Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-03-08
Too Rich for the Blood

OlIc ~ t!4t HIO>t tIip.bNSal I'aStS
ever accorded a public officer without
attrLuting criminal motives, i that oi
the senate committee on approprIa-
tions, of Adjutant General k. &.
O'Brien, in recommending deficiency
allowance OF Sii000 for payment oi
unaulited claims against the National
nuard, after the expenditure uf what
was considered An ample allowance of
S>0tDO iOr 1891, by the last Legisla-
ture. The committee recommends
payment simply in justice to those
who furnished .eryice or supplies in
good faith and with the expectation OF
prompt payment. The committee de-
! clares that in the progress of its in
quirirs it became appalled, by an ex-
hlhition OF recklessness, extravaganza
and incapacity, on the part of the Adj
jutant General" who occupies "pala-
tial official headquarters" with "a
large force OF assistants, which have
consisted of a clerk, a stenographer,
quartermaster's clerk and a store
keeper and armorer" 1t declares
that ian inadequate halt must be
called on such recklessness and ex-
travaganec in the management of our
military finances, and the custody of
the interests OF this service must be
placed in the hands Of those who will
exercise thrift, economy, prudence
and common sense"
The committee place the sole blame
on the Adjutant General, Who with
the Governor and State Auditor con-
stitutes the military board, because he
is the responsible head of that board
in the management of the military
finances, and they affirm that can ex-
animation Of the records OF his Office
for the past four years has shown to
the committee such an utter lack of
the ordinary sense, capacity and COM
mon prudence which govern in the Or
binary financial transactions OF the
day, and an unrestrained prodigality
and profuseness of expenditure on the
part Of the head of the military de-
partment which warrants the belief
that = few more years of the present
management would put the depart
ment SO far in arrears that decade
will be required to place it again on
an even footing"
This report does not much surprise
those who know the incumbent best.
He is good fellow" generous in ma
ture and the embodiment of all that
goes to constitute an ornamental
figure. head for o service that is de-
pendent mainly upon pomp and cere-
mony for vitality, except during that
comparatively short period possible in
the life Of q commonwealth when the
deadly appliances of War supplant
those OF Peace. Gen. O'Brien belongs
to that class OF men who have never
learned the important lesson that the
we'll has bottom. In all transactions,
public and private, he has shown the
same trait of character. Possessing all
his life quarters in the best provided
atalls at the public crib, he has totally
failed to amass that fat, in the shape
OF q competence, that would enable
him to live in a manner to comport
with his ideas of propriety, even were
he deprived of his waving plumet
and flashing sword and shorne of hi
gaudy epaulletes which would ordinar
, lily obviate much of the necessity fol-
excepting up appearances"
An organized militia may b
necessity, but its main service, i
must be admitted, is to suppress do
, mestic insurrection, and the events 0
last year have greatly weakened popu
lar confidence 10 its utility to cop
, with emergencies of that nature
There seems to be all incompati
bility between the avocation of tn,
y citizen and his duty as a warrior
which serves to disqualify him for tn
profession of arms. His politica
teachings SO deeply impress the lessor
}. OF individual sovereignty upon tn
y citizen soldier that he finds it difficult
even when called into the field for tn
annual picnic parade, 10 obey tn
n mandates of his superior officers, an,
this disposition to pass judgment upol
s an order before obeying it, was mani
tested in California and in this Stat
4 when the State militia was called int
service to suppress the insurrectionar,
acts of organized outlawry. Itwoul'
q be better far to rely upon the regula
service and the marshal's posse, thar
). the costly training of civilians 70
dress parade in times of peace and al
D optional duty should any object whicl
, armed support of the State deman,
4 their services.
1t is burden to the taxpayers a
best to support an adjunct which ha
hitherto been regarded as a certain al
4 Tentative in time of need of their ser
o vices, but with that faith impaired b,
q characterization and the profligat
. management of its expenditures will
!. the notes of warning sounding from
every side, leaves little hope that j
q can be made to subserve any usefu
o purpose. Many of our people hav
been forced to the belief that the ser
vice is wholly inadequate to the cost
+ and this report will confirm them j,
that opinion.
THE lecture on Alaska, at Olympi,
Theater, Tuesday night, by J. o. Hest
wood, illustrated by stereoscopic view
Il OF that terra incognitd, was we'll re
ceived by a small but appreciativ,
audience. The lecturer, who is new
= at the business, needs but practice il
r