The sun., 1899-03-22
ARMORY BILL TO BE AMENDED.
Protest of National Guardsmen Against As
semblyman Brennan,s Measure.

ALBANY. March 21-Gov. Roosevelt to-day
heard protests from officers OF the National
Guard against the Brennan bill. which opens to
societies Of civilians National Guard armories in
case OF events OF State and national Importance.
The bill has passed the Legislature. and was
introduced in the interest OF German singing
societies OF brooklyn. who are unable to secure
hall large enough to accommodate the con-
vention OF the National Saengerfest in June.
There was so much objection to the hfl that
It will be amended in important particulars he.
fore being signed by the Governor.
Those who appeared before the Governor
we're Brig Gen. McCoskry Butt OF the First
Brigade. Brig Gen. George Moore Smith OF
the Fifth Brigade. Col. Daniel Appleton OF the
Seventh Regiment. Col. Samuel VI. Welch. Jr
OF the Sxty-ffth Regiment OF Buffalo. Chair
man Of the Codes Committee OF the National
Guard Association: Capt. David Wilson OF the
Second Battery. Lieut.. Charles J. Setter Of
the Twelfth Regiment OF New York. Capt. E.W
Dayton OF the Twenty second Regiment of
New York. Major George T. Lorigan Col. Will
liam +. Morris and Capt. W. W. Marks OF the
Ninth Regiment OF New York. and Col Edward
DUFFY OF the Sixty ninth Regime e Mt OF New York.
OF Buffalo. who was unable to be present sent
letter of protest.
Practically G all the guaId;smien present spoke
sem mblyman Brenpan OF Brooklyn, its intro
ducer. and .AssembIyman Cotton. The meas-
ure was said by the guardsmen to be loosely
drawn. and to be an opening wedge providing
for an attack on the armories 1t was held
that under the bill the armores. while only to
be used twice in in one ne year could readily be
two permits for six months each. This part of
the measure will be amended to provide that
the use OF an armory can be granted only
twice in a year. and then il must not be so used
for more than fortnight in any one year
The bill will he amended further to provide
that the consent of the Brigader- General Of
the brigade. of which the organization using
the armory is part. must be secured as well
ganization and the Major General command
ing the Guard and OF the Governor.
The section OF the measure giving veteran
organizations rights in the armories providing
which all the guardsmen objected. was ordered
stricken out Of the bill altogether while in the
section. providing that the civilians using the
armories must indemnify the organizations
cided that an amendment should make it nee
essary for the civ villains to provide surety bonds
to be prosecuted il necessary by military
Judge Advocate With these safeguards the
bill will be repaSsed in the Legislature and
signed by the Governor.
AsSemblymGn brennan said he feared that to
recall the bill and amend II at this late day
would perhaps kill it. but the Governor differed
60 through all right. The guartsmen left the
Governor fairly well satisfied with the outcome
Later at TS&'1" GOV. Roosevelt received committee
o. the Br9oklyn German signers, who had
wanted him to sign the bill. As the committee
feared that de lay now might endanger the
chances OF the bills succeeds. Gov. Roosevelt
promised 70 send an emergency message TO the
Legislature to insure the speedy repassage OF