New-York tribune., 1900-03-04
CONNECTICUT INTERESTS.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING
THE STATE NATIONAL GUARD.
ARREST OF ONE OF THE BANKING sPENCERs
BURDENsoME TAXATION FOR HART
FORD SCHOOLS.


Hartford. March 8 (SpeciaD.-The condition
of the Connecticut National Guard and it's pros
poets for the future freely discussed in the
report of Adjutant-General Louis H Van Keu-
rem, which has Just been presented to Governor
Lounsbury. The Acknowledgement finds that in
the Guards recovery from the effects of the
Spanish war which disorganized it to a great
extent, it has not yet reached the desired con-
dtion, but thai, all things considered much
good work has been done. The equipment of the
brigade is in excellent shape having been prac-
tically renewed, and the camp ground at Nj
antic has been completely rebuilt along sanitary
lines, with never failing supply of water from
artesian wells The health of the during
the encampment was excellent. He recommends
that there be general reformation in the ap-
pointment of staff officers from the highest to
the lowest. the staff being topheavy in all or
Eanizations, and selected with care as TO
fitness or military experience. He would reduce
the number Of officers materially, and appoint
one on the staff of brigadier colonel who
has not had experience either in the United
States Army or held commission in the Ma
tional Guard.
The most important recommendation is that
which concerns the complete reorganization of
the Guard. The Adjutant- General points out
that the Spanish proved that men will not
enlist IL the National Guard. and thereby COM
nit themselves 10 he suddenly called to serve
years in the United States forces in case
of but that they viii be reasonably sure
10 enlist in a regiment which calls for State
service only. In other words, he cannot con-
slider the National Guard of the State as in anv
way an auxiliary the United States Army
when called on for two years voluntary service
General Van Keuren points out that whenever
Congress clearly outlines its plan for National
Guard reorganization Connecticut can properly
bring into existence the commission authorized
by the last General Assembly for the reorgan-
ization Of the State military force and he sug-
gests that there should be but two regiments re-
cruited, instead Of four now. the basis being
ore battalion for each Congress district the or
ganzation being present and the service
10 be FOR the State only. One additional regi-
n.ent should be recruited for service anywhere
under the call OF the President through the
Governor, the officers to be appointed by the
Governor or by the War Department at Wash
tngton. The adoption of this policy, in General
Van Keurens opinion. would provide splendid
reserve force for the country, which would prove
exceedingly valuable a second line the
Regular Army.
The dsbandment Of Battery A at Guilford is
recommended, mainly because of the unfortu-
nate location OF the force and, secondariIy be-
cause of the antiquated armament with which it
is supplied, the United States having as yet
recommended to the States a suitable modern
for light artillery.
HARTFORD COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
The Indebtedness of Hartford County. some
100000. and the necessity for further additions
10 the County Temporary Home and to the
courthouse have made it necessary for the rep
resentatives Of the county in the Legislature to
call q meeting for the purpose OF considering
the advisabiity of laying special county tax.
receipts county which are from he
jail. for liquor licenses and some incidental
sources. are not adequate to provide for the
maintenance of its institutions and now that the
Good Roads law puts some OF the expense Of
highways upon the county there is still further
need Of added income.
TROUBLE FOR A "sAPHO' COMPANY.
"Sapho" has had an experience in the State
company from New-York came up 20
NewHaven to present the play. and
interdicted by the authorities. Waterbury
and Danbury each prohibited the play, and the
company left the State. In this city a news
boy was arrested for selling the book upon the
street and was fined s. and costs. The morals
Of the book, however, cut figure in the latter
case, as the arrest made solely because
the newsboy had no license to vend literature
upon the streets.
ROBERT E. SPENCER ARRESTED.
The Spencer banking troubles in Thompson
Vile nave resulted in getting the junior part
ner Of the banking firm, Robert +. Spencer into
jail. He has been arrested for forgery, the
charge having been made by Mrs. Ann Lawton.
Of Enfield, who charges that the banker forged
her name TO an order on a handbook for 81 500
In default Of bonds Spencer went TO tail to
await trial before the March term. which opens
In the Superior Court Tuesday. Excitement
runs high in the locality where the banking firm
was situated, and bits Of rope with acrimonious
letters have been sent to Spencer by angry de-
PosltOrS. Spencer appears to be Indifferent and
says that when a man is down his friends seem
n desert him, referring TO IBIS all day search
for bondsman.
DANGER TO THE BIG HOLYOKE DAM
The Holyoke Water Power Company, which
is Hartford corporation, has further extensive
plans for the completion of the work upon the
new masonry dam it has thrown across the Con-
nectcut River At Holyoke The new dam is
twenty feet below the famous old log DAM and
the plan of the engineers was to allow the old
cam to remain, the water from the overflow to
M up the space between the two dams,
Ihus now over the apron OF the dam. The
II" tnis winter which is the first season the
lauh mas Deen used, has shown that the plan
mas not in all ways worked as expected. The
iofce OF the water from the old dam has had the
erect or digging into the soft bottom Of the
river oed, although the current directed
as 10 strlke the new dam and spray upward
before II reached the river bottom The conse-
9uence is that il will he necessary fill in back
OF the new dam with rubblestone and with rail-
read iron TO prevent the impact of the water
from undermining the foundations OF the new
dam Not that there is any actual danger for
many years, perhaps. but the precaution seemed
70 De wise 10 the management. There will also
De some changes in the canals which will allow
the freer flow of water for power from one to
ahclher. The mills at Holyoke all lease their
power from the company.