Gen. SHARPE. They were authorized by the appropriation bill for 1917, in the same rating, and that is calculated on the same amount for each man as on the preceding item, $382.24. That amount for each of 200 clerks gives the total of $76,448. Mr. KAHN. Has that proviso also been in the bill each year? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. That is to prevent the transfer of any man. to Washington, and there is a statute in regard to that. PAY OF OFFICERS, GENERAL STAFF CORPS. Mr. KAHN. Will you explain the new item after the proviso on page 17, under the heading "General Staff Corps," "For pay of officers of the General Staff Corps, $132,600. Additional pay for length of service, $38,480.” Gen. SHARPE. That is in accordance with the provisions of the national defense act. Under the provisions of the national defense act, Mr. Chairman, the General Staff Corps became a corps in the Army, the men to be detailed therein and their places to be filled from the line, just the same as in the case of all the other staff corps, so that that makes a number of additional men who have to be provided for in this way. I have here the details of the estimate. We wrote a letter asking what would be the number of officers required and I was informed that it was estimated that 11 colonels, 8 lieutenant colonels, 13 majors, and 9 captains of the General Staff Corps, and the total amount for those officers is as given in the estimate, $132,600. Some of them, in accordance with the provisions of the law, after they received their promotion, were enabled to remain on their detail, so that these are the numbers we have to estimate for. Mr. SHALLENBERGER. Are we to understand that these are newly created officers? Gen. SHARPE. They were created by the act of June 3, 1916. Mr. KAHN. It decreased the General Staff. Gen. SHARPE. But it created it a corps. That increased the number of line officers. Mr. KAHN. The man who was detailed to the General Staff used to get his pay from the provision of the bill covering pay of line officers. Now he will have to get his pay from this special appropriation. Mr. SHALLENBERGER. So that if we do not make this appropriation those men would not get any pay at all. Mr. KAHN. Then there would not be any money with which to pay him. He does not get his pay out of the provision for the pay of the line, and he has to get it from this special appropriation, because the General Staff has been created a corps by the act of June 3, 1916. Mr. SHALLENBERGER. Does every officer in the Army get additional pay for length of service? Gen. SHARPE. After five years' service an increase of 10 per cent. Mr. SHALLENBERGER. What is the object of that provision? referring especially to the enlisted men. The point I was trying to at was whether it would tend to increase the number of men who get wanted to go into the Army, and whether by reason of that provision the men would be better satisfied to stay in the Army. Gen. SHARPE. To encourage reenlistment. Mr. ANTHONY. I thought the present policy of the War Department was to discourage reenlistment. Gen. SHARPE. That was a suggestion-that they would only have a man enlist for one year. But I do not know that that is the policy of the department. Such a suggestion has been made. Mr. KAHN. If reenlistments were discouraged and there were fewer reenlistments, we could save a good many millions of dollars, could we not? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. Mr. CALDWELL. We would not have any Army. Mr. KAHN. I do not agree with you on that. Mr. SHALLENBERGER. Do you know whether or not that practice. is carried out in other armies in regard to enlisted men? receive extra pay for reenlistment in the service? Do they Gen. SHARPE. I am quite sure that is the practice in other armies where there is voluntary service, and I think also in countries where they have universal service that increase is provided for the noncommissioned officers who are retained to act as instructors. The additional pay for length of service is $38,480. PAY OF OFFICERS, THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is for The Adjutant General's Department, "For pay of officers of The Adjutant General's Department, $115,500," The amount appropriated last year under this item was $100,000, so that there is an increase of $15,000. Gen. SHARPE. There are 34 officers provided for under that item, the total amount of the item being $115,500. That is an increase of $15,000. Mr. CALDWELL. That provides for an increase of how many officers? Gen. SHARPE. That provides for an increase of 11 officers. They had 23 officers last year. The CHAIRMAN. That increase was provided for in the national defense act? Gen. SHARPE. By the national defense act; yes, sir. The details of the estimate are as follows: Item P35. Pay of officers, Adjutant General's Department. ADDITIONAL PAY FOR LENGTH OF SERVICE, OFFICERS, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Additional pay for length of service, $33,000." The amount appropriated last year under this item was $26,000. That is an increase of $7,000. Gen. SHARPE. The additional pay for length of service under this item amounts to $33,000. Mr. CALDWELL. Is that the actual amount, or is it calculated on percentages? Gen. SHARPE. That is the actual amount. Mr. CALDWELL. By taking the number of officers Gen. SHARPE (interposing). We know who the officers are, and also know the length of their service, and so can figure out the exact amount. That is absolutely accurate. Mr. KAHN. Will you please put in the hearings the number of officers provided for under this item, and the amount each one receives? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. (The matter referred to is as follows: Thirty-three of the thirty-four officers receive $1,000 each per year as service pay. PAY OF OFFICERS, INSPECTOR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "For pay of officers of the Inspector General's Department, $75,000." The amount appropriated last year was $69,500. Will you explain that slight increase? Gen. SHARPE. That provides for 22 officers. There were 17 in that department last year. Mr. KAHN. That is a gain of five officers? