The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-12

3 xaSress "a rsrasftancss 20 PoxT fsTzLff-
uaeHt go aeatsle-
rnx NEEDS or THE MILITIA.
what il werth doing AZ all II worth
doinr we'll. II 10 is advisable 70 carry
out project Il almost goes without
saving that the sooner work or y =
begun the better 1t viii be for all
eoI.cerned or interested in Il. u .
commonwealth has decided 70 main.
4nin ! militia force within IS bound
arie. the sooner that militia Is organ
lied equipped. drilled, and plaeesi 10 =
state Of efficiency the better i viii be
Tor he people who have ssea IL 20 fcs-
Ter and support such Al. organization
The :ast ferritDriai legislature
slesn,esl il wise and expedisnt TO put
the na.ionaI guard Of Washington on
: better footing than that on which Y
had previously stood and as q result o.
small and searceiy-fell tax the organ
iz.tioa Of two regiments has been sue
ocssfuIIy completed. and an interest
a6ahenesi In military matters which
!urpn.ises much for the future and
) esnsrantees 10 the community a splen-
ala body OF frue aud tried men who
will staad ready TO do ssrygee when
Aser necessity compeis the nation or
territory to look for safety TO the mil
itaFy arm.
II was 81 course idle 20 hope that
tie newly reorganized force could ut
once be brought up to the standard o.
troops In the older and Weather states
u the East, for the reason that an ex-
isemeiy modest sum was oil that could
& FIRST be expected from the territory.
1hcappropriation granted has been
ussd TO great advantage, iiosevef. and
m examination into the present con-
difion 81 the militia cannot fail to con-
yincs people that the money has been
judiciously expended and an improve
n.ent made which must be gratifying
% those who werc apprehensiye as 70
10 amount Of good that would result
frDm the outlay.
Ystthere Is much TO be accomplished.
and those who have interested them
seiyes In territorial military affairs
ahonld not desist from work until the
reorganization Is complete and every
eompany Ii recruited 10 its full quota.
eempleteIy equipped. thoroughly
drilled and In every way placed on q
arm foundation and ready for service
As much as ressiblc should be done at
once. for, II 1t Is advisable to have
militia IL all. II Is certainly Imperative
hat il should be al Efficient one; and
no militia force can be efficient unless
Il is well drilled and disciplined and
provided with every essential in the
NAy III quarters, arms and equipments.
Notwithstanding the fact that an cs-
pecially fine body Of young men have
enlssted since the passage OF the militia
law, and that much has been done tow
ards making reliable soidiery OF them,
there Ii great deal yet 70 be accom-
plished In the matter of providing
nrp,s, uniforms, accouterncnts, and
camp and field necessities. Uniform
ity and similarity OF dress are not yet
sigidly insisted on: some companies
arr still using the old and discarded
b)-calibcr rifle; overcoats have not as
vet been issued: the men are without
blankets. service-belts, and canteens,
and tents have hardly been thought
Of and yet. II there should be call
for the service OF the national guard
these supplies would lie nearly as, II
not more. essential than rifle and cart
ridge.
II is folly III this time TO allow any
defects of organization 10 70 neglected,
and equally so 10 offer any actual
needs to remain nnsuppslcd. There Is
IN ample fund upon which to draw.
and by utilizing portion OF IL the en-
tire force can be properly equipped in
every particular and at enee put In an
excellent condition. ready for iInmedi-
ate service. The allowance for the
territory from the federal government
II If present over 5000 year. and
there now stands To our credit be-
tween 5000 and 5000 in the national
treasury. With the presidents sigma.
tufc Of the bill rcimhursing the terri
tory for arms and munitions furnished
IN the Oregon Indian war, Sis,eU
more will be available, all Of which.
with the present light tax for militia
purposes, will be sufficient for all the
pressing wants OF tho territorial In
fantry and cavalry. and more than
meet The outlay fora much.nceied en-
cAmpment during the coming sum
mer.
There should BE- little delay in max
ing a requisiiion for the money due
theterritory from The government. and
still less In furnishing al troops with
the supplies that are necessary TO
render the militia organization uni.
formly serviceahle, A new impetus
win thereby I've given 10 honest and
faithful work by both regiments, the
drilling incident TO encamrrnent ma
neuvers can be commenced, and when
during such an encampment the day
arrives for an inspection OF the entire
brigade, II can he confidently expected
that the national guard Of Washing.
tom will present most crcaitahle APP
pearance and give abundant evidence
that IL Is well-drillesl and thoroughly
reliable organization,
COUNTY AFFAIRS.
Yesterday afternoon the Puget