Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-28

ties OF life In the Army DeCduSe VI III.
adequate pay was told the Senate
military affairs committee yesterday
afternoon by officers and enlisted men
Of the Regular Army. Hundreds OF
officers are resisning and many en-
! listed men would get out, too. If they
were not bound to the government
service during the period Of their en-
listment.
No Social Amenities.
There is no such thing as social
amenity among the officers of the
Army today" said Col. E. L. Munson
of the Medical Corps, chief Of the
morale branch of the general staff.
"Officers cannot AFFORD to do any en-
Pertaining on the pay their receive
and support their families. They can
not accept entertainment from civil
it. The result is that the Army is
withdrawing into itself-which does
not help to make it a peoples Army"
Sees Lowered Morale Menace.
Lowered morale and discomfort"
will seriously menace the Regular
Army unless Increases in pay are
granted by Congress" Col. r C.
Richardson Of the cavalry told the
Already great numbers of Army Of
flcers are resigning because they can
not support themselves and their
families on the pay they receive. It
the Medical Corps, surgeon. re-
ceives 1858 a day, operating regularly
at Walter Reed Hospital. while a
bricklayer working for the govern
ment receives 50 day. 1t also was
testified that a negro laborer carry
ing 1t in a cellar Is paid at the rate Of
50 for six and a half hours work.
No Pay Increase Bill Since 1905.
Col. Munson pointed out that there
has been no Army Increase pay bill
since 1908. and that the cost of living
has increased enormously since that
time. The dollar today will not pur-
chase SO per cent of the food and
that it purchased in 1908.
There must be a read5ustment of
the dollars purchasing power to meet
the increase in the cost Of living" he
said.
1851 Quit Since Armistice.
Since the armistice there have been
1881 designations Of officers from the
grade Of major to second lieutenant
accepted, he told the committee. and
a large number OF other designations
have been sent in. but not accepted.
because the Army could not spare the
officers. He said this was particular
ly true in the Medical Corps. where 1t
was not possible to leave the hospi-
tails without adequate commissioned
STATS.
He said there are 900 vacancies in
the Medical Corps today that must be
filled. He presented many charts set
foods. clothing. rent and every other
item that goes into the family bud
get since 1914. The total increase in
the cost of living was figured at 70
per cent.
Coast Artillery Situation.
OF the commissioned officers Of the
Coast Artillery Corps rs per cent
have resigned since the signing Of the
that the figures he gave related mere
ly to the Regular Army and not to
the temporary officers appointed for
the duration of the war.
OF the officers of the field artillery
Is per cent have resigned. cavalry Is
Fort Myer Sergeant Heard.
Sergt. William Lawrence. first SER
geant Of his troop of cavalry, now
stationed at Fort Myer, testified that
he could not live on his pay He is
married and has been for four years.
He has been in the service eight
years, and his basic pay is $45 a
month. His allowances bring this up
to $50.
How does 1t go. on $50 a month";
asked Senator New.
TT doesn't go at all: we can't get
along" replied the sergeant.
He said that he liked the service.
and would stay in 1t if he could get a
living wage.
Tells Of His Duties.
"A first sergeant is responsible for
los men and for los horses" he said.
IF man was In charge of 1O5 men
outside the Army. he would get three
orsfOur times as much as a first ser