The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-31
MONEY FOR THE MILITARY.
COUNCIL PASSES THE MILITARY AP-
PRECIPITATION ORDINANCE.

the ordinance-Lieut. COIding Does
Not Think His Company Has Been
Properly Treated.
Alderman Watson's ordinance appro-
priating $3.50 to the police fund to be used
in aiding in the maintenance Of the eleven
military companies mentioned in the ordi-
nance was adopted by the city council at
a special meeting yesterday. Alderman
Gleason Withdrew his objection TO imme-
diate action on the ordinance.
The commands mentioned in the ordi-
nance are the five companies composing
the First Regiment of Infantry, Georgia
Volunteers, Chatham Artillery, Georgia
Hussars. and the four companies d tee
Savannah Volunteer Guards.
The Savannah Naval Reserve is rot
mentioned in the ordinance. The reasons
for thus sighting the Naval Reserve are
not known further than stated in the pre-
amble of the ordinance. which is as fol-
lows: Whereas the military companies
designated in this ordinance have in times
past acted and are now acting as police
reserve for the city Of Savannah, and are
subject to the orders Of the mayor Of the
city as said police reserve, and have rem
dered and in future may be called upon to
render services as said police reserve"
When Lieut.. II. s. Colding. commanding
Savannahs naval reserve company. read
the official proceedings of the previous
meeting of council at which the ordinance
was introduced, published in yesterdays
Morning News, and saw that the Naval
Reserve was not mentioned in the oTdi-
nance. he at once took steps TO ascertain
the reason why. He concluded that 1t
was an oversight on the part Of the alde@
men and addressed the following commu-
nication to the board:
Armory Company 3, Naval Reserves,
Artillery Naval Militia, Georgia Volun-
teers, Savannah, Ga, Jan. 81, lS97.-To
the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of
Savannah, Gentlemen: l notice in the pub
lie prints that your honorable body in
tends making an appropriation TO eleven
of the white military companies of this
city, leaving my company out While
my command has not been In existence
very long, we have men who have been
members of other companies for a good
many years (my term Of service being
over twenty-one years.. If this appro
priation is made, we certainly expect to
be included. Respectfully
Henry S. Colding, Lieut.. Commanding.
When Alderman Gleason announced
that he withdrew his objection to the i'm
mediate consideration OF the ordinance it
was a once put on its second reading. Be
fore the ordinance was read Alderman
Falligant inquired II il were in the power
of the city to appropriate money TO GER
tain companies without including all the
companies in the city. Alderman Garrard
replied that the ordinance had been drawn
by the city attorney after very careful
deliberation and was In accord with the
citys charter which permits 1t TO desig-
nate certain military companies as po-
lice reserve.
Alderman Falligant moved to amend the
ordinance by making the appropriation on
condition that the military allow Han
street to be opened across the parade
ground as a driveway. Alderman Garrard
said that it was understood that the pres
ent council had always been in favor of
keeping the parade ground intact. Alder
man Falligants motion was not seconded
and Mayor Myers announced that the dis
cussion was out of order
The ordinance was read a second time
and adopted unanimously. Lieut.. Cold
1ng's communication to c0uncil was not
read until after the adoption of the ordi-
nance. II was then referred to the COM
mittee Of the whole, which means that it
goes to the new board. Several reasons
were given by the aldermen in conversa-
ton, as to why the Naval Reserve was
not included in the appropriation. The
main reason, it IS understood, is that the
reserve is on a different footing from the
other militia, being maintained by a spe-
cial appropriation by the federal govern
ment and being much more literally dealt
with in the matter Of equipment than the
other volunteer forces. The company here
is also comparatively young and cannot
be said to be thoroughly established as
er alderman pointed to the fact that each
of the commands mentioned In the ordi-
nance had been chartered previous to 1851.
The ordinance appropriates $3.50 per an
mum to each of the eleven military COM
panies mentioned, one-half of which Boz
comes due and payable at once and the
other half is payable on July l5 The Or
dinance does not merely provide for an
Appropriation for this year. but the
amounts mentioned must be paid annual
ly, the installments being payable on Jan.
is and July Is Of each year. This is the
first time that the city has ever given Pc
cuniary recognition 10 the military, and
military men are generally congratulating
themselves on the fact that recognition of
a substantial character has at last been
secured.
Lieut.. Colding said last night that he
does not see any reason why his COM
pany should not share equally In the APP
preparation. The naval reserve, he said,
is as much a police reserve as any COM
pany In the city. 1t Is equally liable for
duty whenever the militia Is called out
AS 70 the federal appropriation. it is only
10 be applied to arms and equipments
and cannot be used for any other purpose.
The naval reserve he says, il the only
company in Savannah which Is compelled
10 pay rent for It's armory and that and
all other expenses of the company are
paid by the members individually They
also furnish their own uniforms. As 10
the standing Of the company, Lieut.. Cold
ing says, It Is as firmly established as any
military organization in Savannah. As
evidence Of the recognition Of this fact
the adjutant general has ordered him to
muster In a second company here, which
will be done this week
Lieut.. Coiding feels that his command
has not been treated with proper cons d.
Grafton and that the appropriation If made
at ali, should have included the Reserves.
The navy department has notified Lieut.
Coldlng that Il viii approve his requlsiton
for boats. The necessary papers have
been prepared and forwarded to the gov
rrnor for bic signature. All of this he