Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03

some very ancient member of the Ancient
and Honorable Artillery of Boston, has
ever been able to definitely determine.
The military conundrum, "What is a
spoontoon?'' has furnished q theme for
learned and exciting discussion at the meet
ings of the National Guard Association. NO
one was able to answer the question until
General Porter. Adjutant General ot New
York State, declared that it was short
halfpike or spear, which the subordinate
officers of a regiment were in the habit OF
carving 100 years ago, and that before our
late Civil War this old and peculiar weap-
on, which would seem to be part OF the
Middle Ages used to be carried in public
professions by officers Of the Ancient ana
Honorable Artillery of Boston. This an
cieut militia law has remained unchangeo
on the statute books since 1795; 1t may oe
called statutory anachronism ana II
should be promptly repealed, but it hangs
on surviving many better things.
THE HENDERSON BILL.
Recently there has been a bill presented
to Congress in the interest Of the National
Guard and which is of great public I'M
portance. In its present shape IL is largely
the work Of Secretary of War Proctor, who,
since be has occupied his present position,
has taken verv warm interest in the nm
proyement of the National Guard OF the
country.
General Keltou, the Adjutaut General of
the army, during his long service In the
army has had unusually close association
with the National Guard OF the different
States and has become also very anxious to
improve the organizations. He, too, has had
a great deal to do with the framing Of the
bill. At the last meeting oil the National
Guard Association at Washington this bill
was exhaustively discussed, and, after hav-
ing been revised so as to remove all ob]ec-
tions, was approved and recommended to
Congress for passage by the unanimous vote
of all the delegates.
The bill in question was introduced in
Congress by General Henderson, OF Illinois,
and hence is known as the Henderson
BILL" 1t repeals the obsolete legislation In
regard to the matter now contained In the
Revised Statutes. 1t increases the annual
appropriation from S400, 900 to 81, 600, 600,
and provides that it may be drawn in army
suppIies of all kinds, and permits the States
to purchase from the United States arsenals
ANYTHING which the latter make at the regu-
lation prices 1t authorizes the detail OF
regular officers to inspect the National
Guard of each State to inform the Govern
ment of its condition.
BENEFIT OF THE REGULARS.
It also authorizes any Governor, brigade
or division commander with the approval
of his Governor) to apply to the Secretary
of War to have a regular officer detailed on
the staff of the applicant, such officer to
hold his position at the pleasure of the ofti-
Ger to whom he is detailed and OF the Secre-
tarv of War, and provides that regular Off
GERS may be detailed to any camp of the
National Guard at the request OF the Gov
erpor of the State to act as instructors, and
to perform such duty as the Governor may
direct The bill also provides for the ac-
ceptance, by the President, of volunteers
from the National Guard, not to exceed
5000 men in any one year, to participate in
the annual maneuyers OF the army ano also
for other military duty.
The National Guard Association also in
dorsed the McCutcheon bill at its last meet
ing, which is pending in Congress, and pro-
vides that vacancies in the army which can
not be filled by the graduates of West Point
shall be filled from the commissioned officers
of the National Guard, and the other Nc
Cutcheon bill providing for sea coast heavy
artillery reserve.
This Henderson bill has the support Of
nine-tenths of the Congressman, and as far
as known the only thing which may stand
in the way of its enactment is the appre-
hension that Congress has already made
such large appropriations tor pensions and
other matters, and has cut down the revenue
so, that it cannot afford to do anything for
the National Guard.
KELToN's PET IDEA.
One Of the provisions contained in the
bill is an innovation, being the idea of Gen.
eral Kelton's, the effect of which is antici-
pated with great interest; that is to say that
the volunteer, officers and men of the Ma
tional Guard of the different States may be
received by the Secretary of War and be
allowed to serve in the practice maneuvers
which the regular army now annually per-
forms. 1t is impossible, if it would be de-
sirable, to order any number of the National
Guard for such duties but there are many
of them who are full OF military enthusiasm
and who are sufficiently anxious to perfect
themselves in practical military instruction
as to be willing to volunteer, SO that the
aggregate in State would be sufficient to
make up a number of small organizations.
II these were to be accepted they would give
an additional strength to the regulars
which thev now need in performing their
maueuyers, while, at the same time, it Is
believed by General Kelton and others that
the maneuvers would give National Guards
men a practical idea of service which they
are unable to get under ordinary conditions.
What the National Guard needs is prac-
tical instruction. 1t is needless to expect
from men, who only can give portion of
their time to military matters, the discipline
which is obtained in the army. The great
question, therefore, is to what extent it is
possible to carry out practical instruction in
| field work in the National Guardf
One of the important requirements in the
National Guard of to-day, the Importance
e ,ok m Stofo ic
| that a soldier is not soldier unless he
knows how to shoot, any more than a book
| keeper would be q competent accountant il
| he could not write. Much attention has
been paid to this part of the training and
great success has been attained, particularly
in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts!
and Pennsylvania.
RESULT OF THIS TRAINING.
No mob that was ever organized could
stand three minutes in front of a company
of first-class regiment of the present day
| militia, all marksmen armed with breech
| leaders, vino, in that time, would fire al
| least ten shots, every one Of which would
hit. What is more, the knowledge that
this skill exists is possessed by that part Of
our population who are likely to participate
| in mob. They do not relish the idea Of
being shot any better than anybody else.
There have been great improvement,
made in the National Guard of Chicago
The First Regiment Of Illinois have just
taken possession of q magnificent armory
and. in the last ten years, the progress il
| the National Guard of Illinois has been
marked. From what have heard, this i'm
provement in Chicago has been largely the
work of public-spirited citizens rather than
of the State, but it has been none the les,
| imnortant on that account. In Missouri