The morning call., 1893-07-16
A MILITARY DEBT.
Light Battery A May Be
Mustered Out.
The First California Guard Practically
Bankrupt-The Trouble About
Its Affairs.

Some of the members of Light Battery
a, Second Artillery, National Guard Of
California. fear that that Old-time military
organization is in danger of being mus
tered out. Brigadier. General John Il.
Dickinson says that unless the battery
makes different showing from its record
OF the past few years he will assuredly
order that 1t be disbanded.
The battery Is the oldest in the State
snd was formerly known as the First Cali
tornia Guard 1t occupies the armory on
Pacific street. between Polk and Van Ness,
and this military home is the cause of much
OF the present trouble. 1t is rented for
$3.50 month, but the battery is very much
in arrears to its landlord. The agents of
the building say that $4250 is due on the
rent account; in other words. that the bat
terry is seventeen months behind.
The building was erected for the express
accommodation Of the battery. About
year ago the military tenants concluded
that they could reduce their own rent by
subletting the building. They requested
the owner TO make certain alterations to
cost about $500. The agents stale that the
changes entaled an expenditure of about
SlIUO, and that this sum has gone to swell
the am unit Of the unpaid rent
Inc only explanation given by the bat
terry Tor not paying It's bills is that its cur
rent expenses exceed its income. The
State pays 1t pDnthly allowance of 5000.
mon h for subletting, and occasionally
the hall is rented for entertainments, be-
sides having as tenants one or two tennis
clubs. There are nominally 81 members
in the battery. each Of whom pays monthly
dres OF ST.
1hs receipts. as given by various men,
about 1915. and the EXPENSES, including
ga, water and jantor's service, about
$685. This would be enough to pay the
rent and other expenses and leave small
balance. But it is said that many members
of the battery are "deadheads" and do. no
active work, while others are many months
In arrears with their dues. The financial
affairs OF the battery are managed by
Captain John A. Roster. and upon learn
ing fIOm the agents Of the building the
amount OF the arrears, the soldier-clvilians
began to inquire how their captain had
dlSburSed the lunds.
Cap ain Rosters friends, of whom Gen.
eral Dickinson is one. say hat the money
was all legiiimately spent in the battery
In various ways. Each time that III oun ted
drlll was held it involved the expenditure
OF from 500 to $3.50 for horses. Then the
battery, being attached to the Second
Regiment, paid for time It's share of the
rent OF the reglmental armOry on Page
and Cough streets in addition to It's own
armory, the First California Guard being
anxious To preserve its identity.
Besides. at Santa Cruz last year the
battery entertained somewhat lavishly,
and this aided in depicting the funds. The
landlord was apparently the last creditor
to be satisfied. Although there were oc-
casio al pa" mens on The rent account. the
battery WAS always hopelessy in arrears
Captain Rosters friends say bv way OF
excuse tha he inherited part of the debt,
from which the battery has never been
able TO rec Itself
Roster succeeded Captain Fl. T. Syme
ABOUT TWO years ago. AT that time there
was also change in the other commits
stoned officers, the present officers being
l. LeutenaDts J. II. Mangpls, DR.. .. F.West-
phal and Robert p. Wieland. Some Of The
privates say that these officers were elec Ell
upon the understanding that, being we'll
to-do young men, they should personally
paw the existing debt Of the battery. Ap-
parently the officers viewed the matter In
a dI11erent light, for the debt still lives.
When Captain Syme retired number
OF men in the battery followed his ex-
ample. Some of those who renamed are
anxious for their old commanders return.
ana this has led 10 mucn unpleasanfness.
Ii is freely admitted that at the mounted
drills seldom more than thirty men report
Tor duty. and that the personnel OF the
battery is not up to its former standard.
There does not seem much Likelihood
tnat me owner Of the armory Will receive
The amount of his claim.
General Dickinson says that the mem
bers of the battery are not individually
liable for the debt. When told the
amount of the arrears the brigade COM
mander said that he was glad Of 1t. The
owner had always asked too much for he
building and he thought it served him
right. The general says, however. that
the battery must be reorganized or there
Will be trouble all around.