New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-04
THEY DON'T LIKE THE NEW CODE.
SOME OLD NATIONAL GUARDsMEN THINK
1T ABOLIsHEs NECESSARY OFFICES.

The new code as framed by the National Guard
Reorganization Commission. and now before the
Legislature. is unsatisfactory TO some old Guards-
men. who believe that it's chief defect Is the AL
legged Capitalization OF power In the office OF the
Adjutant- General and the abolition OF necessary
Offices Ex-Inspector- General r. c. McLewee SAID
yesterday that he feared that the members OF the
Legislature who would be called upon 10 vote for
against the bill might be guided by the charac-
ter of the Commission.
THE Commission which drafted the BILL he SAID
'or recommended Its passage after 1t was drafted
was composed Of men In every way competent TO
solve the problem Of reorganization. No one knows
the needs OF the Guard better than they. but still
their bill represents the views more Of the Ad-
jutant-Generars department than OF the whole
Guard. Its passage would make the Adjutant-
Generals department more powerful than 1t should
be. and would take certain rights from the Com
mander-in-C Chief which should belong TO him. The
Governor should have near him heads OF depart
ments of his appointing, just as the President
has. The Acknowledgements department is a bu-
reau OF record and its head should be at the call
Of the Commander In Chief. but there are other
Offices which equally necessary.
In my opinion the Governor should be empowered
10 appoint as ne does now. inspector-general,
who would oe the head OF the bureau OF informa-
ton: chief OF ordnance. VINO would be also the
commssary and general; he should
have judge-advocate and a surgeon-general
These Offices are necessary to proper conduct OF
the affairs OF the Guard. Besides these officers
there should be a few aids-say. three-on the COM
mander-in- chiefs staff. and that would make good
working force. and would give the Governor MS
proper place at the head OF the States sodiery The
other staff officers like the chief OF engineers chief
OF artillery. commissary general and general IN
spector OF rife practice. might well be spared from
the Governors stan. nasmueh as General Roe
officers would take Of the various departments,
and in case OF need officer might be detailed TO
Hr..l Th.ar Tod
is not much larger than that OF the State OF New
York. and our military establishment might copy
from that orsanzaton On the wnSie l DeYsns
its defeat
years in the Inspector Generals department. under
Governors Tilden, Robinson Cleveland and Hill and
succeeded 10 the place OF Adjutant-General on the
death Of General Portsr also ,eeS srdVe Defe So
seen the complete bill and know it only through the
extracts printed In the newspapers, but from these
I see that II aims measures which gan work only
harm it deprives the Governor OF the right to
appoint his own mar1y sdy 6 fpa aI
When General Roe was appointed | hoped that
fIon 'scbetne would be equally good but was dis
appointed. and believe that u discipline ,so ora nov
press the same opinion / believe that the Gov
ernor should have not only an Adjutant-General,
head OF the supply department and surgeon,
general on his staff, and that ne should be allowed
10 take these officers whence he pleased. II the
bill as 1t IL now before the Legislature. passes.
the appointments must be made from certain
list and men who perfectly competent and
who would be preferred by the COMMANDMENT
Chief may not be appointed because they may not
at that time be members OF the Guard take as
example Or. Joseph H. Bryant surgeon general RAJ
under Governor Cleveland He is just as capable
Of filling the place to-day as he was Few years
ago. but he could not be appointed.
II believe that the number OF general oricers
should be reduced. but that the Commander-in-
chief should have the undsputed right 10 name
them. AS long a code is 10 be adopted. II
should be which will advance the standard
and the efficiency of the Guard. and the one under
consideration has some points which Will tend in
a opposite direction