The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-25
To MAKE PLANS
TO HELP TROOPS
AND RECOGNIZED ADOPTION
PROVINCE OF NATIONAL GUARDS
ASSOCIATION CONVENTION.


DriIIS-OiHcers should Receive Pay
for Incidental Expenses-GOVern-
ment VIII he Asked to Grant
Franking Privilege Through Mails
for Official Business of Military
Organizations-CoI. q. a. Gordon
Will Suggest Pay for Sergeant
Majors and ReGimental AdjutnntS.
Several matters of more than usual
Interest to the militia of Georgia Will
be discussed at the coming convention
of the National Guards Association
10 be held at St. Augustane, Fla, be-
ginning to-day. Several of them will
be brought UP either directly by some
of the attendants from Savannah or
through their initiation.
Col. G.. A Gordon. of the First Reg
iment Infantry, who is one of the
states delegates may ask the conven-
ton to recommend that sergeant ma
5ors and regimental adjutants be al
lowed compensa ton, In discussing this
matter he said that it is not only
right but necessary that some arrange
ment OF this sort be made, as the
falls upon these two officers makes
il impossible for them to spare from
their ordinary business affairs the
time necessary to attend to their mill
tary duties. without pecuniary loss
Unless something is done about the
matter. he said, it may be that it will
be impossible to get the right sort
Oh f,fFip n q
regiment
1t is understood that another resolu-
ton may be brought to the attention
of the convention by Col. P. w. Mel
drim. in charge of the First Regiment
of Cavalry, and that its object will
be to have the government furnish
mounts for the state members of the
cavalry branch of the service.
Pay for Attending Drills.
From the officers who were in Sa-
Vannah Saturday night 1t was learned
that even greater fav9rs will be asked
of the government. One resolution
may be introduced suggesting that en-
listed men be paid for attendance at
the twenty-four drills that are re-
quired each year by the provisions of
the Dick bill, and that certain of the
officers of the troops shall be paid 1t
least @0O year 10 cover liCluGllLdl Ca
penses, such as uniforms and other
parts of the necessary equipment.
1t will further be urged that i'm con-
Quoting the official business of the regi-
ment the proper authorities be granted
q ranking privilege in the use of the
mails This will be a large saving TO
the troops for to carry on the neces-
sary correspondence at the present
time, and under existing conditions,
means the expenditure annually OF
large sum for postage alone.
According to the present understand
ing of some of the delegates the con-
vention will also be asked to recon-
mend to the national Congress that a
definite sum be appropriated to defray
the expenses of the camp of instruction
that is to be held this summer. The
present plan is to hold this camp in
some central Atlantic state and gather
there for ten days or may be two weeks
possibly between 100000 and3O0OO vol
unteer troops. and $1,000 to 10000 regu-
lars.
No camp so large as this has ever
before been made under the proposed
conditions, but other encampments
which have been paid for out of special
appropriations have given those who
favor the new plan a basis on which
to figure the expense of the proposed
camp. so that in asking for the appro-
priation they can ask for a certain sum
that will cover all expenses.
Want Help with Rifle Ranges.
An effort may be made also to have
the convention indorse the suggestion
that the government take an interest in
supplying local rifle ranges for the
troops and that 1t supply blank ann
muntion and riot cartridges to the
military at a normal cost and also
supply a certain amount of ammu-
milton for use in target practice.
Georgia will have a pretty fair repre-
sentaton at the convention, for i'm ad-
dition to the eleven delegates that
have been named by the Officers As
socia ton to represent the state. others
interested in the convention will at
tend. Georgia is now represented on
the Executive Committee of the assoc
. citation by Col. w. G.. Obear, inspector
general. G. S. 7. 1t is expected that
even should the personnel of this COM
mittee be changed that this state will
again have representation on It.
AS has been stated before. the con-
Vention to be held can act only in an
advisory way, discussing the various
suggestions that are made in session
and recommending to the government
such of them as meets it's approval. but
the organization is a strong one and
recommendation from it means a long
step in the way of securing the desired
end.
Commander Colding of the Naval Re-
serves left yesterday for St Augustine,
while Col Gordon and Maj. w. Il.
Coney will go tomorrow morning. 1t
is possible that others of the officers of
the local military will also attend at
least a part of the conventions ses-
eions.
As Guests of Savannah.
Nothing further was done yesterday
relative to entertaining the delegates
and distinguished government officials
whom it is hoped to have stop over
in Savannah at least day on the re-
turn trip. The party of delegates who
remained over Saturday night and left
for st. Augustine in the morning were
pleased with the idea of halt here
after the convention adjourns, and
doubtless will use their influence to
have the stop agreed on.
The Savannahians who attend the
convention will report to the commit
tee appointed by Council the outlook
for the contamination of their plans
TO entertain as many delegates as will
stop over, and when this information
Is received here the committee will
issue a formal invitation, and il this
is accepted will begin the preparation
or plans of entertainment. AS was
stated, the only part of the programme
yet discussed has been a trip around
the harbor and TO Tybee on the pilot
boat Estill, and an oyster roast at