Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03


recommendations have been made
by Mai Gen. W. r. Smith, superinten-
dent of the United States Military Acad-
envy. for a change In the admission re-
quirements Of the academy. Though this
proposal is still pending in the War
Department, it is understood the CHIEF
of staff Is in favor of 1t. This does
not mean that the entrance require
mentS are to be made more severe, but,
on the other hand, will be bit more
thorough. Under the proposed plan,
they will be similar to the REQUIRE
ments for admission to the Naval
Academy. A study covering period
of 81 years preceding 1927 disclosed
the fact that for about q years the
average number of the fourth class
found deficient in January was about
q per cent. In 1914 this PERCENTAGE
jumped to 20 per cent and stayed
there.
An accurate tabulation of all those
fourth class men who had been found
deficient during those years revealed
the information that in 1914 the Mill
tary Academy had been authorized to
receive cadets on certificates as we'll
as by examination. About 81 per cent
of the cadets now admitted come in
by these certificates, while the remain
The percentage of those who come in
by certificates, and are then found
deficient is five times as great as that
of those who come in by examination.
Figures prepared indicate that the
total cost to the Government of these
cadets was $250,000 more than it would
have been had they all come in by ex-
animation and the per cent figure
prevailed. With the approval by the
War Department of Gen. Smiths plan,
the percentage of cadets at the academy
who are found deficient in January
will be materially reduced.
While no further evidence has been
furnished Of the progress toward the
creation of a joint congressional COM
mtttee to survey the pay-allowance
situation in the military-naval per-
sonnet, there is every reason to expect
that the proposal will be realized In
due time. The Navy Department is in
terested in the proposal to repeal the
clause of existing law so as to place
of1cers OF the Navy and Marine Corps
who are without dependents on an
equality with officers who have de-
pendents. in the matter of allowances.
This proposal has failed to acquire the
Endorsement Of the Budget Bureau
and. consequently. has not received the
approval of the Navy Department.
With the plan of the naval repre-
sentatlveS known, it remains to Specu-
late upon the probable outcome Of the
program relating to the compensation
of members of the military personnel.
While no definite information can be
secured at this time, it is believed that
serious consideration is being given to
the abandonment of the system of al
lowances-including subsistence, quar-
tiers and dependents-and the adoption
OF base pay exclusively as service COM
pensation. This may require some re-
arrangement of the provision of quar-
tiers In form that preserves the neces-
sary distinction between officers occu-
plying and those who do not occupy
Government habitations. AS for the |
ration Of from so cents to $180 per |
day, it is utterly inadequate. and has |
not been increased since 1922, despite |
the provision for an annual readjust- |
ment, and 1t Is not likely to be increased, |
from the present indications
This separation of allowances from |
pay. 1t is insisted, will be a direct aid |
toward the equalization of officers in |
comes from oficiaI sources. OF co,,rse |
this still makes 1t necessary to recon- |
Gle the existing inconsistencies in the |
schedule of pay as applied to the va |
rious grades. along with such a detail |
as the closely allied proposals for in |
creasing the pay of second lieutenants
OF the Regular Army and promoting |
them after three years service In that |
grade, as are enSigns In the Navy.
Failure to do this act of Justice, it is !
contended, will result in numerous |
RESERVATIONS of ilInior officers