The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-01
GOVT PAY SLOW!
Kansas Guard Units Get Money
for 1918 Service.
Some Companies Fail to Re-
ceiye Amy of Allotment.

Army red tape works in many ways
and in some ways it does not work, or
iffit does. works slowly. The Kansas
guardsmen learned about it this week.
They were receiving the first federal
pay since they have been in service
and they have been recognized auxil-
iary Of the regular army since No
vernber "a, 1918.
Hinder existing statutes. members of
national guard companies which have
received federal recoGnition, are paiG-
one-fourth Of the amount allowed for
the members of the regular army. In
Kansas the national guardsmen are
paid an additional amount by the state.
The state pay has been received by the
Kansas troops every three months
since they were mustered in, and so
far was the only pay the men received.
Federal pay is allowed the national
guard only after numerous conditions
have been complied with and then
only semi-annualIy, after the same
complicated pay rolls have been made
out for each organization as are in
use in the regular army-and with
some additions. In the regular army
these rolls are made out every month
and then by men who have had years
OF experience with army paper
work"
Red Tape in PayroIls.
In only a very few of the Kansas
units are there men with the proper
training to make out the rolls properly
the first time. The consequence has
been that tho the first rolls were made
out January l. 1919. practically all of
them have been returned from central
department headquarters for correc-
tion several times, with weeks and
months between corrections. Only
within the last two months have some
or the company commanders of the
Fourth Kansas regiment been able to
satisfy the department disbursing Of
ficer.
The pay rolls of the guard are still
in considerable muddle. Only four
companies have actually received their
federal pay for the one month they
served in 1918 and only one has re-
cefved pay for the first six-month
period of 1919. The one company
which has scored a bulls eye" and
received all pay due is Company B of
Lawrence. which is now paid up to
June, 1919. The three others which
have received pay for the last month
of last year are the Machine Gun
company, Lawrence; Company C,
Council Grove, and Company F, New
ton.
No Pay To Seven Units.
There are seven companies of the
regiment which have not as yet re-
turned the first set of pay rolls to the
ad3utant generals office here. They
are Companies A, D, r, G. and M and
the Headquarters and supply company
of Wichita. Company NJ and the
Headquarters and Supply company
have also sent in no rolls for the first
six months period of 1919. 1t is en-
tirely possible, it is suggested at the
adjutant generals office, that these
organizations did not meet the at
tendance qualifications required by
Ss..fsvral government and are not en-
titled to pay for the periods for which
thcv have failed to send in rolls
..The unfamiliarity of the company
Officers with the proper manner in
which to handle the pay rolls. may
have had lot to do with the delay
in giving the men of the regiment the
pay ere them" said Adjt. Gen.
Charles l. Martin 1.-THE fact that the
mistakes the officers made. had to be
corrected at long distance, had a lot
more TO do with the delay. 1t is the
usual red tape being unwound and
tho national guardsmen will have to
get used to it until congress makes
some change in the present system.
IL the Central department could see 1t
that way. a lot of extra work and de-
lay might be saved If the Kansas
guardsmen were paid by the army dis
nursing officer who is attached to the
Kansas military headquarters in To-
pcka."