New-York tribune., 1896-10-24
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
CRITICISING THE GOVERNOR
GUN MEN STIRRED Up BY HIS ACIlON
ON THE SAVAGE WEAPON.
AN INTrMATIoN THAT AN INVESTIGATION WILL
BE MADE BY THE LEGIsIATURE-E W.

AN lNTIMATIoN THAT AN INVESTIGATION WILL
BE MADE BY THE LEGIsLATURE-E w.
BLISS ASKS SOME QUESTIONS.
The decision Of Governor Morton in the SAVAGE
rife matter has caused great deal OF comment
m. rrIas md regulations for the tests were formu-
In ted In his own Office and they called Tor maya
zine rife and nothing else. Ine members VI '
Commission are annoyed at ihe result anu !" -,
more than likely that the ahar VIII not pe AZ
lowed to where Il Is man VINO II ~ .ioSe W
the Commissioners said last evening TO tribune
reporter: o.o
.Governor Mortons position Is very weak one
He knew all about the tests and what they caiieu
for when the passed in the heelsia.u' o
appointing a Commissiol. ana IL II rd'he' '"'7
in the day for him make these discoveries. lhe'e
will be an investigation asked for from the Legs
nature and IL will thcn be seen just What 'hhu-
ence WAS brought TO bear 10 set aside tho report
or the Commission. I have no douh that " VIII
he fond that his action can b" 'racen oach w
certain influences worked through the ARMY "o'a-
hlv the Flaglers. One of these holds. ! thihK ,ne
no.,,,on Of chief Of staff at Washington. n. {. He
was largely responsible for the Examining ho"r"
cha, selected the Krag-Jorgcnsen rife now in nse
In the Repuglar Army. 1t made miserable snow
ing at Creedmoor when tried i'm ccmpetltion ~ me
late tests The decision of the State Board was
censure on the Board that selected the Army rne'
and no doubt that had much 10 do with the re-
all the competitors had every chance they asked
for but legislative inquiry will bring out the
real facts
When Mr. Bliss asked If Army influence
had ANYTHING 10 do with the rejection OF the saw
age rife he nodded his head aftirmativey. He
gave much time and thought 10 the tests, and ne
expressed himself follows on the result
have read the Governors statement. ana regard
as one Of the Weakest S , Tine o not
rant an expenditure of &s0oN for rifles he does
the Legislature 10 spend that amount of money At
once but cover IL over period of at least tnree
m ssarif for great SS State ike to spend
to arm the% T h pr9Rs "yerno r
whv did he appoint : commission and involve an
expense @ Of ss@S, when he knew at the 6eginnins
heard of the Governor of State allowing pald
attorney to appear before him and argue against
without giving the members OF the commission ~ sii
ine 70 conclusion? | asked Governor Morton 70
give fteen minutes of his time ,, at Aoany sons al
why the Commission decided that the savage gun
was the best TINS regHes ne vs ~oT rcpr@senad @o
the hearings by counsel II the commission was
represented; DO not know VI by whom nor o'a
He saws that the United stst"s Governme,ntt l,',rt
sn@s snUn'o " Why dd he not hnk Of that before he
signed the bill and allow this Commission TO waste
IN mn the way he has? Il is like baby play to have
asked men to devote mucn time ana go TO-, to so
are moi opporrunc or that the Govcrnment should
be asked to 30 the work the Legislature mas
mapped out ,,, l., A.,
He saws he thinks there was no collusion In the
seiec,ion Of the Savage gun. WHY don't he
there was none If he mas any respect for his CON-
mjssjonersr he finds. after careful study or
The facts in tho matter. and after taking advice
from others that the present arm Is sufficent ana
better than magazine gun. II TINS Is So why ulu
he not take the matter consideration at first and
NOT appoint a commission 10 do what he evidently
concludes was better done on his own investiga-
ton? II the Savage gun is superior 10 that adopt
ed by the United States Army. and OF me same same
calibre and using the ammunition, claim
that IL would he unwse for tho Governor 10 select
an inferior arm in order TO be in accord with the
armament of tho Regular Army. don't thlnk
the reasons the Governor gives for his acon IN NOT
selecting provided for by the law are sub
stantial.