New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24
GUARDSMEN CRITICISED,
NORTHUMBERLAND BARTLETT AND
GENERAL PORTER ISSUE CIRCULARS.
THE PRESENT METHOD OF COLLECTING FINES
DECLARED UNLAWFUL-POINTS IN WHICH
TIE TROOPS HAVE SHOWN THEM.
SELVES DEFICIENT.
SELVES DEFICIENT.


Judge Acknowledgement Clifford A. H. Bartlett has
discovered that another Of the practices of MEM
| bers Of the military organizations in this state is not
| according 10 law. Some tinN he promulgated
an opinion in which he denied the right OF military
| organizations which wcre subject the call Of the
state to have honorary members. This time his
opinion is directed against the usual practice Of filming
men who delinquent. and the provisions contained
In the bylaws Of the different regiments specifying
| how much man shall be fined for specific offence.
The opinion has been to Adutant- General Josiah
Porter and It will be issued in the shape Of general
order in few days The following is the opinion in
| full:
l that for wears It has been customary
for the bylaws Of organizations 10 provide for fines
for non attendance al drills, and that to-day In nearly
every one of the By laws of organizations Of the
National Guard fines for absence from drl arr speci
| fed. The presence Of any such provision IN the
laurc La, provided by section 123 Of tine Military Code
that every enlisted who shall, without proper
| linqucnt any drill, parade encampment meeting
for instruction, or ohcr duty ordered by competent
| authority shall be fined by delinquency court for
enlisted men, not moro than five por less than one
dollar for each absence or Other delinquency"
There Is a plain direction that If an enlisted man
fined less than one dollar for each delinquency. What
right, then. have organizations 10 insert provisions In
ab,encs from dfI parade or otner military duty shall
be fined differently than the Legislature has enacted
BY statute! While organizations, may adopt bylaws
and enlisted men Offending against them may not
only be tried by delinquency court but may be
PEELED from the organization Military Code section
i4G7, Sin her i no powor given them TO legslae
impose for absence from any military duty
ordered by competent authority military code, Sec
ton 1873 Thi, construction of the statute necessarily
eliminates all such provisions from the by laws OF
military organizations and limits the discretion OF
delinquency courts In the imposition of fines.
|, may be contended that the section Of the Military
Code qotcl has always been construed a applying
only 10 battalion drills and regimental paradcs and
that has reference 10 company drills. But the
statute will bear such narrow COM rucuon It's
fc broa
by competent authority, and there Is nothing rom
which the Inference can be drawn that thc LoESatT
am therefore, OF the opinion that the only nnes
that can be enforced for absence from dris or o'nea
military duy ordered by competent authority are
nroyIded by section 1913 OF the Military Code ana
that all provisions tho subject contained III ue oy
laws of any organization OF the National ""''u '''
unlawful
Aditant General Porter has issued circular on his
own account in which he pulls the officers generally
over the Goals. General Porter does not issue Such
circulars often and consequently the present one Is
1le 10 attract considerable attention. folo"lns dic
content, Of the circular in full:
Tho attention Of officers IS specially directed to
u,o fou0Viug matters in which the troops OF the
National Guard have shown themselves d>hc"ht o.
nerecIful and open to Criticism - IAN,
and narade and too frequently commands are Dd'lS
dmiiviircd 4 command should never be gwen Olhcl-
uG-lN - oxartIy i'm tbe word, prescribed. The tone
of command should be animated, dSlihSt anu vi q
IdVn." nI1partoned to the number Of men under
iio,'c,j.I zach preparatory command is pronounced
~ an aSrrnding tone Of voice but always In such
~ inner mai the command of execution may ~ more
Ila ,,tic and elevated For foot movements the com
mand of execution Is pronounced III tnmc urn anu
Lref In mounted movements the pI.pal"'uIs In
I'D arc more or less prolonged. to insure men
Icinr heard: the command of execution Is al"dNS
urnI iP,to5 wclldehncd pause separates the PIE
pu-o,"rr- command and the command OF execution:
aio thS peparatory commands where theIr ar TWO
al'U uo Sdmmands should bc correctly pronounced;
I'm has however. sanctioned deviation nom the
usual pronunciation Of the word ODH4M; .WhtrS
, so letter r may be pronounced in oblise' and
" r1ute
tn the IN |S . out '0"'''
a' rio .L prenaratory command COMPANY division or
a+taoh T. Frequently used when not prescribed ana
mined when il should be used; the same Is rue OF
Lo numerical designation, of companies and divisions
Tb notice Of change in the numerical designation Is
NOR, often omitted than given. ...,o.,., T.. 49,.
second one Of the thing, most neglected IS the
,n,, mn drill and the consequences OF such neglect
alo be oycre,timaed soldier, should be frequently
narscd I'm the drill, and the proper carriage OF the
tody should be Insisted on on all occasions when In
,1Irhe first step forward in quick time. at the
command march, should, A. well "a me SUBSEQUENT
,nn. be- thirty inches 1t has been noticed thar this
al stem is almost invariably short II IS the duty Of
s ,I. and non commissioned officers to cause this
=" hoe corrected II Is necessary also 10 remind officers
10 rorconmissioncd officers that In quick time the
SL Ser should always be 100 to the minute
view believed ii dTS15" be- d S II that 0 a %r
Lord Ice devoted - the practical movements, which
sh"upi ,on Ianrc NV be made. The essentials OF
he manual such the carry, present right shoulder
nm rort charge bay0netS. l0adlhss ana hrings.
id h., nractscd rather than those which
ssnocuflal and which 1t Is to be hoped may be dis
oslcd altogether. Il Is net only IN conravcnton Of
49,, H.. fractions To div idc Oading and firing and
rIre and unixlng bayonet. into slprrhuouS motions,
, - t,,yolyrs waste Of time which may be better
devoted to other matters II, J., , .
''" 1,,,cr. are too many Instances Of nOn-com-
oncd officers who totally lost as to their duties
M, a., t1larl Many officers are also found AZ fault
N"o,u ",,,b bnoWledgr of guard duties only be
;mpa,trd to officers and men Of The National Guard,
Viz are In camp for only brleI penod by careful
rrtica instruction which should procede practical
n-tIucil ~ nj. -, ,,r,,,,,. ,,r,io,,a.,,.
,..i.,te uniforms, which not ln accordance with
"a" isons Of the regulations are not infcquently
80, ~ Lv o1lcer. and enlisted men. Commanding of
dcers al regiments and companies are responsible and
sboud not permit such Violations OF the law
seventh pcport- and returns are frequently not re-
cet,ci when due and often. when received, are found
10 be inoo Direct lliir ,hongn III ,ho p'paraupn
MAKER more line than he gains. apparently by hasty
illron,ilcird work Tho following reports etc. are
tcGuirrd of uilcers
OF commanding officers Of regiments and battalons
conies nj orders, IN which drills and parades are
ordcred on date OF issue 10 the b1gado-commandor