New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-22
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAIRS.

INDIGNATION OVER AN ATTEMPTED CHANGE
THE ONE DIVISION QUESTION.
Not little Indignation Is felt by officers in this city
over the scd establishment Of the National Guard
OF this state into division, with josiah Porter al It's
head as majorccneral The subject was first broacheu
70 the col ncl in the Frst and Second brlGadeS By
circular letter from Mr. Balch the secretary OF the
state Board OF Health. This letter inquired OF the
colonel, whether or not they would favor the eatah
slmcnt Of the National Guard Of this state into one
division with Ccnccal Porter at It's head. Without
giving the matter much thought several Of the colonies
answered putting Phcir consent 10 such plan III an
Indirect form. They would not oppose such pan'
they said since that time the officers have had a
chance to get together and discuss the project, ana
the first question they asked each other was:
DOES General POrtcC know Of the movements making
In his behalf. and IL he knows OF them' 10 tey mee'
with hi approval
Upon thi, question being put to Mr.. Balch, he meta
phoricaly umLcd over himself to declare that tlle
scheme had originated with himself and That 'ehera
Porter knew nothing about it until it was well under
WAY The officer, then asked question which up to
tie time Of going TO press has not been answered oy
Mr.. Ealch. or at least he has not made his answer
public.
BY what auth. rlty had he the officers wanted to
know. asked for an expression of opinion from tho
colonel, Of regiments such, about matter ahecthS
the organization Of the National Guard y
By hi, own declaration he hal authotity from no
one and in tho light OF recent incidents The oIhocrN
consider that 1t piece Of presumption on the part
of Mr. Balch to send the circular letter in the first
Mace The mild resentment Of the officers was turned
into octual indignation Wien they hdrned the Use to
which their qualified appovas Of the scheme hal been
mt Instead Of simply forming division. with Major
General Porter at lis head, bill was introduced es;ao
li,hing a division, naming General Porter As It's head
for life, and added 10 the end OF the blD was 'hi'
phra,e: "who may bc appointed adjuantgeneIal
No one seems to have Il GEAR idea what this phrase
means. A. far i, anything contained In the Military
Code j., concerned the Governor can appoint whom
h rl,,.., a, adiuiant general There Is nothing to
nrcveu MaiorGc General Porter or any other officer VINO
rh,n,,, TO be at the head Of the division, should II be
established from accepting the place But now the
question comes in: Is il the intention to have ore
man hold both places at The same timel II 50 there
T., scarcely a shadow of doubt about the feelings OF
the officers in the Ist brigade on the subject Ihey
are against it from first to lat.
In any HIGHT ii j. difficult to see what good purpose
;bi, LII /, going TO serve. In the first place II Is
difficult TO uaac saul why any legislation was neces-
sary to establish division Not long aso the four
divisions into which the state forces were divided were
abolished By the Commander in-Chicf and no one suS-
gestcd that any legislation necessary TO accomplish
that object Why then Is it necessary to ask Tor inc
help OF the legislature TO do something which the
Military Code expressly gives INC "oNcfhof power
To do!
The Commanderin Chief may consolidate, divide on
dSband the military forces to his hearts content, pro
viding, In his Discretion their efficiency would Dc
increased Icy doing He has exercised that dS
erection in several notable instances within year or
tvo 40 vlat necessity is there for amending the
Military Code in this respect fox the purpose Of estab
fishing Il diyison9 The only color OF excuse which
can be und is that 1t pits General Porter at the head
of the for life. That is, special legislation Is
proposed for the bcHel OF General Porter, so that
he cannot be removed by the Commandcrn-Chief by
abolishing the division, was done few years ago
when four major-gcncgals were thrown ont Of Office
with all due respect to the abilities of General
Porter as an officer and his untrng efforts to place
the National Guard upon high plane 1t Is impossible
to understand why he should be placed IN IA place
where lac would be above and not aInenaDle to the
In considering this question there is another which
roc, TO the root OF the whole matter What IN the
name Of common sense is the OF having division
commander! As The National Guard OF thls etate Is
organized at present even the brigade commanders
are mere ngureheads. \ division would simply add
from third to quarter to inc amour, ol reu tape
which is attached to official business ana give some
one a chance to please rs friends by appointing them
10 places on his stall, where they might look pretty
dressed in gold lace. on the occasion OF street psrdo
without knowing the Genesis OF the tactics or the
Military Code. Besides this 1t would add no sinan
amount to the yearly expenses OF me Guard When |
Inc complaint is heard year that the approprl
lions are already inadequate to meet the legitimate
ca R fhe truth Of The matter probably is that
the possible stan places were the prizes which 1n;n
General Potter can consistently allow his maine |
to be used in this way II Is diihcuit to |
understand. lie d,ayOWs all possibility TOR the
uyc.nt That sounds well. but Il he Is not in favor
OF IT, how easily he could pat an end to the whole |
lu,ncs, How can he consistently favor such plan
nov when he was 50 strongly In favor OF the abolish.
meat Of the divisions and their headquarters and |
red tape bd go . IL,
some time in the future, at which Official notice
Will be taken of this measure aud then NJ Ia!cn |
"a hrar something which all probability VIII |
not please HIS.
Tie satisfaction Is general over the fact that In all
captain Franklin Bartlett Will be elected
major of the I'D Regiment mt meeting To be held to-
morrow evening. 1t was probably the wisest course |