The times., 1898-09-16

Two matters of moment were discussed
yesterday at the headquarters OF the Dis
trict National Guard, No. l412 G Street
northwest, and at the armory, over Cen
ter Market where were assembled.
groups Of sunburned soldiers. One Of the
matters was the status of Georse Ii.
Harries in his dual capacity as co-one. OF
the First District of Columbia Volunteer
Regiment, and brisadier general COM
nsanding the District National Guard
The other was the movement now on foot
TO infuse new energy into the ranks of
the Guard during this Autumn and Win
ter.
There was a diversity of opinion as to
the status Of the colonel of the regiment
and general of the Guard, but none as
TO the purpose and wisdom OF those who
propose to bring the militia organization
up 10 its former high standard. Many Of
ficers OF the District militia object TO the
published statement that the National
Guard is to be reorganized.
There viii be no reoI ganization.'' said
sc Of these. I'VE Will simply us our
be>s Efforts to recruit the companies up
TO their fun complement. with the best
possible material
Col. Harries Explains.
As TO the dual position OF colonel ana
brigadier general he'd by Col. Harries.
opinion varies. One Of the men most in
terested III this controversy is Col. Har-
ries himself. He made statement yes
terday in which he said that in accepting
the coione5cy Of the First Volunteer Reg
imeRt to go TO the front. he did not re-
sign his commission as brigadier general
OF the National Guard. He maintains
that lie is still brigadier general and
commanding officer OF the District Ma
tionaI Guard. and has been such ever
since he accepted the colonelCy.
As to the legal question of one man
holding TWO military positions. which has
arisen as a part OF the controversy, Col.
Harries cited several precedents claim
ing them TO sustain his position One of
these was the case of Gen. Bills, of Ne
braska. At The commencement Of hostil-
ities Bills was brigadier general. in COM
nland Of the Nebraska National Guard.
When the Second Nebraska Regiment OF
Volunteers was raised for service Bills
sought and secured the ccIOnelcy Of the
regiment, and served as such until the
command was furloughed, preparatory
70 being mustered out. when ne med
the position and duties of brigadfer gen
eraI and commanding officer Of the
Guard which he still holds.
Another case cited was that of regu-
lar army officer. He is regimental quar-
rersnaster in the regular service and at
the same time is serving as major or
lieutenant colonel OF a volunteer regi-
ment, performing the duties of both Of
-fu-r r,fTig af11 in
capacities
Col Harries also called attention TO
the fact that number OF the volun-
teer regiments which We're in the war
had rs majors and colonies men who held
the rank Of lieutenant or captain in the
regular army, and that when these or
ganizstions were mustered out the Of
ficers were ordered by Adjt Gen. Corbin
70 resume their ranks and stations with
the regular regiments
He Did Not Resign.
Col. Harries said further, that he had
never resigned his commission as brisa-
der general Of the National Guard, and
that while he was away with the volun-
teer regiment as colonel the conditions
presented were exactly similar to those
which would have existed had he gone TO
Buffalo on business or Peoria for pleas
ure In either case the next highest Off
Ger of the Guard would have assumed
command during his absence on leave, as
was the case while ne was away with
the Eol olun1eers.
An officer of the National Guard at
headquarters pointed to a precedent of
very recent date-the appointment by the
President OF Capt Theodore Mosher, of
the regular army, to be lieutenant colonel
OF the First District of Columbia Volun-
teer Regiment until that body is mus
tered out two months hence
At any rate, precedent or no precedent,
Col Harries, OF the volunteers, is per-
forming the duties of Brig. Gen Harries
OF the National Guard. His latest and
most important act was to nominate Of
ficers 10 ill original vacancies in the Dis
trict Naval Reserve Battalion, as fol-
lows:
Robert p. Haines commander; ]. S.
M-Crath. lieutenant commander; Joseph
S. Van Fleet, lieutenant; A Z. Smith.
chief engineer; Sidney Bieber, paymas ter;
Granville Lewis, Jr-, lieutenant. Junior
grade, Robert T. Bradley, ensign; l..
Claude Coyell. ensign, and Charles Ru-
gers ensign.
The.e nominations have bean sent to the
Secretary Of the Navy, and it was stated
yesterday afternoon that they would be
confirmed and the appointments made as
recommended, thus giving official recog-
milton 70 the claims of Col. Harries as
brigadier general Of the District National
Guard
The Lieber Decision.
Those who are opposing the claims OF
Col Harries have produced a decision OF
Judge Advocate General Lieber in which
It is held that no officer can hold two
Presidential commissions at the same
time. and 1hat all officers who enter the
volunteer army leave vacancies in the
militia bodies with which they had been
connected What effect this decision viii
have upon the interesting situation cannot
be foret0id.
Among the other officers of the First
District Volunteer Regiment who will re-
sumo their former ranks and du les with
the National Guard are Major Richard A.
O'Brien and Major NJ Emmett UrelI.
When they entered the volunteer service
with the above rank. the former was lieu
tenant colonel OF the Second Regiment.
District National Guard waile Major
Uren was colonel commanding the Second
Regiment
Future of the Guard.
During the next six months it is pro-
posed to put the District Guard organiza-
tion in splendid shape With that in
view. recruiting viii be encouraged, but
the recruits must be physically sound.
When the volunteer regiment was organ
lied at the outbreak Of the war. many
members Of the militia sought entrance
into its ranks, but a large majority of
these were found. upon medical examina-
ton, TO be physically unsound. To OBJ
Viate this condition in the future, a gen.
eral order has been issued that all ap-
plicants for enlistment in the National
Guard shall hereafter be subjected to a