Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-02

This Month.
AN EFFORT TO BE MADE TO SECURE LEGIsIA.
rIoN IN THE INTEREST OF MILITIA oRGANI.
zATIoN-MoRE MONEY wANTKD-oRsoLErE
LAWS ON THE STATUTE BOOKS
The NTH convention OF the National Guard
Association of the United States will be held in
this city on the 10Th instant, at ten a. m, at
the Ebbitt house. The circular making the an
nouncement calls attention to the fact that
Congress will then be In session, and it is
hoped that the National guard of each state
will be represented in such q manner as will
materially help the association In its efforts to-
wards securing legislation from Congress for a
more generous support OF the militia of the
several states, q work in which it has been en-
gagged for the last four years. At the last ses-
sion it procured the passage through the Senate
of Gen. Sewell's bill, increasing the annual ap-
preparation for arms and ordnance stores for
the militia from S200, 900 tths amount al
which it has remained since 1865 to $500. OOO
and also secured q favorable report of the mill
tia committee of the House upon Gen. Slocum's
Dill undermining the present obsolete provisions
OF the United States militia law (Which has re-
manned substantially unchanged since 1892
Neither OF these bills could be reached in the
House, and, therefore, failed to become laws
passed If they had been reached. The assoca-
ton intends to renew its exertions at the OPEN
Ing of the next Congress, but, to insure success,
1t is necessary that the congressman from the
several states should understand that the
measure is popular one among their constit-
uents Each state is entitled to send five dele
gates from the officers or ex-officers of its Ma
uonal guard TO the convention.
The following subjects are announced for dis
in each state during the past year in advancing
the efficiency of Its national guard. 2. The
relative merits OF regimental or brigade camps
and whether 1t is best to hold them near large
cities. 3. Suggestions in regard to Gen. Slo-
Gums bill, for the improvement OF the militia
WHAT GEN. oRDwAY SAYS.
Knowing Of the interest that Gen. Albert
Ordway takes il militia matters a STAR re.
porter called on him at his Office to learn some
reply TO inquiries Gen. Ordway said that this
Will make the fifth annual convention of the
National Guard association. The first was
st. Louis, Philadelphia and Cincinnati Gen.
Ordway added that he had attended the first
convention as an active memper from Vir-
glnia, put since then his membership was only
through courtesy. He expressed himself as
strongly interested in the matter and hoped
that something would be done at an early day
for generous and uniform support Of the
militia.
THE PURPOSES OF THE ASSOCIATION.
There Is good deal of misapprehension in
the public mind" he said, las to the purposes
OF the National Guard association. Some people
imagine that the end in view is to centralize
the power and to establish O national militia,
That Is a great mistake. There is no intention
OF interfering with state militia rights what
ever All that Is desired is to secure for the state
organizations recognition by the government,
SO tnat they may be given deserved support,
and have some uniformity in their organza-
ton and conduct
OBSOLETE LAWS.
eve want to get rid of the obsolete laws relat-
ing to militia" continued Gen. Ordway, "and
substitute live legislation by which the state
military organizations will be recognized and
ieei mat tney are OF some Importance. The law
OF 1893, which appropriates 100000 for the
m1iftfa OIL seventeen states and less than eight
millions OF people, hardly Suffices for thirty
eight states and over fifty million people. Yet
nothing never has been done And really no law
affecting the relations of the militia with the
people has been enacted since 1892. We want
these obsolete forms of law which have never
been annulled to give place to something bene-
hcial to all concerned"
CASE IN POINT.
"Here Is an instance of the righteousness of
the laws of 1792,a applied to the present day."
Gen. Ordway went on, opening and reading
from the statutes. Every citizen shall after
with good musket, or fire lock, Of a bore suffi-
cient for balls of the eighteenth part of pound
a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare fiints
and knapsack, a pouch with box therein, to
contain not less than twenty-four cartridges
suited to the bore of his musket or fire lock
each cartridge to contain proper quantity of
powder and ball, or with q good rifle. knapSack
shot pouch or powder horn, twenty balls suited
to the bore of his ride and a quarter of a pound
OF powder, ana snail appear, SO armed, accOu-
tered and provided when called out to exercise
or into service. except that when called out in
camp days to exercise only, ne may appear
without knapsack. Each COM
mander shall be armed with sword or hanger
and spontOon.'
STATE MILITIA FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
sour foretathers,' he said, recognized the
rights of the states to selfdefense to such an
extent as to amend the Constitution to make
such provision and yet it seems impossible now
adays to secure even u recognition of state mill
tia. We want national militia only to such
an extent that, In case state organizations are
called upon tor national defense, there will be
uniformity OF organization, equipment and
treatment"