The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-27
THE RANGER SERVICE.
After June ! the Frontier Battalion viii
Operate on q New Basis
EFFECTIVENESS OF FORCE NOT IMPAIRED
The Change IL for the Purpese OF
Conforming to the I.Aw--AII Pri-
vnte Commissions Revoked.

5 Austin, Texas. May fe.--Attorney Gen
eral Smith having on yesterday renders
an opinion to the eject that priyates 1
the Ranger service have no authority a
such to execute criminal process or max
arrests, reorganization OF the frontle
battalion has been decided upon. as dis
closed by the following general order Is
sued today:
Adjutant Generals ofncs. Austin, Texa'
May 2s.-The conditions existlng compe
under stress OF necessity, a reorgsniza
ton OF the frontier battalion until the de
feet in the law disclosed by opinion fror
the attorney general can be remedisd b
Legislation. Tho reorganization will b
effected on June /. 1900. on the fcllowin
basis, to-wit:
The battalion will hereafter consist
OF six companies. Four OF these COM
panies will each consist OF one cap
tain, one first lieutenant one second
lieutenant and three privates. and the
remaining two OF these companies will
each consist OF one nrst lieutenant.
one second lieutenant and two pri-
Yates. The last two con- lnies named
Will each be commanded by hrst
lieutenant
Each company commander will on
May 81, 1900, honorably discharge one
private. and the reorganization OF tho
battalion will be effected out OF the
remaining force.
The six first ileutenants Will be
commiss oned, provided each OF them
will enter into an agreement with
the governor OF the Stata TO tne ell
feet that he viii serve for compen-
satlon of $50 per month thrst SER
geants paw and the six second iieu-
tenants VIII each be commissioned,
provided he will enter into an agree
ment to serve for $50 per mouth tprl-
Yates pay).
All details for scouting and other
duties that may involve the arrest OF
any one will include at least enc
commissioned officer, and the com
missioned officer only will make the
arrest and execute criminal process
When necessary the commissioned Of
nesr win summons the private OF
privates accompanying him to his as
sstance. The privates Will perform
such other duties as Rangers whleh
do not involve the exercise OF author-
ity as peace officers. a..
The law as construed deprives all
special Rangers OF authority as peace
oihcers. 1t is therefore ordered lnht
all special Rangers are HEREBY non
ornbly discharged from the service or
the State. and each OF them Will re-
turn his warrant OF authority TO THIS
Office. Tho governor is much pleased
with the efficient service heretofore
rendered by the special Rangers ana
regrets the necessity OF this Order
BY command OF the governor
Thomas Scurry,
Adjutant General.
The above was issued In consequence
the following from the attorney general'
General Thos. scurry. Adjutam Generi
Capitol.
Austin Texas. May 25.--Dcar Sir: q
In receipt OF your communication Of u
date which Is as follows
by direction of the governor l ma
the honor to request your opinion as
whether Ghe governor has the legal
thority TO reorganize the Frontier bats
ion. organized under the act Of April
1874. on the following basis, to-wit'
''The battalion to consist OF SIX cor
NAMES. Each four OF these companies
have one captain. one trst lieutenant o
second lieutenant and three privates, a
each OF the two remaining companies
have one first lieutenant, one second lie
tenant and two prlyates, the last y
companies to be commanded by the bI
lieutenant.
and. further, whether or not the 20
ernor can enter into an agreement w
each of the above lieut. snants to serve
less compensation that is prescribed
law aud In the event no enters into su
an agreement will It effect their authori
as commissioned officers OF said battall
under the lew?'
Considering the large discretion that
given 10 the governor by the terms o. I
act of April 10, 1874, in organizinb, rec
ranizing, dlsbandins and reassembling :
Frontier battalion, and. In adstlon. I
power given to the governo~1n connecil
with the adiutant general. 10 make
additional regulations, cot contrary to
laws OF the state which are necessary
carry out the provisions OF the act
think the governor has the legal author
10 reorganize the Frontier battalion on
basis outlined in your letter.
AS TO your second inquiry, while the
fixes the amount OF the pay OF Officers q
men OF this force. beyond which the &C
ernor would not have authority to go, TN
Is no provision OF law that would prev'
his entering into an agreement With
I lieutengnts referred to in your letter
serve for less compensation. Should tn
lieu enants be appointed and agree to
cept the reduced pay they would have
think. no claim for additional pay on
basis fixed by the statute.
These lieutenants, having been appoi
ed and commissioned under the author
of the original act, in the proposed re
ganization OF the battalion, any agreem
made with the governor as to their
would not affect the powers conveyed u
them as commissioned officers by the
vision of section 2s Of the act OF 1874.
Sections % and 81 OF the act In questi
together with settlon 10. ] think, cor
upon the governor sufficient anthol
with regard to the matters covered
your inquiry. Yours very truly,
r. S. Smith. Attorney Genera
CHARTERS FILED.
The following charters we're hied by
, secretary OF state today'
: The Texarkana Lumber company OF 7
F, arkana, Texas; capital stock $4,000.
mi ~ Egrotharef DruQ cOmDany