New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-18
the adjutant- general, inspector general ana
general nspector ofr ida nro

the adjutant- general, inspector general ana
general inspector Of rife practice.
AS the State grows In population and i'm.
portance." he said. the National Guard will
naturally grow in proportion and as II 10 Q
purely volunteer organization. Its growth and
strength will depend upon the popularity and
wisdom OF its management Thus we see those
organizations commanded by competent and en-
tnuslastic officers increasing in numbers and
perienced or Indifferent are constantly In
trouble and falling off IN all the essentials that
go 10 make good citizen soldier. Any effort
to place the National Guard upon the footing Of
regular army by paying wages to Its officers
and men Qor the latter Is a natural sequence 10
the former believe to be contrary to the laws
OF the United States and destructive to the fut.
ure or the organization, and any effort to place
officers In command Of volunteers without their
sanction will undoubtedly lead to dissatisfac.
ton The First Brigade is In excellent cond-
ton: Its officers are capable, efficient and pains.
taking, and its men are we'll instructed and de.
voted to their duty. with an enthusiasm, as in.
dicated at Brooklyn and Buffalo, that is an ex.
ample to the National Guard Of the whole
country"
For some time past General Fitzgerald has
been anxious to retire from the National Guard.
OF which he has been member over forty years.
and from the command Of the First Brigade,
which he has held since 1886. but has remained
in the service because he hoped to see such Q
reorganization as would secure the citizen SOL
diery against retrogression, which he believes
Will follow continuance Of the present sys.
tenn.
GENERAL DOYLE FAvoRs IT.
Brigadier-General Peter c. Doyle, Of the
Fourth Brigade. in speaking Of the reorganisa-
ton plan. said that ne heartily In favor
Of It and that permanent major general, with
headquarters where he has his home. and With
out pay. would be step in the right direction.
Colonel Appleton. Of the 7th Regiment IL also
in favor Of a permanent major general to serve
without pay, but believes that his headquarters
should be in New-York City.
Colonel Francis V. Greene, OF the list Regis
ment, said: II fully approve that the National
Guard OF the State should constitute q MILL
tary division, under command Of a major-gen-
eral, stationed In the city OF New-York, serv.
ing without compensation. and appointed by
the Governor on the nomination OF the ma
jorty OF the brigade regimental commanders,
the battalion. squadron troop. battery and sepa.
rat company commanders to have a fractional
vote proportionate to their strength. l consider
a reorganization on this basis essential to the
continued and further improvement OF the Ma
tonal Guard"
Colonel Franklin Bartlett. OF the 22d Regi.
ment. said "In my opinion the best interests
Of the National Guard demand that there should
be major-general in command. who should
receive no pay, except in the line OF active SER
vice in the field. and that the headquarters
OF such major-genera should he in the city Of
New-York"
Colonel George Moore Smith Of the Goth Regi.
ment. said: II am heartily in favor Of the reor-
ganization Of the National Guard into one di.
vision, to be commanded by a major-general,
who should have his headquarters In New-York
City, and, further, that the major-general
should serve without pay, except when In actual
service"
Colonel Alexis c. Smith Of the 23d Regiment
also expressed himself in favor Of reorganiza.
ton. and believed that the division headquarters
should he In New-York City
A veteran Of the National Guard said that
the creation Of division could be brought about
by the publication of the following order by the
Governor:
"First-The First, Second. Third and Fourth
Brigades and the Naval Reserve are hereby
consolidated into division, to be known 40
the First Division. n. G., n. Y.
"Second-Brgadier-G General - is hero.
by assigned to the command Of said division.
"Third-The division commander will at once
establish his headquarters and report by let.
ter TO these headquarters"