Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-01-24
STATE MILITIA.
The Paramount Essentially of Its
NOmO=eneity.

Communicated
The results of the last wal demonstrated
beyond all question the vast importance
and usefulness Of the military organiZa-
tions which were before that time fostered
by the different State governments. 1t
diffused military instruction generally
among the masses, and was the nucleus of
instruction for all our volunteer forces.
Its importance was then, and is now, rec
ognized not only by the vast sums then
expended by the States in support Of its
local militia, but by the enlarged and sys-
tematic' care and encouragement now ex-
tended to such organizations throughout
the Union, and by the existence OF num-
berless military schools supported by pub
lie and private enterprise.
In Nevada, where every effort is being
mado to reduce State expenditure, the sup
port of our military organization, small
and insufficient as it Is, is undoubtedly a
burden. The present laws upon this sub
ject are crude in the extreme, copied from
a mass OF i'll digested statutes OF the State
OF California enacted thirty-one years ago,
and which are ~antiquated and entirely in
uQtHUdto ia bhln ChAiS "6o' '
OF such amendments as Senate Bill No. Is,
now before that body, there should be en-
acted simple laws for the organization
merely of our militia, leaving its drill and
discipline to be governed by the same laws
as that OF the army of the United States,
SC that it should be homogeneous with that
body in times of service. Its commits
stoned officers should be appointed by the
Commander-in-Chief Of the militia forces
of the State for oapability. The RESPONSE
bility for State arms, etc., should be to
the State directly, and the number OF com-
panies should be apportioned according to
the number Of those subject to military
duty between the ages OF IL and 40 years,
and not one to each county as provided in
the bill referred to. Its support need not
be a cause of inconvenience or a drag
on the State Treasury. The individual
soldier, 90 a rule, ia ambitious
and proud, and generally reckless
Of his expenditure of time and money in
this regard. His uniform, dues, loss Of
time and other expenses necessarily in.
Cured In suoh service to the State, exceed
o hundred times any expenditure made by
the State for him. There IL lacking every
element OF mutually or fairness III the
present. System, When the soldier takes
upon himself the duty to faithfully serve
the State, although il may be voluntary,
he has d right to expect that the oblisa.
ton should be mutual between himself
and the State, whose care 1t should be to
foster and encourage the volunteer
service. If the burden is too
great for the finances of the State, under
the present law, enact a law which shall
distribute it equally among those SO liable
to military d~uty-enforce service by law or
1ar- a r,,Jarofa tay pnfiDno1 with fhOsa
who desire to be exempt from such duty to
support those who spend their time, talents
and brains in keeping up military organi-
cations. By such a law the State Treasury
would practically be relieved. At the
same time ID would relieve the individual
soldier from great expense and be the
means Of keeping the different organiza.
lions up to the maximum OF strength and
add to perfection in drill and discipline.
which cannot he accomplished will paueisy
OF nambera, as all old soldiers kt.cw,