The record-union., 1891-01-22


lence. Its efforts, however, must be sec
onded by the State to be effective.
The new bill makes company officers
terms four years. We doubt the value of
that provision. If stick happens to be
chosen Captain, for instance, the company
must endure him for four years. In most
time. On the other hand, competent men
can always be reelected. Guardsmen
well understand the value Of efficient Off
GERS. If they do happen to select an
unskilled one, one year is enough of pun
ishment for the blunder.
The annual inspection and muster is
changed from July to March, which is a
desirable reform for obvious reasons.
Another amendment gives to signal
corps not exceeding ten men, Second
Lieutenant, a Sergeant and two Cor
porals. 1t will be better to leave the law
as it is. The amendment provides for too
many officers for small corps With
the brigade and regimental signal Off
GERS, there are sufficient in authority. So,
too, the provision for First and Second
Lieutenant, two Sergeants and four Cor
porals, gives too many officers to corps
III excess of ten and not exceeding twenty
men.
Another provision makes the Brigadier-
General elective every four years. This
is the right thing to do. 1t removes the
selection of these officers from politics,
and eliminates the liability of General
being appointed who knows nothing OF
the duties of the Office, and secures it
simply because he has political or social
pull upon the Governor and to crafty his
vanity. The election, however, by the
officers of the brigade, insures the selec-
ton of a commander who knows some
thing of the duties of the Office, and who
VIII command the respect Of the brigade.
The bill makes the electors for this pur-
pose the field, staff and line officers of the
organization of the brigade. The thirteen
staff officers should be excluded. They
are the appointees of the incumbent and
naturally would support his ambition to
succeed himself. This would give him
an undue advantage as candidate and
handicap his competitors. With this cor
rection, the provision should prevail for
it viii greatly enhance the interest in the
brigade by the organizations composing
it, because it brings its government closer
to the units of the command.
Another provision exempts Brigadier-
Generals from examination. Why? Why
should not they be examined concerning
their fitness and knowledge as well as
other officers of the command? We have
had too many men in the Brigadier's s
Office who entered upon it wholly ignor-
| ant of its requirements, apparently in
capable of learning them, and not able to
handle brigade in ordinary field move
ments or dress parade without having o
book Of tactics in hand, or being assisted
by promptors at their elbow. OF such
commanders the men are always
ashamed, and the result is material in
jury to the brigade.
With the exceptions noted, the bill
should be passed as presented by Assem-
blyman Phillips. The payments it pro-
vides for service in encampments and for
support of the organizations, are not ex-
cessive. If we are to maintain the
National Guard al all, it should be well
done, and with view OF making it as
efficient as is possible. We believe in
fostering this branch of the Government
it was the advice of Washington, and has
been that OF every great statesman since
his time. It is encouraged by Congress,
and is made by the War Department a
| matter of special concern. The State can
afford to make the guard attractive to
enlisted men, to bring it to high state
of discipline, to insure it stable nucleus
| for formation in the hour of danger, and
| to make it a means for the cultivation OF
patriotic spirit and the military taste.
For in the citizen soldiery and its eff
cheney the final power and last resort oi
orderly government resides.