Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-25
Cites State Code to General Nash
in Refusing to Abolish Position
Of Quartermaster General and
Discontinue $3.50 Salary.
HThis Office Was Maintained by
Ny Predecessor, and | Do Not
Desire to Change Old Status"
Declares Governor of Georgia.

Governor Slaton replied Saturday to
Adiutant General Joseph VanHolt
Nash's recent written recommended
lion that the Office of Quartermaster
General, now held by General VIII
lam G Obear, be abolished and that
the $3.50 salary attaching thereto be
discontinued, by declining to approve
either recommendation.
The Governor planted himself
squarely upon the law, as he under
stands it. and stated expressly that
The present Quartermaster was con-
tinued in office at the Governors re-
Quest when the present administra-
ton took charge OF the States bust
hess
The Governor said the law calls for
both an Adjutant General and Quar-
temaster General with the rank OF
brigadier general, and prescribes GER
tain duties for each. The Governor
suggested the propriety of a legisla-
tive inquiry into the present status
Of the Quartermaster General, under
Circular s, recently issued by the Ma
tlonal War Department, and said that
If the salary now attaching to the po-
sition Is too large, it might be read
iusted. He declared he did not be-
heve the Governor of Georgia has any
authority to abolish the office, even
though in his judgment it may be OBJ
solete. so long as an unrepealed law
calls for it's existence.
As between a Federal War Depart
ment regulation and a statute OF
Georgia the Governor said he must
follow the statute.
Obear in Madison.
Just what direction the now famous
Nash Obear controversy will take is
problematical. General Nash posi-
lively declined to say anything for
publication, as did General Obear, who
is In Madison.
Office Of Quartermaster General is, in
his opinion, utterly useless, and the
salary paid to it's holder is a pure
waste Of money. He said that he
would not recognize the existence Of
the Quartermaster Generals depart
ment officially after January l, 1914.
and so far has had no communica-
uon with 1t since that date.
Now that the Governor has over
ruled his recommendations however,
i may be that General Nash will re-
sumo official relation with General
0bear.
General Obear has kept his own
counsel rather closely since the be-
ginning of the controversy in which
ne finally has been sustained.
Legislature May Act.
Il Is probable, so military men
mink, that the war between these de-
partments will now be transferred to
me Legislature, which meets in June.
The G r.-nor's official reply to Cen
era Nash follows:
January "a, 1914.
I acknowledge receipt Of your let
Ter Of November 10, 1913.
The pertinent sections Of the Code,
"a addition to those you have set
iorth, are Sections 1851, 1862 and
1853, which, so far as relevant, are
quoted
Sec. 1861. GOVERNORS STAFF.
ne military staff of the Governor
SHALL consist Of one Adjutant Gen
erai and one Quartermaster General,
VINO shall EACH have the rank of
0Hgadier general
Sec. 1862. ADJUTANT GENER-
AL The Adjutant General shall be
al the head of the Military Depart
ment Of the State and subordinate
oHly 10 the Governor in matters per-
aiming to said department. He shall
eNe MS whole time and attention to
'ne office, and shall receive a salary
y $4,000 per annum, to be paid out
VI the military fund. He shall per-
urn such duties as pertain to the Of
"ee OF Adjutant General as from time
continued on Page 2, Column 5.