Center for Labor Education & Research, University of Hawaii - West Oahu: Honolulu Record Digitization Project

Honolulu Record, Volume 10 No. 9, Thursday, September 26, 1957 p. 1

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Gen. MacArthur Bites Uncle's Hand That Feeds Him

General of the Army Douglas D. MacArthur is chairman of the board of the Sperry Band Corp., an industrial giant with 40 percent of its annual sales to the Department of Defense.

On July 30 in New York, General MacArthur made a two-hour talk at the annual meeting of Sperry bitterly attacked Federal spending and taxes under the leadership of his former subordinate in the army, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The MacArthur attack shocked Senator Richard L. Neuberger of Oregon who wrote to the Department of the Army re: the benefits received by MacArthur from the Government. Replied the Army:

"General MacArthur holds the grade of General of the Army and is entitled by law to receive pay and allowances in the amount of $15,543.36 per year. His monthly pay is broken down as follows: $ 1 - 076.40 is basic pay, $171 is quarters allowances, and $47 88 is subsistence allowance, making a total of $1,295.28. In addition, the general is entitled by law to receive a personal money allowance of $5,000 per annum.

"It is customary to provide suit-able office space in a government building to officers in the grade of General of the Army. General MacArthur, therefore, is furnished an office at 90 Church Street in New York City, which building is operated by the General Services Administration.

"Two personal assistants are now assigned to General MacArthur. They hold the grade of chief warrant officer (W-3) and master sergeant (E-7), with yearly pay and allowances in the approximate amounts of $6,298.56 and $5,220, respectively."

When Senator Neuberger inserted the 'Army's letter in the Congressional Record, he said:

"I add no further comments of my own. I have nothing further to say about this matter. No further comments are needed."

More comment was made, however, by Rep. Frank Thompson Jr., of New Jersey who, on Aug. 7 inserted in the Congressional Record, an editorial from the Trentonian of Trenton, N. J. which said in part:

"We are reminded that Gen. MacArthur turned in his military uniform upon his return from the Pacific to accept a Job as chairman of the board of a large industrial firm at a reported salary of $100,000 a year . . . One of MacArthur's former subordinates—Dwight D. Elsenhower by name--gave up his of his military emoluments when he turned in his uniform to accept a job at $75,000 per year."

Said Rep Thompson in the House "It seems clear that General MacArthur could save the American taxpayers a very large sum by following President Eisenhower's example."

p /> I do not say that at odd hours a patient must be given the regular hot dinner or supper. Few people would expect this.
 
But what is so complicated about opening and heating a can of soup, making some toast, or preparing instant coffee or tea? Why cannot a night nurse do these simple things after the kitchen to closed? Is it just too much trouble?

It is only common humanity to feed the hungry. If our hospitals are too big, too complex, too impersonal to do these small kindnesses for the sick, something is very wrong.