National Republican., 1883-10-04
BICYCLE races, Athletic park to-day.
THE DISTRICT MILITIA.

Interesting Letter from the District Conn
missioners to the War Department.
The commissioners are evidently desrous
of having the status of the district militia
determined, as can be seen from the follow
ing letter, and will doubtless make certain
recommendations to the secretary of war be-
fore the annual report Of the latter is COM
pleted. 1t Is understood that the matter has
been in the hands of Adjutant General Drum
for some time, and that he has determined
upon plan of organization which will be
forwarded to the secretary of war at an early
day. Tho particulars of the proposed organi-
zation are known only to Gen. Drum, and
will probably not be known until the matter
has been properly submitted.
OFFICE OF THE CGMMIssIo NERs DISTRICT OF Co
LuMBIA, WASHINGTON, oct. 2, 1SS3.-GEN. s. v.
BhNET, CHIEF OF ORDNANCE, y. S. A.-S,r: In COM
pliancS to the usage in similar cases heretofore,
The Commissioners of the District of Columbia
lave the honor to transmit herewith requisi
lion for AIMS and accoutrements - equip tho first
company Union veteran corps. THIS requisition
is made ut the request of Capt. NJ. A. Tappun,
commanding the organization referred TO- and is
taxing occasion to bung to your attention and
that of the secretary of war the anomalous prac-
Columbia who are not, as far as the commission
efs Gun discover, either controlled or disciplined
by law. The volunteer soldiery Of Washington
are composed of excellent material, and embrace
very worthy class OF society. They are justly
held In high esteem, Capt. Tappan's organization
equally with otheIs, II is presumed. But the re-
lationn that might arise between these military
organizations and the commissioners nuke The
latter desrous Of having them established upoI
mn unqur Stonable legal bIs The commits
sioners neither invite the imposition ofany duty,
nor will they shrink from ANY duty enjlnGd
upon them, but the possible uses for which
an armed volunteer force might be REQUIRED i'll
suppressing civic disorders, the warning tHUt
there should be nothing equivocLl in the obiga-
tons of that force or In the exercise of authority
over them. The commissioners respectfully in
yite your attention to the revised statutes of Q
They would also ask that you would consider II
different Interpretation of the revised statutes of
the United States, paragraph lGbl and paragraph
1867 than has been hitherto customary, tnat arms
for the militia and volunteers OF the territories and
District Of Columbia are chargeable to the annual
appropriations made for the several states The
commissioners find OCCASION for congiatulaton
that the peace of the city of Washington is less
likely to be disturbed than that OF any other city
OF the union but the security of the large amount
Of national property here would seem to require
that the men who bear the arms OF the govern
ment should be brought under the compulsory
discipline of Its laws, however ready they might
be to voluntarily comply with them. With this
expression of their views the commissioners de-
sire 10 state that the forwarding of the accom-
panying requisition is compliance with usage
'nly and that they have neither obligation nor
authority in the premises J. B. EDMoNDs,
President Board Of Commissioners,
The requisition is for eighty Springfield
rifles, caliber 45, with accoutroments, append
ages, and spare parts, to be shipped to Capt
NJ. A. Tappan, commanding 1st company
Union Veteran corps, Washington, d. G.