New-York tribune., 1907-10-08
TELL MILITIA'S NEEDS.
GUARD OFFICERS TESTIFY
Some Radical Changes Suggested
to Uainrright Com mission.

The proper length OF the term Of enlistment. the
term Of service for officers. the question Of pay
for the men and the methods by which enlisted
mon might be prevented from leaving their
panies before their terms OF enlistment were up
were some Of the subjects that were discussed at
the meeting Of the Wainwright commission. which
continued its investigation into the New York Ma
ucral Guard at the list Regiment armory yester-
day. Among the new arrivals Colonel William
Cary Sanger. Assistant Secretary of War. who
reached the city late Sunday night.
Major William Ward OF the 9Th Regiment who
was the first witness called. testified that ne
thought the term Of enlistment should be three
years, providing field instruction were given each
season He also thought that the officers should
have an allowance Of from $50 10 $50 from the
state, as the present allowance Of $50 not SUI
hcient TO furnish uniform lie also said that he
thought all line officers should Re appointed
cause the enlisted did know the quail
hcations Of those whom they elected, but selected
them for personal reasons
Almost every witness asked: What Is your
conception Of the purpose OF the state guard"
The answers varied from those who thought that
the principal duty OF the guard act as "a
sort Of police force TO those who thought that
principal function was 20 act a supplement 20
the regular army
Colonel G. r. Dyer. commander OF the 18th Regl-
ment who was the stand for a long time. testi-
fed that he thought the purposes Of the guard
were threefold The first to exercise moral
force I'm the cities, the second 70 act adjunct
10 the United States army and the third 10 serve
as state police force. Major Ward said that the
men themselves liked best the idea that they wcys
a second line OF defence for the regulars.
Colonel Dyer testified that he thought chang"
ought to be made, 10 permit the renting OF
armories, in that way much revenue was for
merly derived lie also opposed the custom in
some city armories of permitting the enlisted men
10 act as armory employees, as In that way some Of
the officers mad chance 10 shirk their duties. He
denied the report that the 18th Regiment was
financed largely by three wealthy men, and said
that many OF the officers In the regiment contrib
uted much 800 a year.
Colonel David F. Austen. of the 18th Heavy Ar
tillery. in his examination said that he thought
that every recruit should be equipped with a new
thing which would make men regular In their at
tendance az drills vas to pay them when they
there He said that the present system fines IN
the delinquency court was fake" because II
man refused to pay n fine and put in jail
for II the newspapers would make such a protest
and so much notoriety would be given to the Incl
dent that no would join the regiment I'm which
II happened. He said that unless the men We're
paid II would be necessary TO hold the elective
system OF choosing officers. but that if they were
paid the officers ought to be appointed. He thought
that the adjutants ought to be paid give their
entire time to the service
captain Robert Parker, Company A. 18th Regi
Inent, thought that pay would help TO keen the
men in the companies until their terms of enlist
lnent had expired. lie said that at any rate the
men ought TO receive reimbursement of their ex-
penses in attending the meets at Creedmoor
Major w. A. Turpin, OF the 18th Coast Artillery
teSuhed as to the term cf enlistment He said: IN
the coast artillery need a term OF five wears
we nave no dithculty in procuring men for that
length OF enlistment Our regiment is practically
fuI now. would deem it advisable to pay men for
attending drills This would tend 10 hold them
As 20 limiting the terms of officers / am heartily
in favor Of t. l find in my experience that the
captain of a company who has served mora tban
hVe or six years is not much of a success"
Walter Burgis, quartermaster sergeant Of Cam
pahy D. I'D Regiment. presented a grievance To
"o ooaiu' lie SAID that his captain. David s.
Brown, had asked him TO retire as ouar+ar,,os,
sergeant and that he mad learned that fl was be-
cause he opposed the captains election
The hearings are expected to last for about three
weeks IN New York. when the commission will go