The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-01
CAN WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS.
SAVANNAH COMPANIES WILL NOT
HAVE TO CHANGE.

Attorney General Has Decided That
Those Commands Which Had an
Established Uniform Prior TO Re-
organization, Can Retain Them
Former Officers May BE Sued for
Failing TO Return state Military
Property Equipment Is Badly
Needed.
Atlanta. July 31-lA refusal on the part
of the Savannah companies to discard
their old uniforms for those the state is
now providing, to-day led Inspector Gen.
eral Obear to call upon Attorney General
Terrell to know if all the state troops
could not be made to wear the new uni
forms.
1t seems that several of the Savannah
companies which are among the Oldest
in the state have an established uniform
which they have been using for many
years, and it is not the desire of the
members to cast off the clothing for
which the company paid and to adopt the
new regulation suits.
II is the desire of the adjutant general
to have all the troops of the state SINH
lary uniformed so that there will be no
IRE gularity and he has been working 10
this end since the reorganization of the
militia.
AS the state is now giving clothing to
oil companies, so to have the uniforms
the same the adjutant general thinks
that it should be accepted. After inves-
tigating the matter the attorney general
decided that where a company had an es-
tabished uniform or battalion had an es-
tabished uniform, it could not be COM
PEELED to change unless it so desired. The
company, however must have been or
ganized before the reorganization Of the
state troops.
According TO MIR Terrelrs version of the
affair, which is based on Section l144 of
the political code, the old companies of
the state can retain the uniforms that
they now have despite the protests of
headquarters.
After Missing Property.
The state of Georgia may sue some
former officers of the militia for property
issued to them while in charge of com
panies. There is considerable property
of the state which has not been accounted
for. and which IS scattered among the
many former members of the companies
that have been disbanded. The bonds of
the companies are on file with the inspec-
tor general, and it may be that IL the
property is not forthcoming the bonds
will be brought into use.
The property is of various kinds. Gov.
Gambler was notified of the fact by the in
spector general and had the matter I'M
der advsement. He has not yet taken
any action in the matter, but il is thought
likely that he will order the officers to
be sued in event the property is not re-
turned or properly accounted for.
The militia companies were fully equip
ped before the Spanish-American War,
but then some of the companies were
disorganized, the state property, consist
ing of knapsacks, guns, hats and other
articles furnished, TO some extent was not
returned when the retiring officers made
their reports.
Now the question has arisen as to how
to get the property back and 10 deter
mine just who is responsible for it. The
articles which may not have been re-
turned may be worth several thousand
dollars. Equipment of any kind is very
much needed by the state Just at the pres
emit II is the determination of the in
spector general to get back as much of
the missing property as possible, and
where he cannot do so. TO collect the
amount for what has been lost.