The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-13
The Militia Appropriation.

Inc MllUla Appropriation.
The senate is much more liberal than
the house in dealing with the militia.
The reason is probably that the
chairman of the senate committee on mill
tary affairs was a distinguished soldier in
the civil war, and has always taken deep
interest in military matters. His com
mittee has reported a bill apprOpriating
S6O0,000 for the use of the militia during
the next fiscal year. The senate last year
passed bill appropriating that amount for
TIE militia, but the house cut it down to
100000. The annual appropriation for
militia purposes before that time had been
S2OO,000 sum wholly inadequate for the
object to which it was applied. There
Is now pending in the house a bill making
the annual militia appropriation 81 ,O0O, 900,
but there is not much prospect that it will
be passed There is some probability, how
ever, that the house will agree to the senate
bill, and if it does those interested in having
a well equipped militia will be satisfied for
time at least
Congress has been strangely Indifferent
about the militia. 1t has never seemed to
appreciate its Importance, and the little
money that has been given to it has not
been appropriated willingly. The reason is
not easy to understand. Congress has all
the authority that is necessary to provide
for well organized and well equipped
militia force, but it has seemed to feel that
| such force was not necessary, or, if nee
essary, that it ought to be maintained by
the states, or at the expense Of those com
! posing it.
The regular army is very small. In the
| event of a war it would not be sufficient
| for the purposes of defense The dependence
| of the country would be largely upon the
militia. Why then should not the militia
be properly organized, armed and equippedl
There are plenty Of young men who would
like to become members of military organ
| izations, but they cannot afford to do So
Their incomes are not sufficient to justify
the expense. The government ought to
furnish everything that is needed by the
militia, such as arms, equipments, ordnance
stores and tents. In fact, the government
could not invest money to better advantage
than in these things They would not be
lost nor destroyed. They would be used
when needed for drill and practice, and
would be available should the militia be
called into the service of the government
1t is too much to expect of young men
that they will hold themselves in readiness
to respond to the call of the government
and also to provide at their own expense
about everything that they require as mem
bers Of military organizations. They are
ready to serve the government whenever
they are called upon, but the expenses
which are inseparable from connection with
military organizations should not come out
of their pockets.
There are at present over 1000 officers
and men in the organized militia forces of
the country. The number has been consid-
erably increased since the increase of the
annual militia appropriation from $500, 900
to 100000, and it is probable that the in
crease will be still more marked if the APP
preparation is increased to 5000, 900. These
100, 900 citizen soldiers could be quickly
shaped into an effective army. Many of
them are splendidly drilled, and all
of them are more or less familiar with the
use of arms. They are nearly all picked
men, and about as much dependence could
be placed upon them in an emergency as
| upon regular troops. And these militia
forces are only costing the government
100000. How many millions of dollars
would it cost to maintain a regular army of
100000 menl Surely congress ought not to
hesitate to appropriate 100000, nor even
| 81, 900, 900, for militia purposes