The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-30
CITYS ACTION PLEASED THEM.
MILITARY GRNTIFIED on GETTING
TIE APPROPRIATION.

Hs evidence OF Its Recognition
and Appreciation of Their Services.
Ala VIII Come to the Commands
When IL Is Much Needed.
Military men generally We're well pleased
Yesterday that the City Council had seen
fit to reconsider the matter of the troops
appropriation. They were all very apple
eiative of the action of the aldermen in
allowing the sum to so into the budget of
expenses for 1899, as it has been for the last
Two years.
IL is a source of qualification also to
officers and men that no political consid-
Grafton seems to have been brought TO
bear to influence the appropriation TO the
military. The original ordinance grant
ing $3.50 per annum TO the military as
sort of police reserve was passed by a
board of aldermen just on the point of re-
firing after their successors had been
elected. There could then have been no
element of politics in their action, as there
was nothing 10 be gained through passing
the ordinance.
Night before last the board might nave
gotten out of having the amount so into
the budget by repeating the original or
dinance. This, however, it did not see fit
to do and only one adverse vote TO the
appropriation was cast. Only about half
of The present Council is desrous Of re-
election, so it cannot be said that the prac-
teal unanimity was due 10 a wish to
strengthen themselves politically by get
ting solid with the volunteers.
The officers who appeared before the
board as a committee were wei pleased
with the consideration they received and
the attention they were given. Their view
of the question became that of the board
and it was readily determined that the
military was entitled to the appropriations
The members of the committee felt graft
fed to know that their Willingness 10 serve
the city at any time occasion may arise
is appreciated and that this appreciation
was shown in a substantial manner.
TIL appropriation win be of great benefit
to the eleven companies of the city among
which it is divided. This gives $3.50 to
EACH and this goes quite a way toward
defraying the expenses that are incurred
during a year. All of the commands stand
in greater need of the money from the city
now than ever before. This is generally
admitted. The partial DISCRIMINATION of
the commands upon their going to war and
through all the months they were away
had the effect that might have been eX-
pected and their finances had reached a
condition where the aid of the city was
needed.
The prospects of some OF the organiza-
tons do not appear to be of the bright
J est There has sprung up a woeful lack
of interest and the enthusiastic military
I men deplore it sadly. 1t is doubtful If the
\ active membership of some of the COM
panies would admit of their turning out
twenty men if all should respond to a
al tn
before the war, would have had no trouble
in turning out fifty men.
The war seems to have had a sort or
demoralizing effect. Many of the men
| have not re-enlisted upon the expiration
OF the year for which they were on the
states roster. Those who went 20 join
the army were discharged from the state
service by an order Of the Governor at
the time. 1t is consequently necessary for
them to re-enlist in order to retain their
| standing as active members. Some OF
these say they have had enough of mill
tary for a while, but the number is not
| many. Most of the members who went
to war will be those still to be seen in
the ranks.
1t is the idea of some of the officers
that not few of the young men of the
city are waiting to see wha1 may be done
by the national legislative bodies in the
their belief that something should be done
along this fine.
Col. A r. Lawton of the First Regiment
says it appeals TO him as the proper thing
| for the government to take some action in
| the matter. He had rather expected that
some bill relative TO it would have been
introduced in Congress ere this. He ap-
preciates the fact that Georgia, under the
action of the present legislature, does
| teers any very. large SUM
| for maintenance, but other states
are more generous in this particular. He
| does not consider that even if the state
troops were subject to the call of the
President for all purposes, it would be al
together the thing for them to gain their
support from the commemorative and yet
be ready for nAtiOnaI use. 1t Is true $780,
! 600. Col. Lawton says, goes TO the state
| troops, but the share of each man figures
out but 81. Georgia gets. ST. 600 of this
! amount to her credit, and the guns and
| equipments issued are charged against It,
In a few days Col Lawton expects
TO go TO Atlanta. While there
he will have a talk with the Governor re-
garding the military of the state, and 1t
is possible something in the way of in
| formation may result. Members of the
| militia would like to be enlightened about
a few points, and it is not unlikely that
| they soon may be. They would like to
! gain some idea as to whether any bill that
might be passed by Congress reorg anizing
the national militia could be operative up
| on them They consider it possible that
! such a bill might be of nature 10 make
them wish they were out of the service
| Nearly all military men agree, however
| that a national organization of the militia
| would be much more effective than the
present system. The troops might be eff
! fective as state guards, as at present, and
| also as national guards in the true sense.
Col. Lawton has no fears for the integ-
rity of the companies in his own COM
mand. He believes they will be success
| full in keeping up their membership. Two
or three OF them already have large ros-
ters.
NEW YEARS AT Y. VI. c. A.