STATE ADJUTANT GENERAL.
Mr. COMPTON, from the Committee of Military Affairs, submitted a report on the bill [H. R. 291] defining the duties and powers of the Adjutant General, recommending its passage with the following amendment: l'The Adjutant General is authorized, with the approval of the Governor, to make an exchange of any worthless or old arms of the State for a new and improved pattern, such as he may deem best for the State."
The report was concurred in.
Mr. NEFF moved to strike out the words "eighteen hundred dollars" (the salary to be allowed the Adjutant General) and insert "twelve hundred dollars" in lieu thereof.
Mr. COMPTON--I hope the amendment will not prevail. Tihe bill was prepared with great care by men who have examined the duties and responsibilities of the Adjutant General. I do not believe the gentleman would have offered his amendment had he taken pains to inquire, even of his friends or the outgoing Adjutant General, in regard to the duties of that office. The correspondence of that office is now from twelve to twenty letters a day, coming from soldiers throughout the West. There is no other way for these soldiers to procure title to the land on which they are located only by a certificate from page: 176[View Page 176] the Adjutant General. It is due to the Indiana soldiers, their families and the people of Indiana, that the Adjutant General's office should be put upon a footing equal to any similar office in the West. I hope the amendment will not prevail.
Mr. NEFF advocated the adoption of the amendment, and proceeded to show that $1200 was a large salary for a man performing the duties of this office.
The amendment was rejected.
On motion by Mr. COMPTON, the Committee report was concurred in and the bill ordered engrossed.
