Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-04
STILL SEEKING LIGHT.
Columbia State Wants to Know About
Military Expenditures.

The State is interested in the South
Carolina division of the National
Guard. That organization should re-
ceive the full benefit of the wise eX-
penditure of every dollar appropri-
ated by the national and STATE gov
ernmentS for its assistance. The
State is also concerned in having
South Carolina represented at the
national rifle contests by judicially
selected, we'll equipped and intelli-
gently instructed team. The national
government pays for placing such a
team in the field, and it is reflection
/ upon the state and an injustice to
the men to send an uncoached squad
to Camp Perry.
Complaint was made that the fund
for securing such team was not suf-
ficient: The State has shown that out
of one fund of $4,000 provided by
the national government annually
for the militia of this state, 1t is re-
quired that at least $500 be issued
in the interest of rifle practice; more
may be drawn for that purpose If
deemed advisable. But with such
means at command there are few
ranges for practice in South Carolina,
and after several contests little i'm
provement in the teams work abroad
has been revealed. South Carolina
has raw material equal to the best;
the deficiency lies in the handling OF
1t, and the military authorities are re-
spOnsible.
The State has propOunded questions
that have elected no response. We
have evidence, however, that while
those interrogations appear to have
no interest for certain staff officers
they are considered of moment by Of
ficers of the line. Other questions
have been suggested.
Who issued the order for the "spe-
cial detail, coast defense manoevres,
Sullivan's Island, S. c." for July
1908? That detail. composed, we are
informed, of Brigadier General j. c..
Boyd, adjutant general S. c.; Colonel
w. T. Brock, assistant adjutant gen.
eral, and Lieutenant Colonel j. r.
Lindsay First Infantry, S. c.. n. G.,
went to Fort Moultrie and drew pay
for rank during the encampment Of
the Second and Third Infantry.
What service did the special detail
perform? The expenses of that en-
campment were betrayed by the war
department and not charged to the
states appropriation, but the "spe-
cial detail' not being authorized by
the war department. the pay and
transportation OF these three ofncerSi
amounting to $550.00, was charged to
South Carolinas allotment. Is The
States information on that point cor
rect? That money would have gone
a considerable way toward furnishing
another battalion rifle range.
In what capacity did Paymaster
Lindsay draw per diem and mileage
at Chickamauga this year when the
Third Infantry was in encampment?
A regular army officer paid off the
men.
Is it not more expensive to hold the
rifle practice shoots by battalion than
by regiments? Then why by battal-
ions? Who benefits by such arrange
ment?
Is it proper for salaried state Off
cials in the military department to
draw double pay and big pay-"for
rank"-eut of the funds intended for
the South Carolina militia?
What constitutes the necessary
expenses" of the adjutant generals
office, how much do they amount to,
and who audits the accounts?-Co-
lumbia State.