National Republican., 1883-10-05
What the Feeling is as to Consolidating the
Various 0rganizatOns~
Gen. Benets Views and the Recon-
mendations He Will Make.
Interviews Upon the Subject with Coils Moore and
Burnside and Capt Thomson.
They All Object TO n Consolidation which
will Destroy Their Identity.

Inc communication OF the commissioners
to Gen. Benet, chief Of ordnance, in regard
to the status OF the district militia and max
ing requisition for eighty guns and sets Of
quipments for the first company, Union Vet
eran corps, was received by the latter officer
yesterday aud will be considered in a few
days. A reporter of THE REPUBLICAN
called upon Con. Benet in the afternoon and
asked his views on the subject. He said
I'm their communication, the commissioners
ask that would consider different inter-
probation of the Revised Statutes of the
United States, paragraph 1861 and para
graph 1867, than has been hitherto CUSTOM
ary, that arms for the militia and volunteers
of the territories and District of Columbia
are chargeable to tho annual appropriations
made for the several states. Now in regard
TO the above reference to tho statutes, section
1861 appropriatos 100000 annually for arm
ing the whole body of militia of the country,
while the latter part of section 1867 leaves
the matter of arming tho forces of the terri
tories and District OF Columbia ut the dis
cretion of the president This was evidently
intended as a safeguard and to prevent tho
government from being handicapped in the
event of an Indian outbreak or other dis
turbance on the western frontier, and there
has been some doubt as to whether that Sec
tion properly applies to the district forces.
missioners can therefore easily be seen.
1t is that under section 1867 the money was
appropriated for the several states, while
the last sentence of the section separates the
territories and district and would allow the
president to distribute as many arms and
equipments from the general supply to the
authorities of these places "a he pleases. The
district quota of arms is already overdrawn,
If il is to be included in the states appropria-
tion, to tho sum Of S2,322.13 Its annual
quota would be 81, ,331.74, therefore it would
appear that it is in debt enough to absorb its
quota for nearly two years
"The action of presidents the years gone by,
which has been the basis of our action, has
been to place the territories and district upon
the same footing of those states which have
but one representative in congress, and the
Issues have therefore been made out Of the ap-
preparation.
"This department has always been liberal
with the district because it has no representa-
tive in congress and has to depend upon the
executive"
"Will you make any recommendation in re-
gard to the district militia2" asked the re-
porter.
II will study the subject up, and mako
report to Secretary Lincoln, separately from
my annual report. As the matter stands now,
under tho old law, think the militia of this
district is in direct command of the presi-
dent"
what do you think of the commissioners
letter being written and forwarded at this
time2'
81 think" he replied, that their idea is to
open the question and have it settled. l also
think that the entire militia of the United
States should be encouraged, and will recon-
mend that the annual appropriation be in
creased from 100000 to $600,000."
Gen. Benets recommendation in his forth
coming annual report will be to more COM
pletely arm and equip the whole body of
militia, as contemplated by the act of 1908.
He will reiterate the statement previously
made that "our standing army is small
one. For the defense OF the country our
main dependence is on our militia. The
militia should, therefore, be kept in the best
condition possible for actual service. Volun-
teer organizations in every state and terri
tory should be encouraged and every effort
made to promote their efficiency in drill and
discipline and make them skllful in the use
of their arms. 1t is the best way and the
only way to render them sure and safe
reliance on the breaking out of war and be-
fore little campaigning has Injured them to
hard service and disciplined them into old
soldiers 1t is earnestly recommended that
the special attention of congress be invited to
this subject in order that the bill above
quoted may receive favorable consideration
at the ensuing session"
The bill now pending before congress, the
passage of which has been urged by the Presi-
dent senate committee on military affairs
secretary of war, and Gen. Benet, is in the
form of an amendment to tho revised statutes.
1t provides that $500 900 be appropriated an
nually for arms equipments, ammunition,
ordnance stores, and tents for the militia, the
amount to be apportioned among the several
states and territories, according to the num-
ber of regularly enlisted, organized, and uni
formed active militia. The number of mill
tiamen shall not exceed in time of peace six
huQdrel raprpSnutltiyA lalppata
and that the District of Columbia shall be
treated asa territory, entitled to one delegate
in congress. This will allow the district if
passed, six hundred arms and equipments.
Col. William G. Moore, of the Washington
Light Infantry battalion, was met last night
by REPUBLICAN reporter and asked,
Colonel, do you think the President has
authority under the old law to issue an order
through the adjutant general consolidating
the district militia"
HE has" replied the colonel, complete
authority over such militia as may be en-
rolled undcr the law of 1908, which provides
for the formation of certain number of
regiments, brigades, and divisions 1t is
question, however, whether, without further
legislation, he could interfere with existing
volunteer organizations"
"But few of their officers now hold commits
Rions. l hold one as captain of the Light In
fantry, aud all of my captains were commits
stoned as lieutenants by President Hayes Mt
the timo OF the railway riots. When tho in
tantry organized itselfint battalion of four
companies application was made to the adju-
tant general for commissions of higher grades,
but not oven an acknowledgment of the com
municntion was received from his office"
'dNhat legislation 10 necessary to fix the
status OF the district miita?"
"The President could, if il was his pleasure
to do so, commission the officers of the pros
ent military organizations, and of course
upon the acceptance of tho appointments
their recipients would become subject to his
orders. Any legislation that should be had
by congress would have to make provision
for the necessary expenses of such an organi-
cation as they might authorize"
would you be willing TO consolidate with
the other companies into regimentW
II would not. With much labor aud ex-
pense we have built up battalion Of which
we are justly proud, and we would be unwill-
ing to lose our identity by any merging pro-
cess. Washington is now the headquarters
of an artillery regiment, in command of Gen.
Ayres, who for his distinguished and gallant
services during the war was made Il brevet
major general in the army If briga-
dier general of our militia were appointed
in case OF an emergency, he might be
called upon to command an able and expert
enced officer like Gen. Ayres. 1t seems to me
that the United States officer in command of
this post land his rank will probably never be
less than that of q colonell should command
-. I.ll