The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-31
,nly vacation they could have during

only vacation they could have during
the year
Then. again. the companies them
selves We're very small each one hav-
ing less than half the number called
for to form similar bodies In the ". >.
Army durfng the late war, with Spain.
IL was i'm view OF these facts that.
early In the winter of 1898 the mill
tary authorities of the state made pre-
paration to respond TO the call OF the
president. whenever II should come
not by endeavoring to turn its anti
auated system. as u whole, over 10 the
government but by voluntary enlist
ment, trusting that 81 sufficient num-
ber OF the militia who We're so situated
that they could enter the United States
service. would do so. This hope was
partially realized i'm the formation or
the First Rhode Island u. s. Volur-
teer Infantry. although II must be ad-
mtted not so generally as had been
anticipated. Late in the January ses-
sion OF the legisleture. after war had
been declared, a bill for the reorganizr-
ton of the militia was introduced.
which, after severai public hearings by
both the senate and house committees
sitting together. was unanimously rec
commended for passage mt the May ses-
sion. in Newport The bill. however.
was laid on the table. ana confess at
that time. 20 some disappointment that
il did not become n law. Since then.
events have followed one another 30
rapidly that IL seems wiser 70 wait un-
I'll congress mas acted. not only upon
the measure 90 increase the army, bur
for such national legislation ns VIII
bring the militia Of all the states into
closer touch with the war department
itself.
The officers and men OF our militia
now serving under the flag are carried
ON our rolls az absent with leave-their
places being filled by provisional ON
GERS and temporary enlisted men. 10
give way To their somrades when thew
shall be- mustered out of the service
OF the United states. In this way our
own militia is intact. although lacking
I'm many cases uniforms and equipment
trust your honorable body will allow
us 10 dispense with the annual brigade
encampment this year. and devote the
sum Of money which would be required
for this purpose. 10 supply our troops
with what they actually need.
MEDALS FOR II. l. VOLUNTEERS.
At the November session of the legis-
lature. 1898 a resolution was adopted
providing that each officer soldier.
sailor. or marine. from Rhode Island.
who served i'm the late war with Spain,
and who has received or shall here
after receive. an honorable d srharge,
shall receive a bronze medal to he pre-
sented To him i'm behalf Of the state.
| respectfully recommend that the
| governor be authorized TO present a
| similar medal To each OF the volunteer
nurses from this state who served i'm
! the camps or hospitals during the war
| with Spain.
OBITUARY.
1t is my painful duty 10 announce the
\ of Dr \
! ative from the town of Warwick and
| member of the state board OF chart
| ties and corrections. DIR. Hanaford
| died al his home i'm Apponaug on the
| fifth day OF December. 1898. His fune-
! raj was solemnized from st. Barnabas
! church. Apponaug. Friday, December
| 9th. and | appointed Hon. William q.
| Rocker. Hon. John Warner. and Hon.
! Henry T. Eldredge on the part of the
/ senate: the honorable speaker appoint
| ed Messrs. Henry u. Hcydon, Randall
| A. Harrington. Charles T.. Chagnon.
| Charles G.. Gray and Edward Thayer
| on the part of the house. to represent
| the General Assembly at his obseouies.
BY the death OF DR.. Hanaford the
| state has lost a trusted and intelligent
| councillor. and his neighbors and towns
| people a devoted friend.
! CONCLUSION.
|
To act as executive of the state I have
endeavored to become thoroughly fam
! iiar with the adm 'nstration of its af-
fairs. If in any way / could have sug-
gested more economical methods of ad-
! mnistering those affairs. | should have
considered IL my duty to have sub
mitted such suggestions To you.
I fail to find however. any apparent
| waste of the public funds.
The different state boards constituted
! by law. the members of which serve
without compensation. are jealous in
their efforts To render 10 the state value
received for every dollar thev expend.
The salaries paid to the state officers
are. as a rule, less than amounts pa q
for similar Intelligence and labor i'm
business or professional life.
Notwithstanding these facts the ex-
pendtures of the state have steadily
in"~eased during the lest ten years.
The tendency Of modern civilization
seems TO he directly opposed to the
practice OF economy. The vast accu-
mutations OF wealth which have been
made within the past quarter OF CEN
tury have begotten. as natural re-
suit most lavish expenditures. Indi-
rect,v this condition has bad its effect
not only upon society and bus ness. but
upcn the BODY polite as whole.
The subdivision of the administrator
of public afrairs by creating divided
responsibility has not tended toward
q more economical administration OF
| those affairs.
II has been suggested by the exeHu'
tive OF one of the large western state
end submitted for the consideration ~
the legislature that there be craaf"d
q central board of control or al ne
institutions Of the state and that ms
system of separate boards now IN NoS'if
be abolished as a step in the direction
| of economv."
" is useless for me 70 say that II
NV opinion such form OF centrallZa'
tion or concentration ~ Administrative
power would be absolutely abhorent ',
| the tradition of this state. Ava SUI
the question Us unanswered. "Whet v
economy I'm public anairs-wn"re
we make the first application Th'
answer Is not NJ hand. but " seems u
me that we would approach the des'r'
end i'm some measure VI we eXerc Sc
the greatest care I'm the APPROXIMATION
OF money--uot penny wise and nonn,,
foolish policy. but advocating only suc'
measures recurring the expenditure
I public money as viii connenu 'nen