The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-08
NATIONAL GUARD.
Things Accomplished by Its Off.
GERS Association.
recognizing the Signal Ccrps-Medals on
Undress Coats Upton improved Upon
1Ifantrymen on Tramp.

The devotion of the civilian soldier to a
service which is a constant pecuniary charge
up on him was forcibly demonstrated at the
officers convention on Monday evening by
the large assembly in attendance, and the
thorough harmony, though widely differing
opinions, displayed. No feature of the dis
cussions was more striking than the solicit
tude expressed for the rights of the enlisted
volunteer in that service. One Of the best
received things Of the convention was the
address of Colonel Dickinson, as President
of the association, and herewith given:
Gentlemt n: As your President IL becomes my
duly TO make to You my annual report, and you
Will reihafs laidou ne II. IN so DONG. give a
brief resume of The history and work of lie as
ISOLATION. as 10y The changes caused by the add
lion OF new companies there are many of tie
present members, officers of the National Guard,
and members OF this association, who not
fully acquainted with its workings aud objects,
by reason OF the short time with while thew have
been connected with it.
This association was, organized on the LIST
day OF December, 1854, at which time II mel in
San Francisco. aud al which meeting there was
large representative attendance. canstitlI-
lion and bylaws were adopted and proper COM
nttees appointed 10 carry on lis work, which
was and Is 10 promote The interests of the Ma
tional Guard and 10 mutually aid and assist
each other III the performance Of our resi- ective
duties
81 that time lie law governing us was In a very
Guide and unsatisfactory state. For instance:
III provided nothing for uniforms and equip.
ments ana was bliud in many particulars re-
gaiding enlisments and discharges. com
mittee. called a "LegiSlative Committee" was
appointed collect information fGr the use OF the
members OF The Legislature. which convened In
JANUARY, 1855, and also for lie b. neht Of the
pubilc at large. lie committee obtained copies
OF the laws and regulations OF every Stale and
Territory In the Union having National Guard
and cullaled infotma hon pertaining TO the sub
ject In this State which was published in the
torn OF circular, and distributed throughout
The State, when, ior The first time citizens gen.
= u IN I'm tsZnt
It's efforts and we received kind ard consideraie
treatment al The hands of that Legislature.
THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.
AS the result OF our efforts ten sections OF the
code pertaining to the National Guard were
amen ded aud revised. We secured an allowance
for en- campment OF $4,000. which enabled us
10 have division encamrmeDt, which was held
at Santa Cruz in The summer OF 1885, and was
The trst and only one ever held in California. AL
the n, At Legislature, in 1887 eight sections of
the code were revised and amended TIN ough our
tnoltS. i EN- companies were added TO The
National Guard. An allowance OF $500 for
target practice was secured, also of $500 for the
equipment Of The Calling Battery; $50 900 for
encampmenI purposes and $4,000 for uniforms
and equipments.
In 1889 sixteen sections OF the code were re-
yised aud amended; zen companies added
TO The Natlonal Guard ana appropriations secured
as follows: Encampment, $4,000; uniforms
Tor the old companies. $4,000; new companies,
S2S,oo0i for Target practice, $1,000; for lie
Signal Corps, $1,000, for the equipment of tile
Light Battery attached TO the Second Artillery
Regiment, $1,000; and of The San Francisco
Hussars, $500, and we were particularly fortu-
maize in arou>ing the Legislature TO the import
ance OF uhlloinlag and equpplng the guard at
the expense VI The State.
As TO Tie amendments and revisions OF the
Code, We can truly say that they have all been
for The best interests OF the entire National
Guard, and the moneys appropriated aud re-
ceiyed nave been absolutely necessary for Its
support, for the time has passed in this State
when you could 60 forth and equip regiment
and uniform II by private subscription. 1t has
been done in The past. but II is not likely 10 be
done In the future, and LEGISLATORS
DlZinG The duty imposed upon them by the Con-
stitution OF the Slate, which Constitution repre-.
sents the views aud sentiments OF the people,
and which directs that The Legislature shall
provide by law for the organizing and DISCIPLINE
Ing OF the militia, have performed that duty
faithfully ana Willingly, ana as the result the
National Qua dsman IN this State is not now Ie-
quiied. and don't think will ever again be, to
buy his own uniform and equipments and serve
the State In addition. without compensate
We are now, as always, willing 10 give our ser
vices without pay, but We should never rest un-
III the State pays all OF The actual cost of main
tenance.
- SECTIONAL FEELINGS REMOVED.
Again, the feeling that formerly existed
throughout The State, that all National Guard
legislation was In favor Of tile commands To-
Gated IN The city and county OF San francisco
has, by the efforts of our association, been en-
tiiely removed, for OF the twenty companies
added since 1884, when this association was
organized, nineteen have been located in other
portions OF tIis state than San Francisco, and
u OF these new companies have been uniformed
enlteiy at the expense of the State, and encamp-
meht allowances nave Deen provided III which
they have shared equally with the Older COM
panies, and ii better and more sociable feeling
prevails throughout the National Guard AS
one OF the results OF our organization the efii-
cieucy OF The National GuaId has been increased,
and the association Is entitled to your hearty
support.
The Treasurer has given me the receipts for
each year, and expenditures during the life OF
he association, which are AS follows: In 1886
S23S; 1857, 1882; 1888, S2S1; 1889, $40;
1890. S145 collected 10 date. Total receipts,
sl241. Paid out, 1885 Sc, s4S; 1887, s479 10;
1855. SO 20; 1889, 1881 80 making Tue total
expended S9lS 20, and leaving balance in
hand Of 1922 "a Tie disbursements have been |
Tor postage and printing, and expenses OF COM
inntees, lnll reports OF which. in detail, have
been made from time 10 time TO lite association, |
aud il Is hoped that the dues Will be regularly
paid as The money is well expended in the inter |
eSis OF the National Guard
Our association has no political significance |
whatever and has never had, for Will we have |
addressed circulars 10 members OF the Legis- |
latuie, and through our committees have |
appeared before committees OF Tie Legislature. |
SIN IL has all been done III the interests OF The
National Guaid OF the State, and 10 acquaint our
In The Legislature with our necessities aud |
reasonable requirements, and Congratulate The |
association upon the success which has attended !
cur Efforts. |
An EXTRAORDINARY REPORT. |
An extraordinary piece Of work was 'the |
oracle's" report of that annual meeting of |
the National Guard Officers Association of |
the State of California. The first statement !
worthy of notice is the one that the men, !
bers "are connected with one or the other of |
the various regiments of the State The |
ignorant might otherwise have Numbered |
into believing that the members of this State |
military association are highbinderS, or pu- |
gliists, or baseball players, or, perhaps |
the Cars Kossack regiments, the Pata- |
CONAN infantry reserve, and, possibly, also |
the Mozambique Light Artillery and the Zulu |
Zouaves. Colonel john ii. Dickinson did |
preside, but he is not Of "lhe First Artillery |
Regiment, n. G. c." If he is, who then is |
Colonel John w. Guthrie Of the First Artil- |
lery Regiment, who was ut the meeting and |
what has become Of Colonel Dickinson of |
the First Infantry?
Among these present, it is stated, "were
members of the stats of the six regiments |
of the State and a number of Captains of |
the various companies of the local regi- |
lnentS." In the first place there are eight