The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-26
A NEW DEAL IN OFFICERS.
STATE MILITARY TO HOLD 4 GEN
ERAL ELECTION SHORTLY.

If Successful They VIII BE COM
Inissioncd for Five Years-Ohicers
Reelected to the Positions They
Now Hold VIII Not BE Required to
stand observation-disclosures
Officers May Drop Out-Veterans to
he Allowed to Participate in EIec-
tions-A state Military Code TO BE
Issued.
All Of the commissioned officers of the
state volunteer forces are TO stand for re-
election at some date to be named In the
early future by the advisory board. This
is one of the decisions reached by the
board at its recent meeting. as the result
Of the recommendations of Inspector Cen
eral Obear.
Mai. Beirne Gordon, of the First Caval-
ny, who is a member Of the advisory BOARD,
when asked about the matter yesterday,
said: "Col Obear, ia his report to the
board, stated that he found the service
much hampered by officers who had lost
interest in their work or were incompetent.
The resolution adopted by the board is an
Innovation but it is believed that 1t will
have a good effect The date for this gen
erai election of officers will probably be
fixed for Jan. l. All officers who desire to
do so, will have the opportunity Of stand
ing for reelection, and it will then rest
with their commands as to whether they
shall be retained in their positions. This
will afford an opportunity to officers who
desire to retire from the service to do so
gracefully. 1t is not likely that many Off
,r,br. ctr will he
defeated. My observation is that an Off
Ger who does his duty can count upon the
support of his men, whether he is person
ally popular with them or not"
viii the officers who are thus elected
have to stand for re-eXamination?' MAJ
Gordon was asked.
NO" he replied, mot where they are
reelected to the positions which they for
merry held. Where a captain retires ana
a lieutenant is promoted, or in case OF
any change in grade the officer will have
to stand the examination for the new
grade TO which he is elected. Where he
is reelected to the same grade no eX-
animation will be required. The military
retiring board which was also provided
for by the advisory board, is expected to
attend 10 the cases of incompetent of1-
GERS"
officers who are elected at the general
election referred to will be commissioned
time VIII have to stand again for re-elec-
ton unless they choose to retire. 1t is
hoped in this way TO correct the tendency
to dry rot among the military orSaniza-
tons.
Maj Gordon called attention to the fact
that a the forthcoming election sateran
members Of the organizations will have
a voice in the choice of officers, a reso-
luton having been adopted by the advls-
DRY board to the effect that it is the spirit,
if not the letter, of the law that compa-
MES shall have no active members except
commissioned officers, enlisted men and
veteran members, who have served their
fun time, as provided by law in section
!, paragraph 1900 of the military law of
the state.
Maj Gordons idea is that veteran mem
bers are entitled to participate in matters
of such importance to the companies
as the selection of officers, whether they
are enlisted men or not.
This view may appear strange TO
some, said Maj. Gordon, but it seems to
me that veteran member, who has
served the fun term of years required,
and may be presumed to have the interests
of the company at heart is more entitled
to participate in its deliberations than a
newly enlisted man, whose connection
with the company may be only Temporal
ry."
Some of the local commands have a re-
serve enlisted corps, which was provided
for by the advisory board several years,
which includes most of their veteran mem
bers. These of course, are entitled to par
ticipate in elections and other delibera-
tons.
Among other matters of interest to the
local military the board decided to create
the position of company quartermaster
sergeant. Heretofore companies have not
been permitted to have quartermaster SER
geants under the state regulations. Some
of the companies had such an officer, but
when Lieut.. Satterlee made his inspection
of the state troops several years ago, he
promptly notified these companies that no
such position as company quartermaster
sergeant was provided for under the state
! regulations, and that these officers would
have TO be done away with. Companies
were allowed to detail men to act as quar-
termaster sergeants when necessary.
Those men who served in the recent af-
fair with Spain found the company quar-
termaster sergeant 10 be a very import
| ant parsonage, and the decision of the
board TO create this office will very likely
meet with general approval.
Another satisfactory step taken by the
| board is the decision to issue an up-to-
date military code, compete in every de
tail, in pocket form, for use by the
troops. 1t is considered desirable that the
troops, and more particularly the officers,
should be made familiar with the military
law of the srate and especially that per-
taining to riot duty. BY famliarizing
| themselves with the code the officers will
be relieved of any uncertainty as 90 the
extent of their authority and duties when
called out for riot duty. Several matters
determined upon by the board will have
to be passed upon by the legislature in
order 20 make them effective Among chs
number is that of reducing the number of
infantry regiments from six to five and
also the change in the law a = a the plpp-
| ton of officers A very important feature
of the work outlined is the question of
the appropriation to be obtained from the
next legislature. With an appropriation
of $4,000 which II is hoped to obtain, the
plans for reorganizing and thoroughly
equpping and uniformins the state troops
can easily be carried out
Lieut.. Col. Brooks of the First Regi-
ment and Lieut.. Col. William Garrard of
the First Battalion who were seen yester-
day in reference TO the several changes.
decided upon by the advisory board, said