US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

UNITED STATES V. MILLS, 197 U. S. 223 (1905)

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U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Mills, 197 U.S. 223 (1905)

United States v. Mills

No. 609

Submitted February 20, 1905

Decided March 13, 1905

197 U.S. 223

Syllabus

The ten percent increase over and above pay proper allowed to an officer of the United States Army for service in Porto Rico, Cuba, Philippine Islands, Hawaii and Alaska, under the Act of May 26, 1900, 31 Stat. 211, and beyond the limits of the states comprising the Union and territories contiguous thereto under the Act of March 2, 1901, 31 Stat. 903, is to be computed upon the total amount to which the officer is entitled at the time of such service both for longevity pay and the pay provided for by § 1261, Rev.Stat.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the Court of Claims in favor of the appellee. The question relates to the amount of compensation payable to him under the Acts of May 26, chanrobles.com-red

Page 197 U. S. 224

1900, and March 2, 1901, making appropriations for the Army. The particular provisions of these acts are set forth in the margin. *

The court gave judgment in favor of appellee upon the authority of its opinion in Irwin v. United States, 38 Ct.Cl. 87.

The facts found by the court are as follows:

"The claimant, Stephen C. Mills, entered the military service of the United States as a cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1873, was commissioned second lieutenant June 15, 1877, and by successive promotions became major and inspector general July 25, 1888, and lieutenant colonel and inspector general February 2, 1901, and still holds the last-named rank and office."

"The claimant was, by proper military orders, on duty with the Army of the United States in the Philippine Islands from a date prior to May 26, 1900, continuously until April 15, 1902, when, in accordance with orders, he arrived at San Francisco, California, on his return from said Philippine Islands. During all of that period, he was serving in the Philippine Islands, and beyond the limits of the states comprising the Union, and the territories of the United States contiguous thereto."

"During the entire period from May 26, 1900, to April 15, 1902, named in the next preceding finding, the claimant, while

Page 197 U. S. 225

holding the rank of major, was paid at the rate of $2,500 a year, the minimum pay of the grade of major, established by § 1261 of the Revised Statutes (U.S.Comp.Stat. 1901, p. 893); $1,000 longevity increase; established by section 1262 of the Revised Statutes, and $250 a year as the increase of ten percent upon his pay proper, provided by the Act of May 26, 1900 (31 Stat. 211), but calculated only upon the minimum or grade pay fixed by said section 1261."

"While holding the rank of lieutenant colonel during said period, the claimant was paid at the rate of $3,000 a year, the minimum pay of that grade, as provided by section 1261 of the Revised Statutes, $1,000 longevity increase, provided by section 1262, and $300 a year as ten percent increase on his pay proper, as provided by the acts of May 26, 1900, and March 2, 1901 (31 Stat. 211, 903), but computed only on the minimum pay of the grade."

"If said ten percent increase should be calculated upon the total pay of $3,500 received by the claimant while in the rank of major, his increase would be at the rate of $350 a year, instead of $250, and, if so calculated while he was in the rank of lieutenant colonel, the increase would be at the rate of $400 a year, instead of $300, making a difference of $100 a year for the period covered by the claim, and aggregating for the entire period $188.87."



























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