Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-25
i COMPROMISE BILL.
Courts Of Inquiry 10 Hare The Power
10 DlsDand RssIhsHts.
MILITARY AFFAIRS DISCUSSED.
troubles an TIE First Resi"ent
Ass,a brought up and General
uansiey make. some Very PERTH
reat Remarks.
nent Remarks.

police met last night Tor the p"' -
- conssdersnx General Hnndleys Di''
empowering the commandments 70
disband or consolidate any regiment DAT
,aison. or company at any time ne may
consider s.ch action to be for the better
nent Of the State volunteer sc1''
There were present besides tne 0o'"
,oittee General Charles J. Anderson So'-
onel George Wayne Anderson. Coiohe'
~ Lane stern. Colonel ii. c. Jones'
,s.ior Sol cutchins, Major w. II. SANDS
and Captain Il. Leslie Spence.
General Hundley opened the discussion.
lie sa,d he didn't know anything OF the
controversy between the military gen.
flemen of Richmond. except what ne
had read in the newspapers, and han no
favorites on either eide. He didn't care
anything about the trouble, and his sole
ob,ect In presenting his bill was
10 increase the efficiency OF the service.
He spoke OF the absolute necessity ior
maintaining a proper and capable min
fary force, and said IL was essential
that there should be an efficient regi-
ment IN Richmond. He had been In
formed that the First Regiments EN-
cheney had been killed by the dissen-
slons among its officers. The feeling be-
tween the field officers, he had been IN
formed. was bitter. and the companies
ard officers were divided as between the
two.
SHOULD HAVE NEW OFFICERS.
General Hundley. after setting forth
these facts, said 1t was incumbent on
the Legislature 70 remedy the existing
conditions and make the regiment effi-
Gent. He thought the Governor should
be empowered to disoand the First
Regiment and thereby rid II of the
quarrelIing officers. and recognize II,
with a new colonel and field. He thought
the bad feeling between the officers OF
the First Regiment was deplorable, and
should be at once rectified. IF you can't
cashier and remove an officer" he con-
tinued. when his command Is being
ruined by him, why, there ought to be
some means OF getting rid OF him"
Colonel Stern next spoke In favor Of
the bill, which, he said. WAC literal
copy of the New York law. He thought
the Governor should unquestionably have
the authority the bill purpos>d vesting
him with, and stated that the statutes
contemplated giving him this power
though whether he actually had II now
was q controyerted question. He showed
by data in his possession that the Cover
nor had disbanded and consolidated COM
panies frequently. whether legally or not.
He spoke OF the necessity for Governors
leaning on his troops. ana said that
unless the Governor had absolute au-
thority TO DO what ne thought best for
the betterment of the service ne would
be unsble 10 rely upon the militia.
THEY WOULDN'T ANSWER.
Colonel Stern was asked by General
Hundiey IL there was a regiment in the
State which was inefficient. and IL so.
which one? Colonel Stern preferred not
10 answer the question, as did also Major
Sands. 60 whom IL was also put, and
they were excused from SO doing by their
inuuiSitor.
General Anderson heartily favored the
bin, and said the Governor should GER
tainly be vested with the powers con-
tained In II. He was asked the question
propounGed TO Colonel Stern and Major
Sands, and said he would prefer that
some OF the regimental or battalion Off
GERS present should answer II.
General Hundley stated that he had
endeevored TO get at the facts, but the
gentlemen were not disposed to give them,
and he would wash his hands OF the
whole AFFAIR and cease his advocacy of
the measure. After some little discussion
ON this point Colonel George Wayne An
derson addressed the committee. He said
1t was his own private opinion that the
Governor had the power the bill proposed
vesting in him. but as 81 was a contro-
verified point be thought the bill should
pass In order 10 make the power OF the
Commander-in-chief clear.
HAVE PEACE OR GET OUT.
Major Cutchins advocated the bill, and
wanted 1t amended so as to empower the
Governor to detach a command when he
sees fit He knew there were some dis
sensions In the service. but il seemed TO
him that when an officer couldn't get
along amicably with his superior ne
ought TO get out. He had nothing, he
said. TO do with any quarrels in the SER
vice. He had always been as cordial with
his brother officers as they would per
init him. He would be glad TO see a first
class regiment in Richmond. because
when one organization in a city went
down another was affected.
Captain Spence favored the bill, and
gave the committee his ideas In a very
few words He was followed by Major
Sands who opposed the measure. He con-
tended that the bill might be so pervert-
ed as 10 make IL very useful for a Gov
ernor TO carry out his political purposes
as should he so desire he might disband
the whole brigade and reorganize 1t, APP
pointing all the officers. Colonel Ander-
son called his attention to the State law.
which provides that all officers shall be
elected by their subordinates, and ex-
planned that Major Sandss fears could
never be realized
A COMPROMISE BILL
Major Simons also spoke against the
bill. He referred 10 the order abolIshing
courts-mortial, and said that as a result
the discipline OF the service was at n
very low ebb. He thought the Governor
already had the right to disband a regi-
nent. and thought he ought TO have such
power. His only objection TO the bill was
tho first three lines. which provide that
the present organization OF the Virginia
volunteers shall remain as now establish
ed.
When Major Smons concluded the COM
mitfee went into executive session ard
decided to let the bill sleep in committee
and TO substitute for 1t bill TO vest the
power OF dlsbanding a regiment in a court
or inquiry. and a committee composed OF
Messrs Hundley. Lewis. and Armstrong
was appointed to draft the bill.
The committee then rose.