Evening star., 1945-01-14

Fiscal Director of the Arnu
Service Forces.
Signal Corps Photo.
ing war pattern and the character of
the war itself made a static program
and estimates impossible. Savings in
costs were effected, too, by mass BRO
duction and improved processes, as we'll
as through renegotiation of contract
prices and examinations.
In all, between July II, 1910, and
June 30, 1914, 5000 200, 900 900 was ap-
propriated by Congress for the mill
tary establishment Of this, $751; .oOo.-
0O00 was obligated, and Sis 600, ,0OO,-
600 was actually expended While the
rate of orders is declining, as might be
expected, that of payments is steadily
rising, as deliveries are made in in
creasing quantities of equipment and
supplies for which orders previously had
been placed. In the fiscal year, 1941,
expenditures for goods and services ac-
tually received amounted to 81 ,000, ,0OO,-
600. For 1912 it was $4,000, 900 900; for
1913 it was 5000 ,oOO, 900 and for 1914 it
was $4,000, 100000.
Handling the Payroll
At the beginning of 1888, the Ameri-
can Army ranked 18th in size among
the armies of the world. Today its
100000 men and women are being
paid approximately $1,000, 100000 a
month. The amount continues to in
crease far beyond the proportionate in
crease in the size of the Army as re-
suit of overseas activities and special
duty pay
Wherever the soldier may be, except
when actually engaged in combat, he
is paid promptly in cash at the end
OF each month. The finance officer goes
right along with his unit, even to para
chuting down with the air-borne troops.
Thus, even the paymasters is a 'front.'
line job in modern war.
steadily increasing activity is that
connected with mastering out pay. Con-
gress has provided for payment to de-
mobilized soldiers of a sum ranging from
500 to $500, according to length and
locality of service. The cost of this
phase of demobilization can be figured
on the basis that most of our Army
personnel will be entitled to the maxi
mum $500, due those who have been
more than so days in service and have
served abroad.
Insurance Allotments
In addition to deductions for family
allowances and voluntary" pay deduc-
Ill 1o{y ,fr
purchase of Government insurance.
While the insurance itself is carried on
by the Veterans Bureau, the payment
records are maintained by the Gov
ernment Insurance Allotment Division.
There are now approximately 10000 900
insurance policies in effect, some SOL
diers having more than one. The
monthly amount so set aside from SOL
diers' pay is more than 1000 900
which represent premiums on insur-
ance in effect totaling nearly $7o,ooo,.
100000 This is life insurance busi-
ness bigger than that of all our COM
mercial life insurance companies com.
bined.
And soldiers buy War Bonds in ever
oAAAooAAeos "A bOllu purchasing
program for civilians, also based on paw
deductions, is administered by the Of
fee of the Fiscal Director. Since 1s42
War Department civilian and military
employees have purchased 81 ,422 900 900
worth of War Bonds.
Peace eventually will end the actiyi-
ties Of the fiscal director and the finance
department. Tapering of will prob
ably be slow. Reconciliation and audit
ing Of the many detailed activities will
require both time and personnel. Con-
tract termination accounting and audit
ing will assume massive proportions.
The accelerating and pyramiding of de-
mobilization items, such as musterine
out pay, will cause shift of emphasis
but it will delay reduction in disbursina
ofncers. Payments for late deliveries or
Tor arrears, and especially for the enor.
nous cost Of transportation incidental
to mobilization. will keep the finance
ofnces busy long after the last gun is
nred, and v day is history.