The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-24
WASHINGTON.

Report Of the Chief Of Ordinance OF the
r. q. 8 Army. =
WASHINGTON, October 23.-General s.
V. Benet, Chief OF Ordnance Of the
United States Army, has completed his
annual report. The total amount Of ex-
penditures during the year was 81 ,SiS,99
General Benet deyotes large portion Of
his report to the subject Of the militia.
He says that for many years there has
been a growing feeling throughout the
country in favor Of the reorganization OF
our militia system. To perfect our pres.
ent organization, or to improve 1t by alter.
alton, requires the action Of Congress;
that Congress has full power to provide
for the organization Of the militia in time
OF peace, and under the provisions Of the
constitution there can be no doubt that
Congress has exercised this power in the
absolete and meagre laws on our statute
books, but there has beenn no practical
means provided for enforcing obedience TO
these laws-everything Is left 10 the dis.
cretion OF the individual States. A few OF
the States have small but we'll regulated
bodies OF troops, while others have none,
or, II any, undisciplined, ununiformed
and indiferently equipped.
ltseems to me the time has come when
the subject OF raising arming equipping,
disciplining and keeping in readiness for
service part Of our militia, should receive
thoughtful attention OF Congress, That a
portion Of the militia should in sense be
mobiltzed, requires no argument, and this
active portion should be distributed equal.
ly throughout the country according 10
population. By establishing the principle
by legal enactment,that Congress will help
only those who help themselves, and
providing that arms and equipments
will not be issued TO State except
in proportion to Its properly enrolled and
organized active militia, and that per
diem Tor camp services shall be paid TO
those individuals only who are present in
camp and actually employed, the States
and people may be brought to realizing
sense OF the necessity for prompt and per.
manent aGtien in a matter so!vital to the
military power OF the nation. The general
government under the law OF 1908 now
supplies hrms and equipments TO the
militia OF the States, and there Ia no reason
why their issue should not be made de.
pendent on the acts to be performed BY
the States, such Us the organization and
discipline Of q certain portionof the mill.
Tia. @
I have. therefore, to recommend that
provision be made by law for organizing,
armlng and disciplinfng militia force Of
two hundred thousand men, distributed
among the States In a proportion Of about
200 men to each Congressiona al district and
Territory and the District Of Columbia,
To make this; practicable It viii require
large annual appropriations that must be
permanent at least for q few years 10 give
Q trial 70 the scheme. In the first place
there should be an annual appropriation
ot one million dollars for arms aad equip.
ments, which would give about s. 600 ior
the troops In each Congressional district,
In the second place there should Be ar
annual appropriation Of four million dol
lars for the expenses Of The annual en-
campment, the payment to each militil
man q per diem for each days service
while actually in camp, etc, "