The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-24
FRIDAY. January "A. 1890.
TIM ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AID
JrrANT- GENERAL.

TIE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE All
JurANT- GENERAL.
The annual report for 1859 Of General
James Mcdonald, the efficient AdJutant-
General of the State, will be found to
contain many interesting facts and use
FIJI suggestions and recommendations
According to this valuable report there
n,e at present 2,7S6 officers and men on
tie roll Of the Virginia volunteers OF
' HON 2 go are white. and SIC colored.
There arc thirty-two companies OF
v bite infantry, and ten companies oil
black. with five batteries Of artillery
s9d five troops Of calvary, all white.
AS disclosing theneed for an organized
rnd we'll equipped force prepared to re-
fpond Immediately to any sudden DC
,sand for their intervention, reference
made to the fact that seven times
during the wear Just ended. tho civil
authority was compelled to invoke the
I'D Of military power to quell OF pre-
V.nt public disturbance. And YET IN
suite of the vital importance OF our
volunteer service. IL has not been sup
,.ofiei with the liberslity which it
undoubtedly deserves. The showing
which Virginia makes in this respect
compares very uufavorably with that
of many other States in the same con
Ucction.
The annual appropriation IN this state
for military purposes averages about
so 600. In New York, with National
Guard Of IA 222, about $500 600 per an
NUN Is set apart for the maintenance Of
The volunteer service, which does not
include special appropriations from
lime TO time. Massachusetts,, with
force Of $3.50 officers and men, appro-
pirates $4,000 per annum. Penn
svlvania. with force of 1876 officers
and men, appropriates 100000. Ohio,
with force of . 900 men, appropristes
$40. 900. and for the same length OF
time. Connecticut, with force Of $500
men. appropriates 100000.
Ii the instances Of all these States a
certain amount is allowed as pay to
both officers and men whom actively en-
gagged. and ample provision is made for
armory rent, fatigue uniforms and gen
eral equipments. Out Of the annual aP-
propfiations for the Virginia volunteers.
all tho expenses Of the military depart
ment are paid. making it impossible for
the soldier, according to The report ITO
receive more than two or three dollars
Il wear. while in addition to the time he
gives to the State, the labors of tho drill
room, the docking Of hs pay, if an en-
Move. and the possible hardehlps and
perils of the field, he must be at an out
Law Of ten or fifteen dollars year.
The Adjulant. General repeats the
recommendation made in his report for
1883 that the provision Of the Federal
law requiring a general enrolment OF
all able.bodied citizens over eighteen
and under forty-five years Of age, shall
D. strictly enforced, which would lead
10 the formation of reserve militia I'D
addition TO the active, which We now
hage. embracing all those who not be-
log members of the active militia. axe
exempt from the special duties, burdens
and charges imposed on the volunteers
For such exemption, the report de
clares. 1T is but reasonable that they
should make some slight contribution
IN money to be used in lessening the
expenses aud promoting the comfort
and efficiency Of the active militiS. A
small assessment per capita on those Of
this number who perform no military
dnty. not felt individually, will raise
handsome sum. D." This sum shall be
known rs the military fund, which
shall be- apporiioDed annually among
1evolunteer organizations OF the State.
In case there should be some constitu'
tional objection TO tho levyiug Of such
tax. on the ground that it is not equal
and uniform, the Adjutant- General
con.,ders the matter to DO Of such i'm
portauce as to justify an amendment to
the constitution in this respect, to re-
move every element Of consrsriety.