Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-01-29
THE ADJUTANT
GENERAL
Reports the National Guard
to be in Better Condi-
tion Than Ever.
OFFICERS AND men
NUMBER 525
Rolls Of the Civil War Volun-
teers are Becoming Worn
and Should be
Copied

The annual report Of Adjutant Gener-
al Whiteman to Governor Otero, shows
the condition of the National Guard of
New Mexico on December 81 last. It's
composition on that date was COM
panies of infantry, troop of cavalry
and signal corps which with the addi-
ton of the members of the staff, con-
stitutes a total strength of 525 officers
and men. Regret is expressed that the
Gatling gun squad was not reorganiZed
as it's term Of service expired during
the year and it was an excellent organ
ization, well drilled and efficient in ev-
cry respect. In the infantry, Company
C was disbanded during the year on
account of lack Of interest and Com
pany on account of the expiration OF
it's term of service. The term of Troop
e of the cavalry also expired and no
steps have been taken to reorganize 1t.
Three infantry companies were organ
lied during the year, D at Silver City,
H at Socorro, and K at Las Vegas.
General Whiteman says the Guard Is
in better condition than ever before In
every respect. The great drawback
has been the lack of opportunity to get
that training and drill in battalion and
regimental formation, in guard mount
ing and guard duty and other duties in
cumbent upon a soldier which can only
be secured in camp. The passage OF
the militia bill In congress will require
much harder work of both officers and
men in the Guard and they will be in
spected by officers of the regular army.
1t is recommended that the appropria-
ton of $1,000 per year for armory rent
and $500 for contingent expenses be in
creased to the lump sum nfs 1900 and
that the two amounts &c fiaced IN the
same fund. Nor should the places
where armory rent is to be paid be
specified in the act as 1t sometimes
happens that companies named In the
act disband during the year and others
not mentioned are organized so that
rents for such organizations cannot be
paid.
It is recommended that the salary be
increased to $4,000 year as SO much Is
required of the adjutant general. He
is also quartermaster general, commits
sary general, chief of ordnance and
common laborer in packing and un-
v,ono{vyfy10 Qnd ahjn-
ping them. In addition the passage of
the Dick bill adds to the responsibility
of the adjutant general and during the
coming summer he will handle $4,000
of the government money for which he
will have to give bond to the govern
ment in the sum of $4,000. The present
salary is insufficient for the duties re-
quired and will be more so with the
other duties added.
The manouvers at Fort Riley are re-
viewed at some length and their prac-
tical character and the uniform good
results to officers of the Guard and ar
my are commented upon. The officers
of the army extended a constant cour-
tesy to the National Guard officers and
good feeling between the two was
greatly promoted.
The compilation Of a roster of New
Mexico Volunteers of the Spanish-Am-
erican war, for which the last legisla-
ture made an appropriation Of 5000, has
not been made and the amount will be
returned to the treasury. The war de-
partment refused the military records
of Colonels Wood and Roosevelt on the
ground that the regiment was not a
territorial organization and 1t Is
against the rules of the department tc
furnish state or territorial officers In
formation concerning national volun-
teers. The commanders of the troops
of the regiment raised in New Mexico
offered to assist and prepare rolls. but
not one was received. From lack OF
data, the roster has not been made.
| The New Mexico Military Institute
located at Roswell, is highly praised. II
was inspected on March 16. and every.
thing pertaining to it was found in good
condition. General Whiteman says
that at each inspection of the institu'
tion he has found conditions improved
over those of the previous year. The
great need of the institute is more room
and there should be an additiona
building. So many county cadets art
maintained at actual cost that unit
Recommendations are increased the in
stitute will not be self supporting. 1t II
earnestly urged that the law be amen
ded SO as to permit territorial and
county cadets to remain for the full
term of four years. The law as it nov
stands, authorizing the governor AM
each member Of the legislature to ap
point a cadet. will in its operation turl
out many Of the cadets at the end Of |
two years. course.
Many Of the muster rolls of Nev
Mexico Volunteers in the Civil war ar
becoming 30 worn az to no longer bea
handling and they should be copied Il
q book 30 that the originals can be file'
Iaway and not used. There have beel
iseveral instances in which the srantinl
tof pensions depended upon yerjdcatiol