New-York tribune., 1907-03-01
CALLS IT II VICIOUS Law.
AssembIyman FriSbie attacks That
Governing Armory Commission.
TBy telegraph 20 The Tribune. ]


Albany, Feb &.-1n a statement dealing with
National Guard problems and armory conditions
made public to-day, Assemblyman Frisbie de-
nounced the law governing the State Armory
Commission as vicious IN the extreme. Under II.
he said, the commission created ITSELF and was
responsible to no one. not even the Governor Be
cause Of this. scandals like the Wendell and
the Buffalo armory situation had arisen. which
aroused a widespread demand for a wholesale in
vestigation Of the National Guard and the subject
of armory maintenance
In his statement, which was issued in support Of
his bill transferring from the counties the state
the cost Of maintenance of armories. Mr.. Frisbie
showed the great cost of armories in New York
City alone. He said that the cost as great In
other counties it in New York. arose not
directly from graft. but from the evils attendant
on the present system. Much of this material
has been laid before Governor Hughes, who re-
Gently expressed his approval of the Wainwright
bill for a wholesale investigation OF the National
Guard Mr.. Frisbies statement follows
q, introduced bin 10 place upon the state the
cost Stst OF mainiaining all the aTmores within the
Ne" YORK an enormous annual expenditure, its
be amended by leaving out New York City. say
ing If this were done. the greater New York dele
amen amendment was made to the bill which now pro-
state charge
raised. and the Buffalo armory and Captain Wen
@ Gei scandals being notorious demand began to
pour IN from all parts Of the state that the Iegs-
lature sheuld investigate the Guard. the military
S9Ge ana the military situation generally. Assem-
"a "a IHi1eu commission FOR that purpose. which met
the st % time aeos detaiied stateent Of the
total expenditures for military purposes in this
state is available During the wear leO6 there was
expended in this for military purposes bv the
@ ere snd mtre hs sd fba states S oa
men IN the National Guard and Naval Militia
rms expenditure was made follows: BY the
eeonntles having armories for their maintenance
ssyS6'S by the city OF New York for armOry main,
ritV OF POy
armory erections S39O3S5; by the county OF Erie
for armory erection. $10lAl35: appropriated by the
state IN the annual appropriation BILL $495. 800: ap-
S3; appropriated by the state for repairs ETC. 1885,
Included IN the total is an item Of Ss312 for the
CoeYmans ALBANY County, riot which should be
aeducted. The expenditures for armory erection
The present system Of forcing the counties TO
support the arnoTies is the very ina gina BILE
are thlTIy-three counties with aTmories The total
expenditure last year for the maintenance Of these
expenditure IS NOT que 10 graft in boards of super
vsOrs in the various counties but II is due to the
vicious system by which supplies purchased
and improvements and furnishings ordered
In Section ll50 of the law In regard TO soldiers
sailors and veterans. il is provided that the ex-
penses or erecting. altering, repairing. enlarging
shall be apporti9ned of the county charge OF each
county. and-here's the vicious part of it-in case
poses such expenditure shall be made on the GER
tihcate of the senior officer commanding an
organization therein quartered, approved by the
Armory Commission; in all other cases such ex-
penditures shall be made upon the certificate of
by the ranking line officer quartered therein ap-
proved by the commanding officer Of the brigade
In whose command such armory IS located
The present law IN reference 10 the powers Of the
State Armory Commission is vicious. The Armory
ComTnission is not responsible TO any one. The
board creates itself The Governor could not repri
mand II.