The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-01
MUD THROWN IN THE MILITIA.
NEW YORK's INSPECTOR GENERAL
SUMMARILY REMOVED.

He Gave Newspapers a Report Criti-
cising Gov. Morton and His Supe-
riOr Omcers-Summary Removal
the Only Punishment the Governor
| Could Indict Owing to the Fact
That His Term Expired Last
Night-The Inspector Generals %
Years Term of Service Would Also
Have Expired Last Night.
| Albany, NJ Y, Dec. 31.-Gov. Morton
this afternoon took summary action and
removed Frederick c. McLewee, inspector
general of his staff, from office and at
the same time appointed Capt. Hoffman
of Elmira, in his place. Capt. Hoffman
has already been appointed to serve as
inspector general on Gov. Blacks staff.
Adjt. Gen. McAlpin arrived at his Of
fee to-day. He was very silent and an
cry when he read Inspector Gen. McLe-
wees report for the past year. which was
published in this mornings papers. The
report contained severe criticism on Gov.
Morton, as commander-in-chief, Adjt.
Gen. McAlpin and brother officers, and
aroused the wrath of nearly every MEM
Der of the National Guard in Albany, from
Gov. Morton down.
Adjt. Gen. McAlpin Immediately sought
Gov. Morton at the executive chamber.
The governor had already read Gen. Me-
Lewee's criticisms of his superior officers
and was about prepared TO act. He i'm
mediately promulgated an order for Gen.
McLewee's removal. A court martial was
suggested but this was thought to be too
slow a procedure especially as Gen. Nc
Lewee's twenty-five years service in the
guards would have ended tonight when
he goes out of Office
Gen. McAlpin said to-day: 1.-THE regu-
lations require that a report of a subor-
dinate officer should be filed with his chief,
whose property 1t is. This was not done
by Gen. McLewee. He gave the report
out himself In New York and took pains
to point out to the newspaper men the
superior officers against whom his re-
vengeful thrusts were aimed. The regu-
lations also say that a report containing
criticisms of officers of the guard shall be
confidential. Here there was also vio-
lation by Gen. McLewee. He has vio-
lated the regulations in many other par
ticulars His main violation, however,
was his disregard of that principle arti-
Gle of war which prohibits subordinate
officer from criticising a superior officer.
The governor, as commander-in-chief,
took the most appropriate action he could
under the circumstances and removed
Gen. McLewee."
At the adjutant generals Office 1t was
stated that Gen. McLewee would have
been dishonorably dismissed from the SER
vice, only that this could not be done I'M
I'll he had received court martial trial and
the charges should be proven. AS Gov.
Morton's term and AdJutant General Nc
Alpin's terms both expire tonight, they
thought IL better to act in the most sum-
mary manner possible, which was for
Gov. Morton to remove the inspector gem
eral. The governor did not take long to
consider the question and acted at once.
Thus ends the fiercest fight which has
disturbed the national guard for years,
that which Gen. McLewee has waged
against Adjt. Gen. McAlpin for two years.
Gen. McAlpin retires honorably from the
guard and Gen. McLewee is removed from
office as he was about to retire after
twenty-five years service.
Gen. McAlpin's friends say that since
Gen. McLewee was appointed Inspector
general two years ago he has devoted his
energies to undermining Gen. McAipin
among the officers and members Of the
National guard.
AdJt Gen. McAlpin was a candidate for