The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-09

Render More Binding Enlistments
in state Service-NO Decision Yet
Regarding Encampments Under
Government Auspices-WOrk on
Marine Hospital Building win
Not Begin Before the Fall.
BY r. M. Larner.
Washington, April S.-The condition
of the militia in the different South
ern States is shown by the prelimin
airy reports made to the War Depart
ment in response to the questions sent
out for the purpose of securing infor-
nation to form a basis for the inspec-
ton or muster of the militia soon to
be made.
Col. Parker of the Adjutant Generals
office, who has charge of the new mi
litia division, has a record of replies
from the Southern States. These show
that the militia in all of the Southern
States is ready for immediate inspec-
ton, or what is the same thing, in
spection upon ten days notice.
The appointment of inspectors is to
be made by the different department
commanders. Most of the Southern
States are in the Department of the
East, and the assignments will, there
fore, be made by Gen. Chaffee.
The records show that in Georgia
there are 10S companies of the state
troops, distributed at forty-eight sta
tions.
In Alabama the total number of sep
arate organizations is not given, but
the Adjutant General states that ac
cording to his idea, the inspection
should begin with the Montgomery
companies, to be followed by the COM
panies at Mobile, and adds that outside
of Mobile and Montgomery there are
thirty other towns in Alabama at
which militia companies are located.
The Adjutant General of Florida
states that there are companies at thir-
teen towns and cities in that state. The
militia is soon to be reorganized I'M
der the new law, and he prefers that
the inspection be made in August.
South Carolina has forty-six COM
panies, stationed at thirty-five differ
ent places.
Tennessee has twenty-five organiza-
tons at twelve places. The new adju-
tant general of that state has written
that he prefers that the inspection of
Tennessee troops be deferred until May
or June, because he has just assumed
office.
Virginia has thirty-five organizations
at twenty-five different stations.
Mississippi has thirty-one companies
at twenty-eight stations.
Louisiana has twenty-five companies
at ten stations.
Texas has sixty-two companies at
forty-seven stations.
The only Southern state from which
there has been no report is Arkansas.
The War Department is doing every
thing it can to strengthen the military
organizations. A recent order issued
from the headquarters of the army, by
command of Lieut.. Gen. Miles, is of
interest in this connection. The order
reads as follows:
"An enlistment in the army does not
operate as discharge from the or
ganized militia or national guard, and
a member of the national guard in this
state who enlists in the regular army
repudiates his engagements in said
state troops and by so doing becomes
and remains liable to such penalties
as may be authorized by the laws of
the state in whose military service he
has been enlisted. Men who present
themselves for enlistment in the army
will be Intercepted as to service in
the national guard, and in the event
that they have served in such state
troops, they will be required to pre-
sent satisfactory evidence that they
have been honorably discharged there
from, or if unable to do so, enlistment
will be refused"
matter of general interest to the
militia in all of the states is the en-
campment to be held this summer. A
number of inquiries have been re-
ceived by the War Department. AS
yet there has been no decision re-
garding the time or place for the en-
campment.
Operation on Capt. GiIIette's Eyes.
Capt. c.. E. Gillette, engineer in
charge of the harbor Improvement at
Savannah and vicinity, has been here
several days, in the hands of a local
oculist. Capt. Gillette has had con-
siderable trouble with his eyes recently,
and an operation was deemed neces-
sary. He called at the War Depart
ment and paid his respects to his col
leagues in the engineer corps, and IN
a general way expressed his satlsfac-
ton with the progress of the river
and harbor work under his supervision.
Lease Is Extended.
The acting Secretary of the Treasury
to-day granted an extension of four
months of the lease on the old post
office building site at Savannah to Mr..
Wimpy. This means that the work
on the new marine hospital will not
commence before next fan. The sup
cruising architect is now engaged on
a rough sketch of the plans for the
new building, in accordance with the
suggestions just submitted by Surgeon
General Wyman. Numerous alterations
and notifications will be necessary be-
fore the working plans and specifica-
tons will be ready for approval and
PRONUNCIATION.
AtIanta's Federal Building.
There is lively row in progress be-
tween Representative Livingston and
Hoke Smith over the selection of a
site for the new federal building at
Atlanta. The site selected is what is
known as the Baptist Church proper
ty. The final decision is held up un-
til Secretary Shaw returns to Wash
ington next Friday.
In the meantime, Hoke Smith has the
impression that the hold up is in some
way due to the interference of Col.
Livingston. Mr. Smith sent a sharp
telegram to the Treasury Department
to-day, inquiring If Col Livingston is
responsible for the delay. Col. Liv-
ingston happened to be in the archi-
tects Office of the treasury when the
dispatch was received. At the instance
of Col. Livingston, Chief Taylor re-
Piled to Mr. Smith in substance:
Representative Livingston is now
in my Office, and he authorizes me to
say that he has not and will not in