The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-03-03

TIE military organization OF this
State is known ny the imposing title o;
the National Guard" and consists OF
nineteen regiments, with n feas!G
number OF Major Generals and Other
subordinate officers. James w. Latta
. the Adjutant General, with salary OF
/ $4,000, with fifteen aides-dc- camp; 9
! chief clerk who is paid 81, 500 and two
assistant clerks at salary of 81, 40C
each. regulates and controls the move
] mcuts OF this formidable military es
tablshment How much do the tax
payers sEppose it cost them TO keep NJ
this show for the year 1915? Accord
/ ing to the report of the Auditor Gen
cral, the total expense of maintaining
this military force last year was lO2,-
1854 The larger portion OF this
sum WAS for amounts paid to compa-
: uies and for rents of armOrics. For
( railroad transportation there was ex-
pended S4,l1S.S5. But here's richness
for YOU:
Col. u. &. Hassiuger, xrcnses in in
spertion of troops........ 50 ?26 30
Gen. a w. Pearson, ditto........... 13O 80
Gen. James a. Beaver ditto-......... as 90
n.
Other Generals" ditto ....... .........
What benefit did the people Of the
State derive from the inspections 10y
these military gentlemen, arrayed "in
all the pride, pomp and circumstance
of glorious war;" What return docs
the State get for the vast amount of
money annually distracted from the
treasury to keep up this military pa
geant! We regard it as huge fraud
on the people and as simply 4 wide
field in which small but ambitious
politicians may cultivate the friendship
of the existing and the coming voter.
The National Guard is about Of rs
much practical use as teats are to
boar which are generally supposed to
he purely ornamental. This National
Guard, through its chief officer, the
Adjutant General, has bill now be-
fore the Legislature demanding S6O,-
Mt the centennial exposition. This
military bill recites that it is desirable
that the Guard shall be encamped i'm
the vicinity of the centennial grounds.
and that it is right and proper that
they should he furnished with shelter
and land for that purpose, and provides
for an appropriation of S25, 900 for
the purchase of canvass for the quar-
tering of the troops, and also $50, 900
tor their transportation to and from
their localities % the encampment and
return, and for the payment of the
rental for the occupation of ground,
etc. Centennialism is rapidly running
mad, and the great effort now seems to
be to get n sight of the big show at the
expense of the State. If the National
Guard wants to go in body, it can
do so, rs there is no act of Assembly
to prevent it. The people, however,
i'll these dark and gloomy days when
want and privatiOn are sOrcly vexing
distracted taxpayers, will not tamclv
consent to foot the bill for the Guards
amusement This bill was before the
House last week on second reading and
while there was the usual amount of
spread-cagle eloquence expended in its
favor, the opposition to it was sharp
and outspoken. 1t is perhaps very
pleasant, because it seems to lie popu-
lar, for members of the Legislature to
vote away the peoples money for such
vain and frivolous purposes, but rs
sure rs there is an avenging Justice,
just so sure will there come a day of
swift and fearful retribution.