The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-14
BELIEVE THE BILL HURTFUL.
MILITARY OFFICERS DO NOT LIKE
PLAN OF REELECTION.

Legislature Proposed That Commits
siOns Expire Feb. 1, 19OO-EIe ctiOns
TO FIJI Vacancies Are Then to he
HeId-some Savannah Officers Are
Opposed to the PInn-They Give
Their ReasOns-What Has Been
Urged in support of the Measure.
HardwicI<'s Other Dill increasing
the Appropriation Is Received
with a Great Deal More Favor.
The military officers of Savannah who
have expressed themselves condemn the
bill that passed the House of Representa-
uves day before yesterday, making the
commissions of all officers in the state SER
vice expire Feb. l, 1900. The feature of
the bill that cuts down the pay of officers.
increasing that of the enlisted men, they
do not condemn, but they think that the
Objectionable phases of the plan of re-
electing officers every three years are far
more numerous and weighty than what
might be said in it's support.
AS the bill is understood here, although
no copy of 1t has been received, it pro-
vides that every commissioned officer will
no longer be an officer Feb l. Every
company, every regiment and every other
organization will then have TO hold cleo
tons in order that successors to the Off
GERS whose commissions expire may be
chosen. Every three years the same thing
will occur, as the commissions received
by those who are elected will be for but
three years.
An officer, who is absolutely sure of his
position in his company, so popular is he
with his men as its commanding officer,
said yesterday that he believes a meeting
of the officers in Savannah should be call
ed to raise their voices in protest
against the bill and to secure its defeat
in the Senate, if possible. 1t is his belief
that the measure is inimical to the best
interests of the military, and that it will
result in great harm to 1t.
The strongest feature of the bill that is
urged against it in Savannah is its liabil
ity to promote discussions in companies.
If, for any reason, a member should be-
come provoked with his captain or lieuten-
ant, he might spread his own discomfort
among his comrades and seek to have the
officer defeated, or at all events, opposed
at the next election.
1t is also urged that the bin puts the
officer of a company too much on the plane
OF ward politician, who is always look
ing for possible votes. Cases often arise
where it is impossible for an officer to do
his duty without mourning the displeasure
of a man. If the man displeased is not
of the right Sort he will fail to give the
officer credit for having done his duty,
and will treasure resentment When the
time for reelection comes opposition might
then be shown to an excellent officer, who
had been unfortunate, while really per-
forming his duty, in mourning the dislike
of one or more of the enlisted men.
he tAtI lam
plates the REORGANIZATION of all officers
reelected. If it does, a great hardship
will be imposed upon the officers and the
examining boards. Many officers in the
service have stood examinations but re-
Gently, and it would be particularly I'M
fair to force them to the hard study of
preparation and the work of the examina-
ton.
The measure was recommended by the
military advisory board. All that has
been heard in it's favor is that an officer
may sometimes refuse to stand for re-
election VINO has been in for some years
and is DESTROYS of getting out of the ser
vice. The idea of the advisory board
seemed to be that such cases are not
rare, and that officers sometimes would
welcome such an opportunity to retire
! gracefully the opposition of their COM
mands to their retirement rendering them
unwilling TO give up their places in the
| face of opposition, This, officers here
| urge, is but a sentiment and should not
| be an argument when disadvantages of
| the bill are so marked.
| 1t is also said that men unsuited to the
| position may be got rid of by the meas
ure. That is true, the officer referred to
| said, but ideas as to what officers are suit
ed to the positions are widely divergent
| Some men might go to work against an
officer really admirably equipped and in
! rite eOpnifV against him while others
might look upon one in no respect adapt
! ed TO his position as fully qualified and in
| slst upon his retention.
! The Introduction of the ball was sur
| prise to Savannah officers. Some of them
! had heard that 1t was proposed but Col
| w. G., Obear, inspector general, said some
! days ago al Brunswick that the legislator
1 who fathered it had reconsidered and
would not introduce the bill. Had this
assurance not been given, it is possible
| that a fight against the bill might have
| been made by Savannah officers.
| Mr.. Hardwick of Washington introduced
another bill for which he will be more
! readily thanked by Savannah officers 1t
was his desire TO have the Legislature APP
| propriate $4,000 for the military, but the
! Appropriations Committee cut it to ST., 5Ol.
and he had to be content with that. The
salary of the clerk to the adjutant gem
eral, $1,000, will also come out of that
amount.
The bill provides the money to be distrib-
uted among the companies of the state
| for defraying the expense of armory rent
| and to be expended in organizing and
| equipping. The appropriation will not or
| course admit of an encampment, but the
| troops will be pleased to know that so
] much was done for them and. will hope
that another Legislature viii be more lib
eral.