The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-04
INVESTIGATING ADJ. aENERAL.
MI. Meany States That tho National
Guardsmen Demand It..

mr. M00ny States x00G the Notl00ok
Gusrdsmen Demand It..
OLYMPIA, March 3.-[Special. When
Representative Meany presented his reso-
luton in the house this afternoon, asking
for the investigation Of the adjutant gen.
erals Office. he said:
The members of the National Guard OF the
state Of Washington are not satisfied with the
existing state OF affairs, and It 10 in Difference to
their wishes 10 often expressed that have pre-.
scented this resolution. 1t must be remembered
that nearly $4,000 year OF the military fund OF
the state goes through the Office OF the adjutant
general. and it is in the interest of the National
Guard that this resolution should be adopted.
The adjutant generals Office is one of the most
important in the state. A visit to the ONCE
shows that It 10 sum ptuously furnished and EN-.
ploys four clerks. Now the legislature 10 en-
titled to know moro OF this office. The National
Guard has com panies located In different cities
and they want to know In what shape the affairs
of this important ONCE stand. They are en-.
titled to know this and will say that this com.
mittee can 60 through the books OF this Office
in few hours time. l want to request, also,
that the speaker do not follow the usual cour.
tesy in this instance and appoint the mover OF
the resolution as chairman of the committee.
Pierce Of Lewis said that the committee
on military affairs had received q com.
munication from Gen. O'Brien asking it
to make thorough examination Of the
business Of his office. He animated that
the resolution was the result Of spitework,
but whether It was or not, he declared
that measures had been introduced and
referred to the military committee that
were aimed at the adjutant- general and
indicated spite.
\ motion by Mcmillan to lay the reso-
luton on the table was lost, whcreupon
Mcmillan explained that be had made the
motion because he had been told by sew
eral people that bills would be introduced
for the special purpose of Shaping the ad-
)utant general in the face, and he did not
propose to be used for any such purpose.
Neany replied that the report of the adj
jutant general had not been trans united
10 the leg stature. but was yet in the hands
o! the state printer, but he understood that
$500 4 year had been spent for clerk hire
and that the money of tho military fund
was being irittered away. He stated shat
while ii was reported that the demand
Tor an investigation was due 10
the trouble that led up to the
Court-martiai OF Col. Haines, such
was not the cause. The house had right,
he said. 10 know whether or not the affairs
OF the office had been properly managed.
He stated that the militia, the flower of
the states young men. demanded the in
vestigation. Mcmillan said that the
charges made 10y Meany We're the first
definite ones he had heard. and he there
fore now favored an investigation.
Mays declared that it was due Gen.
oBrlen thst an investigation be had. He
said that he thought the resolution ought
to pass. This expression OF opinion was
greeted with cries Of: why don't you
cit down and vote Tor II, them" and
Question" Mays sat down and the reso-
luton went through without opposition.
The speaker has not vet appointed the
committee provided Tor.
Gen. o'Brien said tonight that his Office
was ready for the inspection of the in
vestigatng committee and that he was
glad ghat one had been appointed, so that
the aEiual facts might be known since the
charges had been made. lieexpressed the
belief that the resolution was inspired by
Lieut.. ". ii. Gorham, of Seattle. Who, lie
says. has a grievance growing out of his
Court-martiat a couple OF years ago.