Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-14
THE VALUATION COMMITTEE.

his deep regret at parting with his colore1 SOL
diers. and gives as his reason for his disband-
ment that Congress failed to provide the neces-
sary armory rent. Section II of the act Of
March /, 1889, provides for no more than
twenty eighs companies of infantry,
one battery of light artillery, one
signal corps, one ambulance corps, one en-
gineer corps, one band of music and one corps
of field musicians, besides making provisions
for brigade general and staff.
Section IS Of the same act provides that
when company Of the National Guard shall
contain less than the minimum number Of en-
listed men prescribed by this act, or shall be
found to have fallen below proper standard
OF efficiency, the commanding general may
either disband such company or consolidate it
with any other company of the National Guard
and grant an honorable discharge to the super
numerary officers and non-commissioned Off
cersproduced by such consolidation. L am
informed that the total strength Of the National
Guard Of the District Of Columbia as mustered
does not exceed /, 200 men. including the two
colored battalions, which ! presume number
at least 300 men. Congress by the act Of March
3, 1881, has appropriated for armOry rent, fuel,
light, care and repair Of armories, $4,000;
quite a large sum for 800 men after disbanding
the colored battalions. Some of the rents paid
are entirely out of proportion to the number
OF men occupying these armOrles.
For instance, why should 5000 per annum
be paid for rent Of the Market armory when
only about ten companies occupy it, whose
maximum strength does not exceed thirty-five
men to company! Why not consolidate some
OF these skeleton companies and make room for
one of the colored battalions? Why pay 81, 400
per annum for the Rink property for housing
two companies, artillery and cavalry-not
counting the ambulance corps, which amounts
to nothing-whose total strength does not ex-
coed seventy-five men, and them too, when the
law does not provide for one of these-the cav
airy company? Why pay 81 500 per annum for
the Infantry armory for the exclusive use of
that battalion, that never parades with the
National Guard more than 100 men, and then
permit the Infantry to rerent the same for fairs
and entertainments and when so rented it is
debarred from National Guard uses and enters
into competition with private halls for public
patronage? Why pay 81 800 per annum rent
for riiie gallery That is of little practical use?
All the practicing required can be done at the
army range at the Washington barracks be-
tween April and November. And, lastly, why
pay sl.416 for sumptuous headquarters in
fashionable locality, when more modest quar-
tiers can be obtained for a considerable less
sum elsewhere.
whom have discussed this subject, that if Gen.
Ordway is earnest in his wishes to retain the
colored battalions in the guard he can consol-
idate some of the skeleton companies in the
two regiments and make room in the first regi-
ment for the seventh battalion and in the sec-
ond regiment for the eighth battalion. Ii this
plan cannot be considered feasible, then why
not reduce the rent of some of the buildings
now rented and thereby save sufficient amount
to pay armory rent for the colored battalions?
They were the first to Join the National Guard,
have made about the best average record since
they have formed part thereof, and it does
not seem exactly fair that as citizens of this
District they should be deprived OF representa-
ton in the military whose existence is provided
for from the District revenues.
The last Congress may have done q wise
thing, owing to the city depleted treasury, in
reducing the appropriation for the next fiscal
year for support of the National Guard In this
District, but the action taken by Gen. Ordway
in Kidding the guard Of its imaginary incubus
may prove boomerang to him in the next
Congress. He has no legal right to disband
these battalions, as they were a part of the
twenty-eight companies under the law They
were about the first enlisted and accepted and
have fulfilled all the requirements of the act
The next Congress may, in its spirit of
economy, conclude to not appropriate any
thing tor the guard and thereby allow il to
drop into innocuous desuetude. The colored
warriors have already threatened to carry
their grievances there for proper redress. In
any event TO great misfortune can befall our
beautiful city IL the National Guard organiza-
tion Is wiped out. The military companies
here were independent and prospered long be-
fore there was . National Guard and will con-
tinue to do SO in the future; some are in that
condition now. The twenty or more thou
sand dollars appropriated 10 keep up this show
could be- much better used in improving and
identifying tho city. The police and United
States regulars can always look after the law.
lesa Respectfully, GEo. W. IvAxA