The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-10

y
Agreements for Certain Facilities at
Morchead Camp Ground are Fulfill
cd-Matfcr OF Obtaining Increased
Pay for the Men in the Ranks.
Many Things Looking to Increased
Efficiency Considered.
LIT, Col ]. VanB. MeCts, Captain W.
r. Robertson and 1t. John b. Pescnan,
returned yesterday morning from Ral-
eigh where they attended the meeting
of the North Carolina State Guard A.
siciation held in the capital city Oh
Monday There. was quite large at
tendance of the members or the re-
Gently organized association and II Is
believed that as a result OF the meeting
there will be an immediate increase
in membership, the National Guard
officers being expected to realize that
the organization can be of vast ben
eft TO the efficiency and strength OF
the Guard if those eligible show the
proper interest. The purpose OF the
association is to work for the good or
the Stcte Guard and it deserves the
membership Of every officer in tn"
state.
One of the main facts developed az
the meeting which will undoubtedly
be Of benefit is that in the future the
line and field officers will take an ac-
tive part in all matters pertaining to
the Guard instead of leaving every
thing to the staff officers as has been
the case heretofore. This new inter
est was asserted almost at once when
the condition of affairs at the camp
grounds at Morehead City was pointed
out and criticised, committee being
later appointed to take the matter IN
charge with a view to having cOndl-
tiOns remedied at once. It was called
TO the attention of the officers in at
tendance that many Of the agreements
made by Morehead City and the Nor
folk and Southern railway as to lni-
provements at the camp grounds had
never been fulfilled and there was an
unuercurrent Of criticism that the state
had not in some way forced the con-
tract being carried out One of the
important things done by the assOcia-
tiOn was to appoint q committee con-
sisting of General Armfeld, Lieutenant
Colonel J. VanB. Metts and Captain
G. d Harris to take whatever steps are
necessary to have these conditions
fulfilled and failing that, it is under
stood, that q new camp site may be
recommended.
Among the surprising things brought
to light was the fact that about $1,000
had been expended by the state in
erecting a rife range at Morehead,
when q range was among the things
promised if that place was selected
and this was understood to have been
one of the important reasons why
Morehead was chosen in place OF
Wrightsville, whose bid to say the
least, as one officer said was not top
heavy" and whose terms would most
certainly have been fulfilled.
Another matter Of interest acted on
was the question of allowing increased
pay for the men in the ranks. This
was provided for in a resolution call
ing fo1 an appropriation by the state
of $4,000 annually instead of $4,000
as at present, each enlisted man to
receive so cents for every drill he at
tends, not exceeding "a a year, and that
in addition to the 33 1-3 cents a day
received from the government under
the terms of the Dick bill that each
private be paid an additional $1O0
day while on camp duty.
There was discussion as to the ques-
ton Of examination Of officers, the
election and promotion of officers, the
recommendation of each incoming gov
ernOr Of members of the staff, and
numerous other questions Of interest
and Importance to the welfare of the
guard.
In the meeting it is stated that the
second regiment was by far the best
II out of its y captains
having been present.
At the close of the session all the
officers were reelected. these being rs
follows:
Captain J. w. Norwood, of Waynes-
vile, president; Capt. w. F. Robert |
son. of Wilmington, first vice-presi-
dent. captain F. P. Hobgood, Of
Greensboro, second vice president; |
Capt. Max l.. Barker, of Salisbury,
secretary and treasurer: Lieut. J. p. |
Peschau. of Wilmington, assistant |
secretary.
The executive committee is cOmpOs- |
ed of the above officers with the fol- |
lowing representing each branch of the |
service: Lieut. Bradshaw of New |
bern, Of the Naval Reserves; Captain |
of Charlotte. of the Artillery.
and Captain Rodman of Washington |
Of the Infantry.