The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-07
HARD ON TIE COLONIES.
Gov. Northen's Letter to the Members
Of His staff

VI his oAhAA#
Tho lieutenant colonies on Gov. Northen's
staff have been rather agitated lately by
the receipt of circular letter announcing
the governors intention TO cut of from his
staff all who have not already or who will
not Immediately equip themselves with the
full regulation uniform, and whO.do not
obey summons to attend upon him at all
public functions where q military escort is
considered appropriate.
Gov. Northen has called meeting of the
members of his staff in Atlanta day after
tomorrow for the purpose Of making ar
raugements to attend the Inauguration of
President Cleveland. He desires 30 attend
with his entire staff in full uniform, and the
inference drawn from the letter by the
members receiving 10 is that IL they cannot
prepare themselves TO attend upon him In
Washington on March they had better
send in their designations.
The exact size OF Gov. Northen's staff Is
probably not less than forty or fifty. At
the beginning Of his first term be notified
the members that they we're expected to
equip themselves at once with a suitable
uniform for the purpose Of appearing with
him upon all state occasions. A meeting
was held and a uniform was decided upon.
IL is a very handsome one. 1t consists of an
with blue trousers with gold cord down the
leg with black chapeau and plume. Probs
ably about half the staff went to the ex-
pense of equipping themselves with this uni
form, sword and other paraphernalia TO
match.
They were considerably surprised last
summer when they were ordered to attend
upon the governor at his weekly inspec-
tons of the state encampment at Griffin.
Very few obeyed the summons,
most Of them sending excuses. Il looks now
as il the governor was endeavoring TO put
his staff on a military basis. IL is thought
by some that he has seen he absurdity of a
large staff of officers with high military
titles, few Of whom know or care anything
about military affairs. and Of whom no
services are required. If every member is
required to purchase an expensive outfit to
attend upon the governor on all public
occasions, the staff will soon be reduced
amazingly.
II Gov. Northen's decision is accepted as
precedent by his successors the days OF the
Georgia lionel are numbered. For so long
that nobody knows how long, either by law
or long accepted custom, each new gov
ernor, upon taking the reins of office, has
appointed as many of his friends as be de-
sired to compliment with the honor as mem
bers of his staff, TO whom commiss ions were
issued for two years as lieutenant colonies
in the service Of the state.
As each new governor had
a number Of friends whom he
desired to recognize in this manner for
personal or political reasons the results was
that the entry Of each new governor into
office meant the creation of anywhere from
100 to $40 brand new lieutenant colonies.
In this way the number OF colonies was so
increased by the biennial crop that it is
now almost impossible to find any man of
prominence at all in the state who has not
at some time received a commission as
lieutenant c,loael. Gov. Colqultt is said to
have appointed enough lieutenant colonies
TO compose full regiment. Gov. Northen
has inAugurated dangerous precedent and
the thousands of colonies created Oy his pre-
deoessaTs in Office.
An Atlanta dispatch last night referred
to Gov. Northen's letter as follows:
Gov Northen will cut down the number
OF colonies composing his staff. The gov
ernor during his first term Of office app
pointed a large staff representing every
section of the state. But many of the ap-
pointees u not consider the appointment
sufficiently important TO spend the money
necessary to purchase the required uniform,
and aiao regarded the honor so lightly that
few o. hem ever responded to the invita-
ion TO turn out in attendance upon the
chief executive. In view of this Gov.
Northeu has notifet mis- old staff that only
such as will sgree to get uniforms and to
attend TO the functions of their office viii
be reappoinred. 1t seems that the Georgia
colonel is TO become scarcity IN the land