The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-11

'.'I also call your attention to the fact that Gen. Leonard Wood. on his visit to Montgomery. complmented very highly your efforts in increasing the efficiency of the Alabama National Guard
 "I feel no hesitancy in saying that any accusation that an excess of property was lost during your administration is absolutely false, for had there been any accurate account of property on hand when you went into office it could have been easily proven that property on hand has increased instead of decreases dur ing your administration, showing that the states indebtedness had been relieved con siderably.
 At any time that can be of service any information along these lines, do not hesitate to call upon me. Sincerely yours, IT. c. Locke Needed Additional Clerks Tn the latter part of 1912 I discovered that the adjutant generals department could not properly discharge it's impor- tant duties without additional clerical aid At that time there was only one clerk in the department and upon application of the adjutant general I allowed his ad- ditional clerical force employed an ex- pert who had worked in the department at Washington to install thorough sys-
  large the facilities of the office I also discovered that the property belonging to the United States government had not been properly stored on account of lack of warehouse facilities. and that it was stored at a number of different places immediately rented a large warehouse in Montgomery. had all the property stored In that building under lock and key and had a complete inventory prepared and l filed a well Of oil property in the hands of each military or ganization in the state The adiutant general and myself also adopted every possible method to recover all property lost by the different military organizations in the different counties in which these companies were located. I detailed spe- cial examiner of accounts to visit every county in which a military organization was located, with instructions to recover all property which had been improperly removed from the armories and also com munfcated with every sheriff in the state as well as solicitors, urging that proper l steps be at once taken to secure the re- covery of any property belonging to the United States government in the hands of those not authorized by law to have the custody of the same
 l Under the system which was inaug- urated, the adjutant generals depart. ment could readily discover the amount of property lost during my administra ton and the records will show that this was less than $4000, all of which was covered by bonds from surety companies and most of which has now been paid Notwithstanding the criticism in the Ledger on February Il, 1913. I received the following letter from the war de- rartment:
 Washington. D. c. Feb. II, 1913
 Hon. Emmet O'Neal, Governor of Ala bama. Montgomery, Ala
 ] My Dear Governor O'Neal: Refer ring to correspondence of prior date. relative to organized militia affairs in your state. I am informed by the divis- ion of militia affairs that your excel lency has taken prompt and effective measures to place the National Guard of Alabama on sound and efficient foot ing, and I take this occasion to convey to your execellency the high apprecia- tfon of the war department of your course in this matter.
 It is the aim of the war depart ment, in its connection with the organ. ized militia of the several states. to in crease their efficiency from federal point of view recognizing the fact that the result of such a policy will act to Increase the efficiency of the force from the state point of view, as we'll
 Looking to the interests of the federal government, it becomes neces- sary at times to invite attention of the state executive to irregular conditions
 existing In the forces of which he is the commander in chief. but in no case
 In which such action has been found to De necessary have more prompt, ener- getic and efficient measures been
 adopted than those lately put in force by your excellency. Very respectfully and sincerely
 ROBERT SHAW OLIVER
 Assistant Secretary of War |. Again on the 26th day of June 1913
 received letter from the Hon. Iinley M. Garrison Secretary of War ex-
 pressing his appreciation of the prompt
 measures I had taken to improve the
 conditions in the Alabama National Guard
 Formerly Took Personal Bond
 Upon assuming charge of my office
 ascertained that 1t had been the cus- tom to accept personal bonds for com
 pany commanders for military property without even certificate from the proper authorities as to the solvency of the sureties. and upon investigation 1t
 was found that practically every bond of this character was worthless I i'm mediately issued an order reuuirin, !,
 every company commander in custody of government property to make suita.
 bie bond in some surety and guarantee company legally authorized to do busi-
 ness in the state of Alabama
 Regardless of unfounded criticisms
 based either upon misapprehension or personal hostility, the record iustff1es me in stating that during my adminis- tratfon the adjutant generals depart-
 ment was developed from little room in the garret and a small store room fin the basement, with only one inefficient | clerk to one of the most important departments of the state Government occupying one of the best appointed suites in the capitol with thorour,, and up-to-date system of accounting
 filing and bookkeeping, with modern warehouse with thorough stock rec
 ord and with a detail of one commis
 stoned officer and seven noncornmis- stoned officers to assist in the operation
 of the military department.
 i Tt is also recognized by those wbc are familiar with conditions that the
 personnel and efficiency of the Alaba ma National Guard were most materialI,
 enhanced by the drastic but proper eff.
 forts taken to remove from the rua ri
 organizations which had proved inef ficient. Twenty-si organizations wer,
 mustered out of the service of the stats
 and the federal government, solely he. cause 1t was found they were unahla r. reach the standard of discipline ana ef. , ficiency which the federal rovernmen, requires. Through this process of elim.
 ination of the unfit the National Guart
 of Alabama is today better disciplfn cd
 better uniformed and equipped tha, any other period In its history
 Tt will thus be seen that the s10o 900 shortage to which the Ledger re T rfp~n~