The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-02
WASN'T Welded TO THE BILL.
GOVERNOR NOT SURE THAT COM
MISSIONS SHOULD EXPIRE.


II In Not an Altogether Wise Meas
ure-BeIicved. However, That 9th
err Things in the Bill Are Desirable
and Signed II for That Reason.
Companies Need Not Elect If They
Prefer 10 Make No Changes-MOney
for the Troops Expected To-day.
Gov. Cand' err was in the city yesterday.
He came down from Atlanta with parry
10 attend the Alston-duBignon wedding.
Those with him were Senator Clay. Hon.
Clark Howell, and E. T. Brown. ESQ., at
torney for the Western and Atlantic Rail
way.
The Governor made a short stay. arriv-
ing in the morning and leaving at night.
serao or Clay viii so on from Atlanta to-
day to Washington. The parly's stay in
Savannah was very pleasant if brief sew
eral little arrangements for their enter
lainment resulting quite happily One OF
these was drive TO the Yacht Club in the
afternoon, which, however, the Governor
did not take. having been up the night
before and being in need of rest
A visit from The Governor is always OF
interest to his friends in Savannah. This
was the second he has made since his in
auguration, The first having been during
the reunion of Confederate Veterans. on
that occasion he met many Savannahians,
some of whom welcomed him on his sec
ond visit and wished him the best OF
health and fortune for the New Year.
The party was entertained at the De
Soto, where Gov. Gambler was seen by
81 he N-ar 70 he
purpose of gaining some expression from
him about the Georgia military, recent de-
velopments having made its status rather
hazy.
Many of the officers in Savannah do
not think much of your bill prescribing
limit for commissions" il was remarked
to the Governor He met the statement
unfiinchingly, and seemed rather glad of
the opportunity for an explanation.
Why don't think much CT il mys -
he said, land it is not my bill. Itswas
Col. Cbear's bill. He talked the matter
over with me some months ago and gave
some pretty good reasons why period
should be placed upon he tenure of Office.
saw that there was merit in what he had
10, say about il. Then the Military Advs-
DRY Board recommended to me that com
missions should be issued 10 cover some
defined period Two or three military bis
were drawn and presented to the Legisla-
ture. All the provisions We're not wise. /
had opportunity later to see that the pro-
posed measure relative TO the commissions
was not altogether 50, but the b is pavsed
] did not approve them bel ewing there
were features that would not help the mil
itary.''
This left some little wonder as to why
he had signed the bills instead of vetoing
them. The Governor said, however, 1t
was due to his recognition of the redeem
ing features of the measures They out
weigh the objection of the period being
placed upon commissions, in his opinion.
and 10 secure their operation he had to APP
prove the bills in toto.
The Governor did not know just what
will come up for consultation when the
colonies meet him in Atlanta day after TO-
morrow He said there win be something
about the method Of having the COM
missions expire. as those OF field officers
will continue in all probability. for three
years after Feb /. There win be other
questions connected with the reorganiza-
ton of the state forces. Several import
ant provisions were contained in the bills
that passed, and they will be thoroughly
discussed by the Governor and the coionels
before being put into practical operation.
II Is quite clear according to military
men, that the legislation recently entered
into regarding the military is too alb
struse, complicated and ineffective, in
many of its features for the good of the
service. Before the next Legislature
meets, the Governor said ii will be wise
for the officers to get together and talk
over the situation with the view to having
one bill drawn that will cover all the re-
quirements in better shape than the last
military bills and leave out Objectionable
features Col A. r. I.awton Of the First
Regiment, the Governor said, or some
other capable officer could easily see that
such bill were drawn.
This may readily be construed as the
Governors admission that he is by no
means satisfied with the laws for the gov
ernance of the military as they stand at
present. He is as anxious as other officers
TO ste hem changed for the better He is
doubtful If the new measures will work
smoothly or conduce to the welfare of the
org an cations
All lire Office S, the Governor says, must
he reelected by their companies on Feb.
/. The language OF the act is mandatory,
leaving no choice OF dates The elections
must be held on The first or not at ell
ut the Goyernor here raised a point that
had not before been suggested, and thai
was that the present officers of companies
viii rstain their commissions for three
yelrs II there should be no election on
Feb. l.
.'Of course" The Governor said. "elec-
fions in companies win have TO be man
aged by a Justice of the peace and TWO
freeholdefS That is the Jaw that must
prevail If it is inlpracticable to have other
officers to superintend. If the commits
sions of all officers may be considered as
exrdring on that day there VIII be no Of
ficers to manage elections But Il will
remain with company as TO whether II
wants an election. IT is my opnion that
failure to hold an election vii. not inca
pacitate company officers holding their
positions for another three years. Even
az elections are held and new officers are
elected. the tenure of the commissions of
the present officers does not expire until
their successors have been regularly in
stalled in their places"
From all this 1t may he seen that it is
by no means clear just what is contem-
plated by the bill. In the opinion of most
officers, in addition 10 the fau,i in the
thing sought by The bin, there is the just
as serious error of faulty preparation Of
the bill seeking o make 1t law.
Gov. Gambler IS devoted to the military
of the stote and convinced that II is the
greatest safeguard against riots and dis