New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-09
WEBER
PIANOS
Fifth Avenue and Sixteenth St.
GENERALS MEET ~ ALBANI.

TO TALK NOT ABOUT WAR WITH SPAIN hoi
ABOUT NATIONAL GUARD FINANCES.
Albany March (specaD.-Considerable interest
has been manifested in the conference to-day OF
Major-Cieneral Roe and the commanders OF 'he
five .brgades OF the New-YOrk National "ua'i
owing 10 rumors which were recklesfIy cHcuNh'eu
as 10 the reasons for the meeting. certain sn'"s-
papers stated this morning that 1t was calico ne
cause OF a dispatch from President Mckinney 10
Governor Black asking him to have the Guard put
in readiness for action In consideration OF the pos
sibI;i,y OF conflict between the United States anu
Spain. o.
Il have not heard a word from Presioeh' w
Kinley about Spain" said Governor BLACK ana
I think the Disseminate OF any such un'ounoeo
report by newspaper Is pos'tVeF cf'"'''a "
such time ne the present .
- General Roe when asked about the report ss'o
contemptuously: "Bosh stupid bosh! THIS meeting
Of the generals OF the Guard here was called Ten
days ago to consider deficiency In the 'uaru
financial accounts. That Is It's sole purpose
Assistant Ad1utsnt-Genera! Phisterer repheh IN
dIgnantly when asked about the war rumor: IL Is
utter nonsense 70 think that this meeting has any
thing to DO with So far as the department N
officially concerned. II doesn't know that spain eS-
lists The extra appropriation OF $4,000 when the
department seeks Is absolutely necessary TO bal
anca accounts There has been for the last three
wears curtailment of the annual appropriations
allowed by tho Legislature. ard this regular DC
crease with tho needs OF the department continr-
ally increasing. has brought the finances OF the
department o a sorry condition
THE appropriation for the Guard three years a eo
$4,000. and for the Naval Militia $3.50 Inc
fixed allowance to he paid TO the organization was
then increased by $1,000. but the next year there
a decrease OF $500 In the appropriation Tor me
Guard and the Naval Militia. notwithstanding the
II crease in the fixed allowance. still! another de-
crease OF 5000 was made IN the appropriation Tor
the following year. This has been going OH with
such regularity that the Administration has been
compelled 10 pay ont $500 for which there are no
available funds.
The Department. In modelling the guard in
New-York at the time OF the Grant parade, spent
$4,000 exceeding the authorized appropriation by
s2l 200, although the men served without pay. An
other item that has Helped to pile up the deficit IL
the money spent for uniforning the fifteen hundred
mon recently added 70 the Guard For This no pro-
vision made in the annual appropriation. The
apparent overdraf with the appropriation Of three
iutaut-General, by curtailing the expenses Of the
department generally has succeeded In reducing 1t
TO sl25 900"
The Senate Finance CopmIttee and the generals
OF the Guard were considering the deficit all the
afternoon. The generals Insisted that the expenses
Of the attendance Of the Guard at the Grant tomb
nual appropriation After the meeting Major Gen
word uttered relative to the need OF funds
for the Guard In order 10 make It ready for call
from Washington In case ~ hostties with Spain
Adjutant- General Tilinghast equally posi-
tive In his assertions that the Cuban matter was
not referred to