Evening star., 1932-07-14
N ignorance there is bliss, and Maj.
Pay Cults. veteran Army engineer,
en- route from Manila to his new

I'm ignorance there is bliss, and Maj
Pay Cults. veteran Army engineer
en- route from Manila to his new
/ post as district engineer in Chicago
was blissfully unaware OF the rude
jclt he was about to receive as he hur-
ried jauntily down the gangplank when
the transport docked at San Francisco
just few days ago.
During the long voyage across the
Pacific he had meditated with real
enthusiasm over his future prospects.
Summed up. they consisted of four
months furlough and a hard-earned
increase in pay and allowances on July
30, when he would have % years service
to his credit Though still a major,
that meant the pay and allowances of a
lieutenant colonel.
After three years in the tropics. Maj
Pay Cults had S-lt his wife and family
ahead to fit up little bungalow in the
American River Valley. where he in
tended to spend his accumulated fur
lough il high altitude recuperating from
his long stay in the Philippines. Then
on July 80 he would be entitled to an
extra month of leave for the current
year.
Vacation Plans Changed.
Not SO bad" the genial major medi-
tated. thinking of these happy prospects,
earned by sacrifice of former leave and
- years and IL months CT conscientious
study and promotions.
1t was in this frame of mind that
Maj. Pay Cults was handed a Jolt that
completeiS and abruptly dashed his
hopes and materially altered his vaca-
tion plans.
He was told that his leave had ended
the minute he set foot on the Frisco
dock. He regained his breath in time
only to hear that no leave at all with
pay would be granted during the fiscal
year. But the hardest blow was to fol-
low That dream he had about extra
pay and allowances on July 80, the re
ward Of % years faithful service, was
just a pipe" dream 1t had zone up
in smoke too, as he was crossing the
Pacific.
Basic Pay Reduced.
And on top Of that he was to have
his basic pay cut 8l-3 per cent.
Mai. Pay Cults threw up his hands
in dispair. What next?" he demanded.
Don't delay the agony
Well, it was just too bad, but Presi-
dent Hoover by executive order lust n
few days ago. had reduced the monthly
rental allowance 10 per cent and tn"
monthly subsistence allowance by Is l-3
per cent.
Maj. Pay Cults was revived with diff
ficulty. When he returned to con-
sciousness, he managed to gasp, What
about my new detail at Chicago? What
shall I do neXt?"
His enlightenment wasn't very salts
factory. THE best thing We can ad-
wise you to do right now" he was IN
formed. lis to report to the command
ing officer of the San Francisco Corps
Area and find out what it is all about
You can ask him. while you are about
so you can draw your pay. at least, un-
I'll the War Department has had an 0ffl-
cial ruling on all the technical ques-
tions."
We'll, at least I can collect cents
mile to Chicago" Maj. Pay Cults re-
fected hopefully.
What, haven't you heard about that
either?" his heartleSs informant re-
piled. That's been cut, too. Only
actual expenses now"
Being an engineer, Maj. Pay Cults
was an expert at mathematics. He
made some quick deductions on the
back of an envelope. With a wry face,