Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-28
TAXES KEPT Low
BY Eth, SAYS
COLONEL HALL
Militia Commander Urges En-
ployers to Allow Men to Join.
Tells Benefits.


Should the attitude of employers in
Atlanta remain antagonistic and the
Fifth Regiment be forced to disband,
taxes in Atlanta would be materially
raised, according to Colonel OrvilIe
H. Hall.
The very fact that regiment Of
the National Guard is stationed here
keeps down the taxes" he said Sat-
urday. "Fice insurance rates are also
lowered At present the Atlanta po-
lice force is far too small Efforts
are being made for the addition OF 40
more men. If the force lis inadequate
under normal conditions, 1t is far too
small in times Of stress, when riots
break out.
Forty additional policemen would
cost the city approximately $4,000.
At present only $1,000 is given to the
regiment by the city. The balance is
obtained from the Federal Govern
ment and the state The State pays
$4,000 for the maintenance of the
Fifth and the Government about
100000
Insurance Rates Affected.
Besides this the insurance rates
are affected. Suppose IRE should
break out on Whitehall street and
should become uncomfortable. The
police force would be inadequate 10
patrol properly the entire district and
plunderers would raid the burned
houses
With regiment of militia subject
to call the insurance companies real
ize the protection from this source
and insurance rates are somewhat
lower.
1.-THE Fifth Regiment is a potential
factor in the welfare Of Atlanta. We
have the only full regiment OF any
city south of Baltimore Other cities
twice as large are forced to split with
smaller towns, which divides the
corps of officers
AT present the Fifth is far below
the minimum set by law. We are
required to have Sc men besides the
officers in each company.
Must Be Recruited.
"In some instances we are down to
35. This can not last long, and soon
the Federal inspectors win recon-
mend that drastic measures be taken
tor the remedy Of the deficiencies,
I'm cases of riots the people have
been more than glad to see us turn
out. During the riots of 1895, SOL
6ier was looked upon as a godsend.
The National Guard Is given no small
credit in stopping those troubles, yet
the people have forgotten it.
THE militia was called out one
night during the Frank trial Al
though we were not on the streets,
every officer was at the Armory pre-
pared to call the other members.
However. when the mobs became
the officials denied this, because 1t
was said that the good name Of At
lanta would be injured, but II Is true
nevertheless.
1T is not a matter Of money The
regiment is well fortified in a finan-
eial way from the support received
from the Government and State. All
we ask is that employers allow their
employees to join the National Guard
and to attend all drills, inspections,
encampments and parades. Surely
that is not unreasonable when one
considers the great benefits derived"
Remedy To Be Formulated.
II was stated at a joint meeting OF
special committee of the regiment
and the military committee OF the
Chamber of Commerce, held In the
chambers new quarters Friday after
noon, that the hostile attitude that
prevails widely among Atlanta's bust
ness men threatens to disrupt the reg
iment
IT was said that a large number Of
employers resent the activity OF their
employees in the regiment, and that
many Of the troopers are hindered Sc
riously in their connection with the
organization.
A plan to remedy this condition will
be presented to the board of directors
of the Chamber of Commerce at Ia
meeting Monday. when the views of
Atlanta's business men will be ascer-
tanned as to the membership OF their
employees in the National Guard