The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-26
TO KEoRGAyIzr TIE GUARD.
Tho Bin introduced in the LeEisiature-sons
Changes Made by Gov. Black.

ALBANY, Feb. o5.-Thc bill for the ~reorgani.
cation of the National Guard was introduced
in both houses Of tho legislature to-day by the
Republican leaders, senator Ellsworth and
AsSomb.yTan Nixon. some changes havo
been made in tho bill by Gov. Black, to whom
It was submitted last month by the Board OF
Officers in his capa ,ity Of Commander-in-Chief.
The. principal change is in respect to the Gov.
ernor's star. The bill originally provided for .
bill comprising an Adjutant-General with the
rank Of Drigadier General; a military secre-
tary, with the rank of Captain. and ten aides.
de-camp, to be detailed by the Commandcr-in.
Chief from commissioned officers below the
rank or toionci In actual service IN th9 Guard,
These were TO have :ho same rank as they held
In the Guard ami were 10 serve with their regi-
ments or companies when not in actual attend
After tho bill had been submitted to Gov.
Black, strong pressure was brought to bear on
lin to retain his stan 40 constituted at present.
Some OF his present staff officers wero loath to
give up. their military hono"s next year in tho
ago Surgeon-G General NJ. 0. Terry, Chief Of ArtiI.
leryHoward C9Toll, andC Chief Of Ordinance Flagler
hand. has, steadtestly, adhered to the original
plan and has repeatedly, declared that from q
Generals and Colonies was one OF the most Inn
portant features OF the reorganization plan.
the whole plan in Allowance for several weeks. :,
The bill as finally presented to-day contains .
compromise On tnls point. IL permits INC SOV~
ernor to give his military secretary any rank up
to that q Colonel; The provision regarding
aides aid s'a are e'I proV v for. These may H be- Chosen
by tue Governor from among civilians. II he de-
s shst Of sn srI ne may a sixs them IN a1 fySis rank Rav " Eo to
Black could retain next year four Of the present
Brigadier-G GENERALS. Their functions, however,
would DO only those Of aides.de,camp in spite Of
their high rank. instead Of the functions Of
heads OF departments.
Under the BIZ. the Adjutent:G eneral, whose
rank is reduced from that Of M~ajor.General to
that Of Brigadier,G General, retains practically
field oifoer. In addition, he is to have charge
Of tho purchase and issue of all arms, ammuni-
ton, uniforms orr S,,i ana 0 Of ,h. SGGp pnie and Is to be
as concerns contracts made by his own depart.
ment, which are TO be audited by the State
The bill also makes a change in the Armory
Board. which now consists Of the Adjutent-
nance. The two latter offices being abolished,
the board is to consist hereafter OF the Major
the Isne Hdi;ut SGt Gonerai. and the n""i Dri sndf Gen. sR
eral in whose the armory under CON-
alteration ~ y = '], nla a fnr in Inrre mas ,i1J been &c n, some mT1
a pro vision that hereafter the LEGISLATURE, in.
stead OF voting separate appropriations for dit;
4 lump sum Cach year. To he expended on n def
mite plan Of arnlory Improvement instead of
prevails now. This feature has hecm left out Of
The bill, but the new ArnIory Board, after 10
takes Office OF Jan. |, will undoubtedly recon-
et~''
IL was also suggested when the bill was frse
drafted that the National Guard should be con-
stitulcd n division under the commend Of the
Major General. The Lill now provides simply
that the Maior-Gcneral shall command the en- 4,
tire Guard Of ;lc STATE. This change was made
TO prevent tho cstabIi hment OF q second divi-
sion hereafter. composed OF new military or
ganizatIons. which would call for a new Major
General and hlinS the Guard TO its present
state of different divisions or brigades, with
commanding officers Of The same grade.
The naval militia, winch Is not u part OF the
National Guard, is 20 remain undor the COM
mand of II cwIhaitl: ti.e no val rank correspond
Ing to the army rank ~ Colonel. Whenever
there are three or more battNliOns. the naval
militia is to be commanded by a Commodore,
corresponding in rank ioa Brigadicr'Gencial.
There are now two hattaliOns.
II is provided that the Major-General must
he an officer in actual service in the guard at
the time ~ hir appointment and TO- seven years
continuously heretofore. and Of tho rank Of at
least Major.
Assistant Adiutaut-ticnernls ranking as Col
oucl and Lleutcnnnt.C Colonel: two inspectors
of tho SAINT grades, one Judge dvoCatC, rank
ing It's Licutunant.t ulonel: two inspectors Of
rife ~IICticr and ordnance officers. ranking as
ionCl and Major; one quarter
commissRry o. su1Ni' cn"e. ranking us .liou-
tenant-toloncl one surgeon, ranking as Colonel;
one engineer, ranking n eutenant-ColOnc
aud ono signal officer and three aides. each
have $4,000 a year. To no Hppurlioncd among
such Of his stan as Ire thinks should he paid
officers.
Any officer of the Guard may he retired Ly
the tou.nnnndcr'in,Chiri upon reaching the age
nj I'll; md any enlisted man who has served
twenty-five years aud Is recommended by his
cuuiinandip.s officer may he retired with tho
rank Of Second Lieutenant by lrcNet.