Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-02


ComInander-in-chefo ordered IT,
Mr.. N,Tcu of Bangor. proposed 10 aneh'
nv making the appropriation si5 oo'. ~ MS
would give for general expenses, SO ooo. lil-
spection. &C., 81. 900. rife practice Si.o"o'
armories 81 500 and encampneni SOU
Mr. UII of Rncklani did not ihiRk there
.as any n,,ion or State in existence that dlu
NOT maintain some kind of military organ
;zation. TWAS an absolute necessity. not
only for the purpose OF repeiling lnvaslons,
but for the purpose of surpressing insurrec-
t;ons Maine was not exempt from such
dangers that she could afford TO dlsoand her
military organization or cripple IL oy an
insufficient supply of money. yet she was far
bah;nd other New England States in the matter
Massachusetts appropriutes annually SlZo'-
400 New HAMPSHIRE $4,000. and the lit
tie Stale of Rhode Island more than the Dill
asked for. He understood our military force
TO consist of 1852 men. uniformed ana equip
ned. And was it not necessary that they
should be disciplined? Would the State re-
fuse . sufficient sum for that purpose: lie
thought the appropriation very proper one
and hoped it would pass without amendment;
Mr.. KEEGAN of Van Buren, moved to amend
so as to make the appropriation 5000. Inc
State had been in existence sixty years. ana
it was row told that its militia did not know
how to load their rifles, although their had
been thousands of dollars expended for uni
forms and nice rifles. He submitted whether
il was for the interest of the State to go much
farther in this direction. He ridiculed the
idea that a militia was necessary to suppress
Instructions in the State of Maine. except
those instructions which existed only in the
Imagination of certain men and that were
organized for certain purposes. mat was
the only kind of Instruction he ever heard
Of He quoted from the governors address
to show that that official did not recommend
an appropriation. and went on to say that he
did not believe an encampment was necessary
or even desirable, and that he thought $4,000
was as much as the State was prepared to
give in its present financial condition. lie
did not wish to disband the militia tor 1t
might be useful but he had no fears OF an
insureection at home.
Mr. TALBOT asked for certain information,
which was given by Messrs. HEATH, HATCH
and SHAW.
I Mr. TALBOT said that the Inspector OF
rifle practice in his report stated tina. not less
than $1,000 would be required to complete
the state range and for proper instruction to
the militia. If not much mistaken he had
seen an item of the kind in the kennebec
Journal among the items to be reported by
the committee, for the support of the
militia He also quoted from the report to
show that sixty per cent. OF the soldiers
did not know how to load rifle. and
said that so far as atfording protection to any
body, they would be more likely to shoot
themselves than the enemy. He also quoted
from the report to snow that not less than
thirtv-seven per cent. of the men have not
, practiced during the year. This was because
there was an Indifference among them to
learning this art which was SAID to be so nee
essarv. He then criticised the manner in
which the 1884 had been expended last year,
and said he believed this rifle practice and
annual encampment unnecessary. If they saw
fit to meet on the muster field at their own
, expense he had no objection; but he could
see no reason why the State, in its present
condition, should be called upon to pay such
, bills.
Mr.. KING of Caribou, proposed to vote for
the bill as it came from the Committee. He
believed in a well-drilled militia, and as to
the amount to be appropriated, he had the
most implicit confidence in the recommended
tons of the Adjutant General. 1t was enough
for him to know that the amount in the bill
was recommended by that official. He re-
ferred to the high rank which members of
the Norway Infantry had taken in the late
war, and said it was due to the fact that they
had been disciplined and drilled from year to
year. The State now had a militia enlisted
for five years, composed of men who were
taking pains to perfect themselves in drill and
discipline, and it was no idle duty. Burdens
were imposed upon them, and it was but Just
that the State should furnish them with the
necessary means so that when called upon
they might not disgrace themselves and the
State. Ii was one consideration which they
were to receive for their services.
Mr.. Folsom of OldtOwn advocated the
amendment of S.. 900. In business he had
been connected with military man. who had
served as Maj or of the militia. The view
taken by that gentleman was that this new
departure in rifle practice was unnecessary,
that the duties in that particular should be
attended to by the regimental officers. The
departure had been made to create another
salaried office. S34I had been expended last
year 81 900 was asked this year and next
year it would be more. He opposed any ap-
preparation for an annual encampment. He
believed $1,000 was sufficient under the f.
nancial condition of the State.
Mr.. Goss of Bath. favored the bill without
amendment. His mind went back to his boy
hood days: to the time of the old State mus
ters; to the time when he had been warned
to appear armed and equipped, as the law d.
| reefs. to do military duty: of his disregard of
that summons; and he supposed he owed
/ fine to the State to-day. He had gone another
way, and so knew but little of military affairs.
1t was then said that the people had become
so civilized that there was no danger of war,
and the money and time expended for a mill
tia were thrown away. And so it was aban-
/ doned. But a few wears after that the civil
war came on. And where were our military
organizations? Had they been kept up mil
lions of dollars and thousands of lives would
have been saved. He knew certain gentle
men were sensitive about appropriating
money for the soldiery and had been all
through; but he believed this money could be
entrusted to the hands of those who went
forth to battle for their country and save it,
to be expended as they saw fit, to keep up our
military organization
Mr.. Folsom disclaimed any sensitiveness
in regard to the bill. One of his brothers
had served more than three years in the war
and another laid his bones in southern soil
He claimed that he had nothing to be sensi-
| tive about.
Mr.. Goss disclaimed any intention of per-
sonal reflections
MIR. STRoUT of Portland, said that last
year he happened to be a member of the
House by the grace of-the Supreme Court;
and it then became his duty to consider the
military bill. 1t had come to be admitted
that an organized militia is necessary. and
this was conceded by the gentleman from