New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-07
WIDER INQUIRY LIKELY
MILITIA BILL AMENDED.
Reported by Ways and Means Com
mittee litter Hearing.
by Telegraph to The Tribune. J

Albany. March 6.-Investigation Of the Ma
tional Guard of the state, even more searching
and momentous than that contemplated by the
original bill of Assemblyman Wainwright, who
is also lieutenant colonel Of the 18th Regiment.
is indicated by the action of the Assembly Ways
and Means Committee. which. after a hearing.
tonight voted TO report the bill with amend
ments for enactment. The amendments in
crease the powers of the mixed commission pro-
vided for in the matter of examining witnesses
and calling for documents and revising the mill
tary CODE and also increase the appropriation
for the commission from $4,000 to $4,000
Colonel Charles Z. Davis. president of the
State National Guard Association. and Allan
Regain secretary of the association. presented
a resolution to the committee this afternoon
asking thorough investigation of the National
Guard. in accordance with the provisions OF As
semblyman Wainwrghts bill This bill provides
for committee of nine members, three appoint
ed by the Speaker. two by the President of the
Senate and four by the Governor. Colonel Da-
Wis suggested that the bill be amended to in
Guide an investigation Of the State Naval Mill
tia He said further: We are heartily in favor
OF the Wainwright bill. We want an investiga-
ton and we think the provisions OF this meas
IRE will give the proper kind"
Paradise Jimmy" oliver opposed the inves-
tigation. mainly on the ground that IT would
allow a civilian committee TO inquire into the
affairs OF a military body. He further objected
70 Governor Hughes being allowed to appoint
four members OF the committee.
what assurance have we that the Governor
VIII not appoint four Republicans Of his own
choosing as civiIlans?" he asked Further
more the guard has not officially demanded an
Investigation, and it should be allowed to IN
yestigate itself anyhow"
Nj. Wainwright replied that there were many
precedents for investigation Of a military
organization by committee composed or civil
ians He said that Governor Hughes might ap
point ox-nilitia officers retired army officers.
This" he continued, lis what l think he is
likely to do You can rest assured that Gov
ernor Hughes will appoint the proper men to
carry out the investigation"
Mr. Frisble said that he was heartily in favor
Of the bill.
4 have just received letter from retired
officer OF the National Guard" he added. "In
this he informs me of serious charges against
some Of the officers of a regiment in New York
City. There are. this shows. reasons for an
investigation Then there IS the question OF the
support of the armories TO be taken into consid-
Grafton. believe the state should bear the ex-
pense ana not the individual counties"
Later Mr.. Frisbie said that the charges
against certain officers Of regiment IN New
York City were that they received rebates
from men 10 whom they gave employment In
the armories, and limited at even graver ones.
He refused TO say anything further about them
At this time remarking that to do so would be
merely putting them on their guard"