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir; that provides for 1 brigadier general, 3 colonels, 6 lieutenant colonels, and 12 majors. The CHAIRMAN. All those officers are provided for by law? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Additional pay for length of service, $21,000." The amount appropriated for under this item last year was $17,500. That is an increase of $3,500? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. Mr. CALDWELL. Those are the actual figures? PAY OF OFFICERS, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Pay of officers of the Corps of Engineers, $482,400." The amount appropriated last year was $675,000, so that there is a reduction in this item of nearly $200,000? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. There are 189 engineers in service with troops, and the amount of their pay is the sum stated in the bill, $482,400. Item P 37. Pay of Officers of the Corps of Engineers. To: The Chief of Engineers.. Subject: Officers of Engineers on River and Harbor Works. 1. For use in the preparation of estimates for pay, etc., for the fiscal year 1918, information is desired as to the number of officers of the Corps of Engineers, with names and numbers in each grade, on duty under the Chief of Engineers, connected solely with the work of river and harbor improvements to be paid their pay and commutation of quarters from the appropriations for the work or works, as provided in the act of February 27, 1911 (36 Stat., 957), 2. It is requested that the reply be expedited. HENRY G. SHARPE, Acting Quartermaster General. To the QUARTErmaster General: [First indorsement.] OFFICE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, August 26, 1916. With list of the officers of the Corps of Engineers engaged solely on river and harbor work August 25, 1916. W. M. BLACK, Chief of Engineers, United States Army. By ALAIN B. Barber, Captain, Corps of Engineers. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS ENGAGED SOLELY ON RIVER AND HARBOR WORK AUGUST 25, 1916. 2. Bain, Capt. J. J. 1. Alstaetter, Maj. F. W. 3. Barden, Maj. W. J. 4. Bond, Maj. P. S. 9. Jadwin, Lieut. Col. Edgar. 12. Peek, Maj. E. D. 13. Ralston, Maj. R. R. 14. Rand, Maj. L. H. 15. Shunk, Lieut. Col. F. R. 16. Slattery, Maj. J. R. 19. Townsend, Col. C. McD. The 21 officers named above (whose pay amounts to $63,200 per annum, and is paid from the works on which engaged, as provided in the act of Feb. 27, 1911) added to the 189 paid from this item makes 210; to this add 140 paid in the line (P 1), which gives the 350 enumerated in the following: [Third indorsement.] ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, To the QUARTERMASTER GENERAL OF THE ARMY: Estimates for pay of the Army for the fiscal year 1918, under section 11 of the national defense act, will be made as follows: (a) Four regiments of Engineers and one mounted battalion of Engineers (two companies only). The personnel of the regiments and mounted battalion will be at the minimum strength prescribed in section 11, act of June 3, 1916. (b) Three hundred and fifty officers, including those detailed to the regiments and mounted battalion, in rank and numbers, as follows: Chief of Engineers, 1; colonels, 18; lieutenant colonels, 25; majors, 59; captains, 97: first lieutenants, 93; second lieutenants, 57. (c) Four chaplains to be attached to regiments of Engineers. By order of the Secretary of War. T. O MURPHY, Adjutant General. ADDITIONAL PAY FOR LENGTH OF SERVICE, OFFICERS, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Additional pay for length of service, $96,455.41." The amount appropriated under this item last year was $150,000, which makes quite a reduction in this year's estimate, compared with last year's appropriation? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. Mr. KAHN. That is all figured out on an exact basis? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir. Mr. CALDWELL. In this particular item we have a reduction. The appropriation for this year was $675,000, and you are asking for an appropriation next year of $482,400. How do you account for that? Gen. SHARPE. The Engineer officers not on duty with troops are paid out of the rivers and harbors bill. This item only provides for the pay of men who are on duty with troops. The others are paid for out of the rivers and harbors bill. Mr. KAHN. That is new law, is it not? Lieut. BRETT. That is under the act of February 27, 1911. Mr. CALDWELL. You say the reason you ask for a smaller amount this year than was appropriated last year is because certain of these officers in this branch of the service are paid out of the rivers and harbors bill? Gen. SHARPE. Yes, sir, that is the reason we are not estimating for all the men in the Engineer Corps in this bill. We are estimating for 189 officers. There are 21 other officers in this Corps who are paid from the rivers and harbors bill. PAY OF OFFICERS, ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "For pay of officers of the Ordnance Department, $289,300." Last year the amount appropriated under this item was $280,000, making an increase of $9,300. Gen. SHARPE. That provides for 108 officers, the amount being $289,300. The details of the estimate are as follows: Item P 38. Pay of Officers of the Ordnance Department. The CHAIRMAN. The next item is "Additional pay for length of service, $63,518.23," which is an increase over last year of $3,518.23. What is the increase of officers there? Gen. SHARPE. That provides for an increase of 23 officers. There were 85 last year and there are 108 this year. Mr. KAHN. Have they all the officers in that department that the increase called for? Gen. SHARPE. They have 96, the number they are entitled to this year. This increased amount provides for the 108 officers they are entitled to next year. Mr. KAHN. Is there a likelihood of their getting all the officers they are entitled to next year? Gen. SHARPE. I should think so, Mr. Kahn, if they secured them all for this year. Mr. CALDWELL. The department has promoted all of the officers. that would be needed by the increase authorized by the national |