discharge waS
and marine, both in the Regular Army
and Navy. as well as to volunteers
In the war of 1872 Congress did not
wait for us to get into war to pro- !
vide for three months pay on 1dfsS,s,
charge They made that proyisicntan
IN ISL in anticipation OF the outbreak
OF war. giving to every soldier. three
months pay when he should be 0feS
charged, and in addition $50 acres
of land.
troubie-tn 1898 and 1899 with Franee! /.
when we came to the verge OF war
and made vast increases In our mitfSs
tary forces In preparation Tor Wa.
Congress, in 1900. upon the amica1tcs
settlement of the French trouble n.y.
treaty. provided for three month4
extra pay for every Officer and en2
listed man discharged from he
service. -a,-,--
aHeartless Failure to Provide.'ea
II has been reserved for this great
est war of all history for the governer
ment to discharge thousands OF men. I.
them upon the iaoor Gina, msrkes
provide them with one single doifsr
beyond the regular pay due tAem uhs-
to the time of discharge to enaolos
them to tide over the time intervens
ing between the date of discharge and
OF the resumption of their pursuits OF ;
true. q bill has been passed by Con {:
eress and another has been favorAoy z
reported to the House aitowine one :
given those who served during the
war with Spain and the Philippine IN !.
surrection' and one-third OF the sum
allowed In all previous Wars ,,s 1 Inas' -. -
ward its discharged soldiers, becomes
There CANNOT be too prompt pro-
vision to supply this omission and to
five to these, men who have served
iheir cpuntry some suitable indemnity
against. Immediate loss Of their mill.
once their new wage In civil en-
nioymer,t It should be called. too.
N the proper technical name given
TO- II in ali previous wars. pay prop (.
er" OF extra pay" The soldier
should not be insuited ~ caiisng q. {.
' GEORGE A. KING