Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-23
AS TO THE MILITARY.
Many OflCerS Appear in Connection
With The New Board Bill.
WHAT THE MOVE REALLY MEANS.
An Effort, Some Argue. Ia Remove
the Adjutant-GcneraI and 1nspec-
tor-xievs of Gen. Anderson ana
Col. sfern-An investigation.

importance to the volunteer service OF the
state were taken up. Among the gem
tlemen present were: Adjutant-General
Charles j. Anderson. Inspector-Gene-
raj 10 Lane stern. Major w. u. Sim
ons. Major W. II. Sands, Colonel
Henry c. Jones, Lleutenant-colonel
George Wayne Anderson, Major Sol.
Cutchins. Colonel G. Percy Hawes, Cap
tains +. Leslie Spence, c. Gray Bos-
sieux. J. r. Tenant. G. =. Shackleford,
and T.. J. Euker, Major Sutton and
Lieutenants Wood and Cheatwood
MIR. Lewis, of Culpeper, spoke to his
bill 10 change the complexion Of the
Military Board by removing therefrom
the Secretary Of the Commonwealth,
and substituting for him the colonels Of
the various regiments. In speaking Of
the duties Of the board, he stated that
it had charge of the disbursement OF
about S2l 900. and there was considerable
complaint among the men that they
couldn't get the money due them. He
couldn't specify any command that
hadn't gotten its proportion Of the fund.
but said he had letters from Colonel Nalle
and Captain Goodlow of Culpeper, COM
planning of difficulties they had expert
enced in getting their proportion OF the
fund.
BETWEEN NIGHT AND MORNING.
General Anderson next addressed the
committee, and spoke of this bill as
having been introduced between night
and morning. At the last Legislature,
he said, similar bill to this one had
come up, and he added that the bill
was simply one 10 remove the Adjutant-
General and Inspector-General from the
board. He said the complaints spoken
Of had only been coming in within the
past four years, and he knew not what
their source or the animus which prompted
the bill. He read circular-letter,
which emanated from the Adjutant-
Generals ofhce in 1892, setting forth that
the officers Of the volunteer service
had themselves met and directed how
the military fund should be distributed:
and, continuing. he said that, considering
the meagreness Of the appropriation for
the volunteer service. the Virginia mi
litia compared favorably with that of any
other state. The total strength OF
the militia Of Virginia was over 1900
men, 20 per cent. Of which was colored.
General Anderson submitted some figures
showing how the fund in 1894 and 1895 had
been distributed.
He argued that IT would be far better
for the Legislature 10 permit the Military
Board 10 remain az IL now f.. thereby
giving satisfaction 10 % per cent. OF the
officers in the service. and to Increase
the fund, and thereby stop the complaint
Of the other per cent. General Ander-
son said that 10 increase the Military
Board by placing the five colonels Of the
service thereon would unquestionably en-
tail large cost. as mileage would have
to be allowed the three who live out Of
the city. As an illustration Of this cost
he referred TO the expenses Of Colonel
Male who was ordered by the Governor
to come 10 Richmond and act as Adju-
tant-General while he (Anderson) was in
Atlanta with the Governor
BOTH DREW SALARY.
Mr.. Lewis here questioned General An
derson, asking him if his salary was
stopped while he was in Atlanta mo.
sir replied the General. Il went by
order of the Governor"
Didn't Colonel Nalle draw salary du-
ring the time you were gomez" was asked.
'Yes. SIR was the reply, "but that
have nothing TO do with"
General Anderson continued. and re-
ferred to the fact that Colonel Nash. Of
the Fourth; Colonel Baker. OF the Second:
Colonel Euker of the First Cavalry Regi-
ment and Major Cutchins. of the Blues
Battalion. were all out and out opposed
TO changing the board. Major Cutchins
endorsed the reference TO himself and
letters from Colonels Nash and Baker
were read. showing their objections to a
change.
In reply TO a query General Anderson
stated that Of the ten members Of the
proposed board six lived in Richmond.
BOARD NOT INTERESTED.
Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson next ad-
dressed the committee, and first showed
the disinterestedness Of the present board.
not one being attached TO any command
Of the State. Discussing the proposed
board, he said with each organization
represented thereon there would be a
scramble for the fund each command
trying TO get the largest slice of the fund.
and this would result in the formation Of
cliques. and while one portion Of the SER
vice fi0urished -the other part would de-
cline. lie thought the board as now
constituted was fair and impartial. and
il was doing justice to the service.
which would hardly be done If the board
were increased as proposed.
VIEWS OF COLONEL STERN.
Colonel 10 Lane Stern was the next
officer to speak on the subject. He de-
tailed the appropriations made to the ser
vice. both from the State and the
General Government. He carefully showed
the manner in which the fund had been
distributed, and showed that the only
departure from the rule OF distribution
had been in favor of Colonel Males regi-
ment who were now before the commit
he had no objection to. being removed
from the board, but he thought the officer
who did the inspecting, whether II was
himself Of not, was valuable man to
have on the board. as the inspector was
naturally very much better posted as to
the needs Of the service than any one
else. He told of the great care exercised
by the board In distributing the fund
and said they worked hard and con-
scientiously TO give the privates as many
cents AZ was possible out OF the ap-
DrOpriatiOn. He spoke OF the father Of
the bill as "a person unknown 10 him,
and said that 1t was clearly shown that
he or they were not friends Of the service
as a majority OF the officers I'm the ser
vice were opposed 10 IL, and they ought
10 know what they wanted. A evidence
OF their opposition. he submitted a petit
tion signed by twentyfour officers. ask
ing that all OF the bills proposed by Mr..
Lewis be reported adversely.
Mr.. Lewis asked Colonel Stern how II
would suit the officers TO have the board
of the Governor the Brigadier-
General. the senior colonel OF cavalry.
the senior colonel OF infantry, and the
senior major of artillery.
Colonel Stern said he didn't see the
expedency OF such a change. He didn't
think he and his associates were before
the committee for the purpose of a COM
promise. II this Is simply n move 10 sat