The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-20
Congress Should Aid the Militia.

A few days ago, Mr.. Gro. w. McCRARY
sent TO the Senate list OF the militia forces
OF the United States, following the routine
requirement OF the law Of 1903, which pre-
scribes that an abstract OF these forces shall
each year be furnished to Congress.
From these tabulated returns Congress
may learn the actual condition OF the mill
tia, as far as regards numbers and a sorry
condition it is. No fewer than six States
make no returns at all. As section 1896 OF
the Revised Statutes declares that ait shall
he the duty Of the Acknowledgement in each
state to make return OF the militia Of the
State. with their arms, accoutrements, and
ammunition, annually, on or before the first
Monday in January" it may fairly be pre-
sumed that at least some of these six States
have no returns to make.
Eight other States, namely, Maine, YER
mont, Delaware Kentucky Kansas, Nevada,
Oregon. and Colorado, return each fewer
than 900 as the number Of their organized
forces, officers and men--and the aggregate
OF one of them Is 40, all commissioned Off
GERS. Among these States are several at
the West in which the regular army has
been called upon for service during a large
ceding, at great public expense.
Ten more States return an organized force
Of between 1000 and 1000 each, including
officers and men. Five return between 1000
and 5000 Three have between 5000 and
1900; four, between 5000 and 10000; and two
only, namely, Arkansas and New York. up
ward Of 10000 Thus il is seen that more
than half the States in the Union maintain
fewer than 1900 militia each, and that only
half "A dozen States have more than 5000.
Even these figures fail to tell the story OF
militia backwardness. These organized
forces are in most instances imperfectly dis
ciplined, armed. uniformed, and equipped
In New York and few other States people
are accustomed TO see the citizen soldery
crcditable in appearance and movement
skilled in craftsmanship, and ready for n
campaign. In the majority Of States there
is no instruction in rifle range practice. no
adequate preparation for a sudden call TO
take the field, and at the first outbreak OF
domestic disorder there is call on the reg
Tlar army for aid.
But Congress, which has now before It
these telling figures OF militia Shortcomings
has also in its power full remedy. The
scheme Of militia reorganization and reform
framed by representative convention In
this city, and already introduced into both
houses Of Congress, meets the evil in a prac-
teal way First, it provides "A proper an
nual appropriation for supplying arms and
munitions U the militia; and then it cstab-
fishes certain conditions OF uniform cloth
ing, regulations, and discipline which will
insure the use 0! the appropriation 10 good
advantage.
For example, it has been found by expc-
rience that the modern rille-practice move
ment has had II great revivifying power
among the militia OF the few States that
have taken il up. 1t has not only given the
troops an accomplishment to be- proud Of,
and secured them a degree OF popular re-
spect never accorded i'm the old lays OF mere
militia show, but It has furnished an elc-
ment oil enthusiasm which has kept militia
interest alive. Accordingly the pending
scheme OF militia reorganization requires
each State receiving the appropriation for
arms 10 provide at least one rifle range,
whore its troops shall bee taught 10 use them
1t cannot bc denied that bill framed on
such principles contains the germs OF
lOug-needod militia reform. Nevertheless,
the session is drawing TO an end with the
bill still in committee. II is the duty Of
Congress to promptly take up this measure,
that II may receive the consideration and
the decisive action it merits.