The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-12-10
POLITICIANS ARE
WATCHING FUNDS
From Saturday Advertiser.

Caucuses are reported to have been
held over the national guard armory APP
preparation by incoming Legislators and
members of the Democratic committees
in the hope that the 100000 appro'
priated out of the funds derived from
the two bond issues may be diverted to
other permanent improvements in the
Territory.
Governor Frear states that he has
heard nothing of such proposal and he
is expecting the plans and specifications
to be ready in the near future so that
bids may be advertised for before the
legislature convenes. 1t was his plan
originally to have the contract award
ed, if the bids were right, before the
end of the year, on account of n provi-
sion in the permission by the war de-
partment to the Territory to make use
of the drill shed for it's armory before
the end of the present fiscal year.
Those who have been caucusing over
the funds that may be mt the disposal
of the coming legislature have had their
attention drawn to the armory appro'
priation and arguments have been
made that the armory and the guard,
with the rapidly increasing regular
army establishment here, are not as ne
cessary as in former years. On this
ground those who have attended the
caucuses are of the opinion that if the
armory matter can be delayed the legis
lature would have an opportunity OF
bringing the 100000 within the scope
of their own lawmaking and divert il
to some other use.
Governor Frear was asked yesterday
whether, in the event of no contract be
/ ing awarded before the legislature me
and took the matter under considera
ton, the money could be reappropriated
The Governor stated that the none,
was now in the territorial treasury, anC
that if the legislature chose, it could, il
the event of the contract not having
been awarded handle the money in it
new appropriation bills, but it woul'
have to be reappropriated, if at all, fo
permanent works.
The suggestion is made that the ma
tional guard work could be better di
rected toward acquiring a knowledge o
the handling of the big Coast defens
guns, rather than acting as an infantr,
regiment and that by training the citi
zens to use these guns they could b
used almost exclusively in the fortifi
cations. thereby leaving all the mobil
forces intact and with no need to with
draw any of them as additional artil
lerymen.
1t has been argued by those who ia
vor the National Guard drilling a
coast artillerymen that by taking place
in Notifications in. time of trouble the
would not be subjected to the hard
ships of field campaign, whic
many of them would not be capable o
enduring.
While in times of peace the Nationa
Guard act as infantrymen and are abb
to march upon good roads and sleep III
der good thick blankets and unde
tents and have good, hearty, hot meals
in time of war they would not be abb
to face the hard conditions which wa
|: imposes. On the other hand, it is al
gued the life in the Notifications woul
; be an easier method of serving thei
flag and they would be as efrectual q
aids to the regular army.
The contractors of the city, howeve
feel that the plans and specification
will be out presently and that they wi
be able TO put in bids this month an
have them acted upon before the en-
of the year.