The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-15

4 @<>%@%<~+%%~-e-% bursements. In your reduction of this tax you will be called upon to consider the schools which have been supported out of 1t.
 The Alabama National Guard.
 The Alabama National Guard, as now constituted, consists of three regiments of infantry, one squadron of cavalry of four troops and one battalion of artil- lery The guard is well equipped Cap tain Samuel c. Jones of the United States army was, at my request, detailed to att l tend the late encampment and he has made an interesting report to his superior at Washington. The report Is not fiatter- 1 Ing to the guard. He states the condi- l tions as he found them, and in plain lan- guage He finds that many officers are l plainly deficient in knowledge which 1t would be very easy for them to acquire and the conditions of their arms and equipment he speaks of in flattering lan- guage His criticisms will no doubt be very helpful and the guard be better for | them In spite of the criticisms, how ever, the military arm of this state Is in better condition, old guardsmen tell me, than it ever was before. The rank and file Is composed for the most part of men of good character and the commissioned officers are the most prominent and promising young men in their several | communities
 And 1t has been ready for service for the state whenever called upon. I have had occasion to call out one or more companies several times during the last year and a half, and each time they have responded with remarkable readiness and have In several instances certainly saved the honor and dignity of the state. They
 t1.. .TE. and they may allow their guns and other equipment to get in bad condition, but when they are needed they are on hand | promptly and cheerfuly. I cannot com mend their willingness or their real ef- fectlveness too highly. They deserve con 1 sdera ton at your hands. l may say that 1 we have an unnecessary number of com panies. That is, such number as makes 1t impossible for us to pay transporta- ton and other expenses out of the pres ent encampment fund of S12500 a year. As companies get inefficient I shall cause | them to be mustered out, unless a larger sum for encampment Is provided. Smaller regiments would not materially interfere with the guards efficiency It Is true that we have not d company now which may not be very useful, and other communi- ties are anxious to have their boys mus tered in, which is impossible The annual encampment is a necessity to any effi- oiency at all. We had pest use the pres ent fund to care for fewer companies.
 The adjutant general in his report rec ommends a permanent camp ground for the annual outings of the guard. l doubt the wisdom of such a course. The mem- bers now attend the encampments large ly because of the novelty of the new sur .roundings, and a permanent place, un- less it were very attractive, and in the neighborhood of some large city, would | practically annihiate the regiments.
 There has been some bitterness among some of the officers of the regiments. They are sometimes inclined to demand hearings at the states expense, to the great annoyance of the average citizen. have thought if these officers could not get along on amlcable terms with each other. they ought to resign. Court martials and courts of inquiry are some times necessary, but expensive to the | state.
 The Dispensary.
 | We have dispensaries, controlled by dozen statutes, differing materially. It will occur to you that they each, and those which may follow, should be admin istered under one uniform law
 Protection for the Capitol.
 have caused large water pipes to be run to every floor of this building with | hydrants at convenient places and hose of sufficient lengths to serve, in case of fire. the remotest rooms. The building it. self as old and inconvenient and unlxept as 1t is Is one of our very richest pos sessions Aside from the mere money value I have thought it very right and proper to take every precaution to pro- l tect it from possible destruction. Before these hydrants were placed, water could not be carried to the third floor and the 1 building in case of fire at all beginning l high ,ip was doomed. The improve l ments however, save their own cost. The reduction in the cost of insurance. al- ready arranged for, will be sufficient in two years to fully reimburse the State.
 Capitol Buildings and Grounds.
 The capitol building Is in great need of repairs, as you have noticed. The econ omy practiced on it for the past six years 1 has been savage. The auditors report l will show that in two years there has 1 been spent for repairs and refurnish- lng' S3063.57S This sum would have been adequate, If at the beginning of the year ending September 30, 1900 the building | had been in good or even fair condition. but, unfortunately. the previous admins | tration had touched it with a most spar l ing hand. You will be called upon to make such an appropriation as will re- pair the ravages of several years. A | large part of the most recent charge has | Deen spent III dH thoiN to prevent NhS roof from leaking. It has been recently reprinted and may keep the water out l for another year. The whole building in- side and out. needs paint and there are some changes in the inside construction 1 which ought not to be longer delayed. | Moreover. the house is now too small to accommodate the departments. Those of you who have had experience in leg 1 islatures here or have considerable ac- quaintance with the capital will readily | agree. The others of you will find this | to be true. The two wings of the build- ing facing west should be extended from thirty to fifty feet to the full three stor-