New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-31
THE UNORGANIzED MILITIA.
No MORE MONEY now SPENT To ARM THEM THAN
n 1S0s-A REPORT PREPARING BY SECRETARY
MCEARY.
GENERAL PREss pIsrArcn.I


GENERAL PRESS DIsPArCHI
WASHINGTON Dec 3O.-The reply to the
resolution OF senator Davis West Virginia in regard
10 the militia enrolled in the several states the amount
annually appropriated each state for equipments etc.
is now beng prepared at the War Department, and VIII
be transmitted TO the Senate by the Secretary OF War
upon the reassemblug Of Congress. Tie resolution
requests the Secretary TO submit any recommendation lac
may choose looking to more thorough organization Of
the militia, and tie better collection Of Information and
reports
Accompanying the reply of the Secretary will lie a
long report from the Chief Of Ordnance, IN which he viii
renew his recommendations 10 the effect that the annual
appropriation for providing and equipments for the
whole body of the militia be increased from 100000 TO
Sl,OOO,OOO, and that the law De amended TO fix
the responsibility arms issued the States, and
quIre the necessary properly returns to be made
at stated periods TO the ordnance Office. The
Act OF lsUs makes an annual appropriation OF
100000 TO provide arms and equipments for
The militia but 10 argued that the population OF the
country has grown from 100000 40 that time, to
4j,0UU,OOo The effect OF increasing lie appropriation
To II 900 would De- TO encourage the organization OF
the militia. The records OF the War Department show
that the organized militia Of the country numbers 30,
500 and uuorsanized. 2s75,469. Tne Secretary will
review ay length the militia laws, many OF which al
though s upon the statute books obsolete, az
for instance the Act OF March p 1893 section 1G32 Of
the Revised statutes, which requires each DRAGON 10
furnish himself with horse, pair Of pistols, &c
general revision UI such laws Will be recommended.
a. viii he recommended that the arms and equipments
issued slal be accounted Tor IN tie same manner
a. tue regular army, ana Ioss 81 or dam
axe TO arms, except the ordinary wear ana &ct
dents OF shall DC made good 10 the United states
Dua4u troubles growing tu- OF tine labor strikes last
SUMNER the Government Lad no means OF knowing the
number Cuud ton Oi arms IN the hands OF tie militia
OF The states, account of this defect IN tue lW, The
books Wax Department showed the number Issued
from time time, but as nO reports Lad been received,
il Us whether the arms were scIvlccaDlc or
where tncy were 10 Dee found
IN reply 10 portion OF the resolution calling for
into nation as whether of the States been
excluded from The benefits OF tile annual appropriation
OF 100000 above referred L., 70 VIII BE- SNOW tt Ala-
btma, Florida, Nurtn and south Carolina are entitled
10 receive credits. Under thc Act o March .,
1873 all the -tatcs thai had been M rebellion ere Creu
tied Oh books Of the Department Win tlcr rr~pec
tve quo from January l. l-Ol, 10 April 9, sbJ and
he arms issued 10 sucn made apph-
cauou tOr them. In tine ARMY Appropriation Ill
for toe fiscal year ending June 30, 1876 clause
was inserted. providing tnat 80 much 81 the annual HI
prOpuatou 100000 would nave been used lOr the
Iurcna.e between Janulry l. leOl, and lrl q
-tJ To distributed tu the several states that were IN
re- mon. should be covered into the Treasury After
the passage Act OF March 3, 1873 and before the
pt-sa-e the Army d} containing the abOF e-menuOued
provision Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi
tennessee, Texas and Virginia drew their quotas
amounting the aggregate 10 about Tlsi,l12 20, but
Alabama, Florida, North aud south Carolina ala uut
make application for their quotas, amounting in the
aggrcgllc 10 e7O,lS3 65.