The age-herald., 1902-05-15
Proposed Retirement of Hobson and Other Naval Officers

bar Captain Hobson from any civil of- flee in that state. and a newspaper there makes the absurd contention that his retlred-pay would be in the nature of "pension." The assumption that Captain. Hobson on the retired list would be s. "pensioner' is too trivial for argumeT A and must be offensive to him.
 But wise men quote the clause of tlE constitution providing that no person ex' cept certain postmasters, holding an of fee of profit under the United States shall hold an office of profit under the state of Alabama, and follow up that organic provision by quoting the entirely contra dlctory but equally fundamental enact ment that each house, the Senate and House of Representatives of the statt Legislature shall be the judge of the qualifications of it's members.
 These two provisions are utterly op- posed, one to the other. Under the one, a postmaster receiving one cent more than two hundred dollars a year could not be a member of the Legislature, say but under the other, United States Sena- tor Pettus could be president of the state Senate and Congressman Wiley speaker of the House of Representatives; or even little boys or citizens of any state could hold those high offices.
 Here we have the logical conclusions of the two constitutional provisions now be- ing so much discussed. Why, therefore, argue the question as to who may be members of the Legislature? The Legis- lature itself is denied the right to deter mine, and also is given that right in perfectly plain words.
 
 As for officers of the army and navy of the United States on the retired lists. it is a perfectly well known and familiar fact that so long as they live they re- main officers of the United States in the pay of the United States, and subject at all times to be ordered to active military duties Such of them as might be con- firmed invalids or enfeebled by age would be excused; but all are subject to orders. We have recently had the most abun- dant proof of this. Admiral Dewey, who was enjoying the retired pay of the high est rank in our navy, was ordered-not requested but in regular form, ordered to act as president of a naval court of inquiry to investigate certain charges against Admiral Schley, also a retired officer; and Admiral Dewey's two asso- ciates on the court were two other ad- mirals, both of whom were on the retired list One would have thought that Dewey of all retired officers would have been spared that prolonged and peculiarly burdensome and unhappy duty; but he was compelled to obey orders just as readily and fully as he obeyed when midshpman four and forty years be- fore.
 Similarly General Sherman, after he had been retired, was ordered to serve on a military board; and going further back, General Winfield Scott was made to undertake to organize the Union army for fighting the south years after the age limit of his retirement. Similar laws of retirement govern the army and the navy of all great nations The immortal Von Moultke conquered France at 70 years of age, or four years after his retirement" Field Marshal Lord Roberts was ordered to the supreme command of the British forces in South Africa at 69, In the fifth year of his retirement. General Count Von Waldersee was dered by the German Emperor to com- mand the troops in China after he had been for three years on the retired list.
 In a threatened emergency, George Washington, greatest of all, was ordered to be ready to command the army of the new Republic after he had been for years out of the army and was past the age of retirement.
 But possibly this pleading Is vain. It's purpose simply is to demonstrate anew in this place the familiar fact that every retired military officer, army or navy, of the United States remains an officer subject to orders. If Governor Jelks him. self were a retired colonel of the army, it would be within the power and lawful authority of the President to order him to report for army duty, and the Cover nor would have to obey.
 LUCIEN JULIEN WALKER.