Evening star., 1949-06-22
Letters to The Star .
Case fer Service Pay Raise
fnadeauateiy Presented

Case fer Service Pay Raise
Inadesuateiy Presented
To the n6ssnF ss -. ssa-
How inept and stupid can some service
people get when discussing o service pay
bill? Arguments by q group OF women who
seem TO need more money for bridge losses
or for social show. more pay for warrant
osncers twho are mere clerks: means about
how hard the life Is but little or nothing
about just compensation for responsibilities
and accounsabilities. have filled the papers
and bothered many OF the members o. the
Congress.
I haven't heard anything aoou, the ire
mendous responsibility of any oticer who
commands combat troops. responsibility
that he be properly informed in his pro-
fession: that he be able 10 train men whose
sole job In war Is TO fghi against q deter
mined enemy With lethal Weapons job
where a mistake seldom happens the second
time because the first one usually carries
death with il: nor OF the cost TO the ofncer
for his clothing and equipment. books
courses of study outside the service schools.
and the demands made on his time by
civilians for speeches. social dressing" or
decoration" at gatherings.
Does the average citizen. who has had no
officer experience. realize that every COM
commander. and numerous others. are ae-
countable for every piece Of property issued
to their commands? That, in the event OF
loss and breakage. which is not charged 10
the person causing either. the off1cer has
to settle in cash money for such losses or
breakage? Or that his uniforms and the
Second Lieutenant must have the same va
riety, If not the same number as the general
officer are tailor made. at much higher
prices than civilians pay?
How many civilians realize that ii is not
uncommon for an officer to be sent TO special
schools six months out Of twelve, and that.
thus separated from his family. his living
costs have doubled? How many citizens who
never have been in combat realize that the
officers in command hold the lives and fu-
lures OF every man in their command IN
the decisions that they must make while
facing enemy FIRE? II the officer makes the
wrong decision, men die, or are manned for
life.
Isn't that responsibility worth taking into
consideration when preparing pay tables?
Any father or mother of a potential soldier
should agree. How many think OF these
things? Not the young men on the Hill
who are now Members of the Congress be-
cause of the skill and leadership of their
oficers-that is. If they were in combat
But, instead of presenting the case in a
logical and fortnight manner. We have had
the semihysterical. silly arguments that we
have heard and read during the past several
weeks.
The services do not have to apologize for
asking for compensation suitable to the
duties performed and the responsibilities as
signed. major general. responsible for
10000 men and officers in battle. receives
less than many chiefs and assistant chiefs
In cushy Jobs here in Washington. A COM
pany commander receives less pay than
many clerks and secretaries in Washington.
II you doubt this. look at the Oficial Regis
try of the United States. published annually
by the Government.
Why not present the case logically. with
out all the childish yammering?
CHARLES COULTER.