The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-03-04
FATAL SIXTY
Enemies Of the State Military
Board Seek to Abolish
It Or Retire, Not
Chloroform, Aged
Members.

Special to "Tbe Jersey city News.'D
TRENTON. March 4, 1905. IF GER
tain runlors materialize. the coming
weeks session of the Legislature will see
the Introduction Of a bill, probably in
the Senate either to abolish the State
Military Board or to retire the members
from active duty at the age of 60, the
same as officers in the regular army Of
the United States. Such action, if taken,
viii simply be means of resenting the
action of the State board in naming the
First Regiment to go to the Inauguration
ceremonies in Washington to-day, and,
when those orders were made nugatory,
not sending "a provisional regiment from
different sections in accord with the de-
sires of the Legislature.
Members Of the Senate are very angry
that, none except a few troops were or
dered to Washington, aud they think the
excuse given by the State Military Board
that there was not enough time since
Wednesday, or Tuesday, evening to get
twelve infantry companies from all parts
Of the State together. was not made in
good faith. and is not to be regarded as
valid
If the statement be true it is interpre-
ted by the antagonistic Senators to mean
that the board is not competent The
Senators who think the State Board
could have raised the provisional regi-
ment, believe that orders could have been
given by telegraph and all the arrange
ments made in plenty of time to have
troops start to-day for the national cap
itoI.
While they do not compare the situa-
ton to one where riots, for instance,
should bring osat tie military forces, they
find great dealo similarity. In case
of riot, troops could be ordered out, and
under tie law would have to obey. In
this case, no troops couIdsbe ordered out
side the State without the consent of
every individual soldier who might 60
That it would not be possible to get
the consent of the greater proportion of
49, 4.,.si,,o oa,,,,s,,7,s. =, +bo S.ta+ns III =.
Senators will not admit. With this as
a justification, they feel that their SEN
timents, as Representatives of the people
of the State, should call for the admins
tration of rebuke to the military
board
The form of rebuke is the matter
which the opponents of the military
board are considering. Some of them are
in favor Of absolutely abolishing the
board as an unnecessary and cumber-
some part of the State military authori-
ties. This course is regarded by others
as too radical, and the alternative has
been suggested that the age limit be es-
tablished, This is the course more likely
to be followed, if either is taken. It
will reach the present members of the
military board, and, it is calculated, will
be looked on by their successors as a les
son.
A proposition TO put an age limit into
effect was considered last Wednesday in
the heat Of the debate that followed the
passage of the Senate amendment to the
House BILL 1t was talked over BY some
of the South Jersey Assemblymen and
Senators. and Mr.. Seovel. of Camden,
was asked to put the bill in, hut he adj
vised that further time be taken for
consideration and to see what the mili-
tary board would do toward carrying out
the mandate of the Legislature.