Evening Capital

JOKER RAISES PAY

Allowances For More Quarters and For Light and Heat Slipped Into Bill For Army-Navy Men

An apparently innocent order issued recently by the War and Navy departments makes public the information that Congress at the last session-by indirection-increased the pay of officers of the army, the navy, the marine corps and the revenue cutter service. All details concerning these increases are withheld, and the officers who have thus benefited as Congress declined to vote an increase of pay, appear to be doing their utmost to keep the matter secret.

The impression prevails that the majority of the members of Congress knew nothing of the provisions in the Army bill that carried this increase, the benefit of which comes almost entirely to officers on "detached" duty, thus-with good berths-where the men do not happen to have government barracks or quarters. The increase comes in the shape of increased quarters, at $18 a month for each room and for light and heat. Heretofore the officers have had to provide their own heat and light.

In Washington the vast majority of Army and Navy officers do not live in barracks. These are the men who are benefitted, not these in the field. They control departmental affairs and have a pull with influential members of Congress. The quarters allowed the lieutenant-general to jump from six to ten rooms; major generals from six to nine; brigadier-generals, five to eight; colonels, five to seven; lieutenant-colonels, four to six; majors, four to five; captains, three to four; first lieutenants, two to three; second lieutenants are still allowed two rooms.

The quarters allowed by law are commuted into money where officers are not stationed at government posts.