New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-22
Honesda.e. Perm. March Il. 1898.
ITS WEAK FEATURES POINTED OUT
A VETERAN CR!TIcIsEs THE NATIONAL GUARD
BILL NOW BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
GENERAL JOSIAH PCRTER's WORK.


GENERAL JOSIAH PCRTET's WORK
To the Edito, OF Tho Tribune.
Sir: While the people are hocking 70 the military
tournament and creating fund for a monument
10 the memory OF General Josiah Porter. who di !
90 much 10 make genuine soldiers ont Of the Ma
tona Guard and raised the organization 70 such a
higA standard o, efficiency would Il not be well to
call attention 20 the remarkable bill now before
the legislature as administration measure?
General Porter devoted all his energies 10 break
UP the old Adjutan- rng. 10 root out the
old National Guard financial scandals and prevent
their recurrence. The influences that he suppressed
have now dictated bill that IS full OF bad features.
indicative OF both ignorance AMI prejudice Ger
,ainiy the distinguished officers who were appointed
on tie Adiutant- Generals commission TO draf, the
bill did little moro than sign their names TO a
finished product
All National Guard officers know that General
McI.ewee wes an able. efficient and fearless officer.
As Inspector-General II was his duty 10 point
out irregv lari;ies no matter where they were
found lie was responsible 10 but The
co'nmander-in-chef Tho report that he was brave
enough TO make was suppressed through the In
fueace Of the department whose SHORTCOMINGS be
exposed But time will vlndclte his character.
The worst feature OF tSis oil is that IL does
away with State supervisors OF inspection. and
leaves the work entirely 10 the division commander.
and for this purpose provides him Win TWO IN
spec;ors who have tho rank Of colonel. and makes
them dependencies 0. the mnlo?-RehciaI- Ills i
ali wei enough fo- the purposes OF tine division
commander but the comma ndeT -ir-c!fcf should
have on his stan an Inspector general. who should
have al least the rank o. briSadier-genora!. ard
should report TO nobody but the commander-in-
chief This Is important: all the departments
should te subject 20 rigid Inspection. The State
provides the money FOX ali Departments. and there
should be one officer absolutely Independent OF every
one but the Governor 10 that tho money Is hon
estly and discreetly expended
Those who remember the old scandals In the
Guard relative T. armory contracts VIII look with
grave suspicion on the methods o. supervising work
ana giving certificates FOR amounts % less iEan $40
The opportunities for fraud are apparent. Collision
With contractors End local inspectors has occnrre'
IN the past and viii occur again. Unless Inc IA" l.
specific and stringent All contracts mus. ipr lhc
protection OF the State. be inspected oy an once
from general headquarters. and the 800 kVD ana 1922
contracts require j1st careful supervision as ihose
amounting 10 thous0nds Of dollars. inc cettlhcat"
9! such inspecting officer should be required IN order
70 draw the money from the state Treasqry
. one remarkable feature ~ this bil would eIcIaoP
IRON the position OF general or colonel any pedso
VINO was not {: the time OF election al aeu'e oincef