Evening star., 1946-04-01
Letters to The Star
A Colonel Now and Poorer
Tells His Story
TO the Editor OF The Star:

|
I certainly was both surprised and
pleased, when reading my Wednesday
Star. to note your editorial Service
mems Pay" and that you advocate the
20 per cent increase for officers as we'll
as enlisted men. l had begun to feel
that of late the Army officer, and
especially the Regular (Which I am,
with over 20 years service), had no
| friends left
We certainly hope the increase goes
through, though I am not overly op-
timistic as regards officers. History has
way Of repeating, and in the past it
often happened, when any financial
benefits were under consideration that
the Regular officer was omitted-nor-
mally possessing no legal State resi-
dence, he has no vote, so the reason is
self-evident.
During the years G9l7-l933) when I
was captain, we were able, with due
care and economy, to have enough to
eat and wear, to raise and educate our
children, and to employ a cook and
usually laundress. In those days we
used to look forward to the time when
I would draw a colonel's pay, and we
would not have to pinch quite so much.
And now what, instead? My wife and
| I live alone in a small house, but the
combination Of the much higher in
| come tax (unqueStionably necessary
but it hurts and greatly increased cost
Of living is getting us down. We can
ntn
I am being forced to cash in my war
bonds to break even on ordinary living
expenses, after taxes are taken care of.
Further, except for the fortunate few
who have substantial outside income,
all our contemporary friends here are
in the same situation. Instead of being
able to live more comfortably with
colonel's pay land no dependents) than
we were 20 years ago with captains,
we actually are poorer in what our
money will buy. While I am fortunate
not to be facing pay reduction shortly,
I shudder for the many, to whom you
referred, who are liable soon to be re-
duced from one to three grades.
More power to you. and to such few
others as there are in your position Of
influence who feel the same as you do
on the subject. In case you should
refer to this letter, please keep me
anonymous I've troubles enough as
1t is! X w
An Altar Instead of a Bar
To the Editor Of The Star:
We, as a group, are disturbed by the
reports of a well stocked bar for the
delegates OF UNO. We cannot so soon
forget the very recent sacrifices and
sorrows Of the world, the starvation
that now stalks the earth and the very
solemn warning to conserve food
We consider the deliberations of this
world organization very serious affair
and not party. Our destiny and that
of our children lie in their hands, but
We do not like our fate to be in the
hands of men who seek to evade reality
or minimize their responsibilities in
alcohol We prefer very serious and
sober men to map our destiny as citi-
zens of this world and would have a
very much more comfortable feeling II
an altar supplanted that bar.
WOODBRIDGE W.CTU.
Russian Access to the Sea
| To the Editor OF The Star:
The Star March IS, carried an Asso-
ciated Press dispatch from New York,
under the headline, "Dr. Butler Says
| Russia Should Get Iranian Oil, Access
| to the Dardanelles." In it, DR.. Butler
was quoted as saying Russia should
be given the right by treaty to port
on the Baltic and also to the Darda-
nelles"
But in The Star of March 27, Ray
mond Moley. commenting on DR.. But
| ler's statement. said: He also suggests
! that Russia should have free access to
| the Baltic and the Dardanelles. On the
| latter, he says, Russia should have
| port under treaty"
Which did DR.. Butler really say?
In this connection. Winston Church.
i'll stated, if I recall his remarks cor
! rectly, that Russia already had been
| offered free access to the Dardanelles,
but that she turned down the offer be-
cause she also wanted a fortified base
on the Dardanelles. So far as I know,
the Russians have not denied this
| PAULINE D. TAYLOR.
Friendly. Md.
Answer to "A Practical Memorial
To the Editor Of The Star
In reference to the letter on "a Prac-
tical Memorial by Capt M. Paul Mains,
Marine Corps. published in The Star
March 81. the Arlington War Memorial
Association on April opens a month
long campaign for 1858 900 to build
community center in Arlington County
This Giving tribute to those who
served is designed as tribute to the