§ 61. Major HILLSasked what special facilities or advantages are granted by the Government to Army bankers; whether these advantages include payment to the bankers by the Government of Army officers' pay at a date earlier than 1281 that at which it is credited to the officer; whether any bank which the officer may select is entitled to the same advantages or whether they are granted only to Army bankers; and whether the existing system is satisfactory from the point of view both of the Government and of Army officers?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo commission is paid by the Government to Army agents, but, to enable them to credit officers' accounts monthly on the due date, funds are placed to their credit one or two days in advance. Every officer has the option of drawing his pay either from an Army paymaster or from the agents, and if he elects the latter he may employ the agents as his bankers or may have his pay remitted by them to any bank he may select. The existing system is satisfactory to the Government, and the fact that officers rarely exercise the option which they possess of drawing their pay otherwise than through the agents indicates that the system is satisfactory to them also.