The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-14
ADJUTANr GENERAL TO RESIGN.
Gen. Phil byrd VIII Remove Z,
south America

Gen. Phil byrd VIII Remove 20
south Amcricn.
Gen. Phil G. Byrd. adjutant general OF
the state troops. will resign his once and
commission. Il Is announced from Allan
Ia within the next six weeks and will r.
move 20 South America. where he has
agricultural Interests that demand his at
tention.
IL is stated that Gen. Byrd has been
commissioned for the fun term OF three
years. version OF his appointment es-
sentially different from the story nrst
sent out from Atlanta. when Il was said
that he was 20 hold ofiice only until the
end OF Gov. Gamblers present term.
which expires on oct. a.
With the resignation OF Gen. Byrd. with
which his ill-heaith viii have much %
DO the Governor viii have 10 face the
problem Of appointing his successor
There are said 60 be three principal can
dldates in the field. Col. William O.
OOear, the present inspector general.
Capt. Goodloe Yancey. and Col. james
w Robertson. No Savannah man has
been mentioned as candidate for the
ONCE, aud even n ono could be induced
70 make On effort 10 secure H. IL Is alto
gether improbable that he would be sue
| cesstul. Plums of this particular sort
are not wont TO fab IN this section OF the
state.
As 10 the appointment OF Inspector
General obear there Is a very considera-
bic difference OF opinion IN savannah
some OF the officers OF the military com
mands located here. seem inclined 20
mink he would be good man for the
place. but there are others who oppose
mis- selection very strenuously They
begin by dishking him personally ana
vino up By believing that his fondness
Tor red tape seems destined go expend it.
sell ia such extensive use OF that article
as VIII tie up the wheels OF military
progress. In plain terms these officers be-
love be viii require OF officers such guam
ules OF unnecessary reports and paper
work az will make commissions absolute
~ disiosteful 20 the sort Of men 10 whom
they ought to be given.
In his report TO the adiutant general
the Inspector general makes some recon-
mendations that viii commend themselves
TO every man In che state. who has the
Weifare OF the troops a heart. whether he
tlkes Col. Ohear or not. Among Other
things ne says
pom several occasions OF active duty.
namely. Andersonvilie. Rome and Mari
eta, u has been my pleasure a. well az
duty 10 accompany tho detachments on
duty ana l take pleasure in bearing tes-
iimony TO the good work performed by
officers and men. 20 their behavior. which
was all that Il should be and to their
earnest. conscientious discharge Of their
duty, which al best Is "a most delicate
one The state has no more patriotic citl-
zen than those who voluntarily assume
the military role for the protection OF
the interests OF others and the enforce
ment Of the laws OF their state In time
OF trouble. Yet I regret 90 record that u
Is known that men have been discharged
from their situations By unpatrlotlc en-
ployers for the specific reason that they
lost a day attending a duty call or the
fact that they were even connected with
the militia. This Is not as Il should BE-.
and II seems that these men who 50 I'M
scihshly serve their state in the military
service should be afforded some protec; ion
la affairs OF this nature.
The personnel and discipline OF the
slate forces is very high but II Is not yet
just what & should and could be. os-
pecialiy as 90 the officers As the officer
makes or mars his command by his IN
struction and example he should be most
carefully selected and thoroughly tested
for the duties and responsibilities which
Is already contemplated by law and 90 a
certain extent Is carried out in reguia-
lions. bus the results are not quite as sat
isfactory as they should be. This Is due
10 "a large extent 20 the limited scope OF
the examination for the line and regi-
mental stan officers. which should be
enlarged 10 embrace oil that this
class % officers should know. n is
often the case that an officer makes
high average In examination. and Ca prnc.
ticc knows little or nothing Of the duties
% his office. particularly Is this rue Of
the regimental stan officers who afc MOI
examined on any subject p aiming 10
their special work. a reasonable cNami-
nation should be provided ard when an
officer ia commission does not show abili-
~ 10 discharge the duties to which he
has been assigned he should be subjected
10 an Interrogation hy the retiring board
provided for IN the acts Of the last gtn-
erai assembly The standard OF efiiCi n
cy must be raised ana the commission in
the state military service should mean
what q is intended to impiy-a soldier and
gentleman"