fortitude displayed by Captains Llewellyn, Mueller, Luna, and Curry, and those under them, there will never be any dispute. In the U. S. Vol. Cavalry, known as "Roosevelt's Rough Riders, 440 men and 15 commissioned officers were from New Mexico, and of that number fully one-half belonged to the National Guard of New Mexico. The training and experience gained in the National Guard qualified them to go to the front, and participate in the first and only campaign of the war, and so well had they profited by their training, that they were able to make of that, one of the most memorable campaigns in the world's history. And their share in it was not exceeded in glory by any other soldiers, of either the volunteer or regular army. The most important lesson taught us by the events of the late war is that our country has become of such great importance among the nations of the earth, that we may look for war when we most desire peace, and that a thorough preparation for war, come from where it may, is our best guarantee of peace. The acquisition of new territory, much of it on the other side of the globe, will make it necessary to maintain a larger standing army than ever before, in order to hold the fruits of our valor, and raise up to our level of citizenship those unfortunate people, who with the lands, become a part of our great nation. For this army, the National Guard of the country will be the nursery. It therefore behooves us to pay greater attention than ever before to this strong arm of the nation's defense. This policy calls upon us for larger appropriations than ever before, and for our sympathy and influence, to the end that the National Guard, may be strong, not only in numbers, but in drill and tactics, and in morals and discipline which is the strong feature that has ever characterized the armies of this country. The state of New York expended upon its National Guard in the year 1897, the sum of $477,000, in addition to the large sum received from the national appropriation. The state of Pennsylvania expended in the same year, $350,000; the state of Ohio, $230,000, and the other states, sums proportionate to their population and wealth. The Territory of New Mexico's appropriation for the National Guard in 1898, was the sum of $700, and owing to delinquent taxes, the amount actually available for the use of the National Guard of the territory, was very small, compared with the work that was expected of it, in a year when we were involved in war with one of the great European kingdoms. The work actually performed with such small means, was very great and reflected credit upon the territory, and upon the executive and other oflicers charged with its performance and I am happy to say that the deficiency in the department to be provided for by the legislative assembly, is not large. Under our present National Guard law, the principal work is done by the adjutant general, who is also ex-officio quartermaster commissioner general and inspector general. The duties of the office are onerous and varied, and demand a man of ability and experience. He must understand the duties of a soldier and offi- ' cer in every department, be familiar with the articles of war and army regulations. He must understand the system of keeping accounts and making reports and returns of property received, issued and expended. The correspondence devolved upon the adjutant general is very heavy and large, he having received and answered during the last year, several thousands of letters and telegrams, in addition to other routine duties of the office. An old time statute still in force provides that in time of war when volunteers from the territory are in the field, the adjutant general shall receive the pay of a captain of infantry in the regular army. As the appropriation for the pay of the adjutant general during the past year has been but $500 a year, it would seem but justice that the legislative assembly should make provision for the payment of the salary of the adjutant general upon a war footing from the 1st day of May, 1898, as contemplated by the stat ute. I respectfully call attention to the fact that in many of the states, the rank of adjutant general is that of major general. In a large majority of the states he ranks as brigadier general. At the meeting of the Interstate National Guard Association held in Chicago, in December, 1898, which I had the honor to attend, I was the only adjutant general present who held the rank of colonel. I respectfully call attention to the condition of the worn out muster rolls on file in this office pertaining to the civil war. In the third of a century that has elapsed since the war closed, the rolls have been examined so often in the interests of claimants for pensions, etc., that many of them are now but a mass of tattered paper and drop into pieces with every movement. They cannot be mended because the writing covers both sides of the paper. In my opinion, the only remedy is in carefully transcribing the rolls into bound books. If this is done, the rolls themselves would not need to be handled except on rare occasions. The work can be done by the adjutant general without any extra clerical force, if his salary is fixed at such a sum as will enable him to devote his entire time to the duties of the office. I regard this work as indispensible, and if it is not done in a short time many of these valuable records will become valueless to the territory and to those who are deeply interested in their preservation. I am glad to say that in the past few months, through the kindness of Hon. Fernando Nolan, I have obtained possession of a number of muster rolls which belong to this office, and many final discharge papers belonging to soldiers, by which I am able to perfect and preserve the military record of many of the veterans of the civil war. The experience gained in the war with Spain, as well as all other wars in which this country has engaged, teach us that the most difficult thing we have to overcome in the early period of war, is to quickly place in the field a large body of volunteers, who, in addition to their knowledge of tactics, and the evolutions of the company and regiment, may know something of the practical duties of camp life, how to take care of themselves, and preserve their health in this changed mode of living. To do this, should be made a part of the education of the National Guard, and I am of the opinion, this can best be done at an annual encampment, which should extend over one month. Such encampments can be held by companies or battalions, as may be found most convenient. These encampments should be held in places where the ingenuity of officers and men will be taxed to find material for shelter and for bedding; especial attention should be paid to the cooking and to policing the camp, ditching, tents, constructing cesspools, etc. At these encampments there should be occasional practice marches, but squad and company drill should be omitted, at least for one-half the day, and the time given to perfecting camp arrange ments. I respectfully submit, that our young men who voluntarily, and without compensation give their time to learning the duties of a soldier, should not be compelled to tax themselves for the rent of armories, light, fuel, etc. These should be provided by the territory. The armory too, should be made something more than a place for the deposit of arms and equipment. If the territory should provide such rooms, the officers and men, will of their own accord add reading room, and other club room features, which will conduce to the mental, moral and physical good of the men. I recommend that provisions be made by the legislative assembly for the pay and expenses of officers and men of the National Guard when ordered on active duty for the preservation of peace or the suppression of disorders. I can conceive of no greater incentive to the growth of the National Guard of the territory, than a law which would guarantee to officers and men reasonable compensation for their time when on active duty. The obligations of their oaths, and the law, compel them to respond to the order of the commander-in-chief, and engage in duty dangerous and disagreeable in the performance of which their private business affairs are neglected and wages are stopped. The territory should not demand such sacrifice of men who give so much of their time to learning the duties of a soldier, so that he may be prepared for his country's defense. The following is a statement of the indebtedness of the territory pertaining to the office of the adjutant general: Transportation of recruits Tin cups for use of recruits Blankets bought of A. Staab Blankets bought of Seligman Bros. Unpaid salary of adjutant general, from May 1, 1898 to March 1, 1899 To L. B. Prince, agent, rent of armory, from March 1, to November 1, 1897 ... . Expenses of adjutant attending Interstate National Guard Association, at Chicago, December, 1898.. Placido Abeytia, janitor Wells-Fargo Express Co., transportation of blankets.. C. W. Dudrow, coal for office W. A. McKenzie, repairs and supplies Jacob Weltmer, stationery 1.083 40 53 33 127 60 10.00 8.65 4.00 660 4.95 To Miss Henrietta Clark, stenographer and clerk assisting Adjutant General Hersey, recruiting volunteers (11) days at $3 per day.. 33 00 33 00 630 75 To W. H. Whiteman, 11 days service as clerk to Adjutant General Hersey, recruiting volunteers . . . To Lieutenant Coleman and squad, pay and expenses of trip to Tierra Amarillo on order of Governor. A number of the above claims are properly chargeable against the United States, but cannot be presented until such time as they have been paid by the territory, where, under an act approved July 8, 1898, entitled "An act to reimburse the governor of states and territories for expenses incurred by them in aiding the United States to raise and organize, and supply and equip the volunteer army of the United States in the existing war with Spain," they can be presented to the auditor of the war department for settlement and the territory will be reimbursed for all such expendi tures. Very respectfully, WM. H. WHITEMAN, |
