The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-23
NATIONAL GUARD.
A Practical Champion for 1t
Found From California.
The General Of the Third Brigade Returns of
Dickinson's Command "A Close Contest
for Ensign-Promotions Announced.

Congressman Cutting of California has
announced himself as the champion Of the
National Guard Of the United States. and at
the coming session OF Congress will intro
duce "a bill TO promote the efficiency of the
militia" That bill will also be considered
next month at the officers convention in
this city for endorsement The time is at
hand when the old militia bill of 1882, with
all its absurd provisions, considered in the
light of the present day, must be erased from
the statue books.
This is the dead letter law, which requires
every citizen, after he has received notice Of
his installment to be Constantly provided
with a coed musket or firelock, of bore
sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part Of
a pound, sufficient bayonet and belt, two
spare hints, a knapsack, a pouch with box
therein to contain not less than twenty-fOur
cartridges suited to the bore of his musket
or frelock, each cartridge to contain a
proper quantity of powder and ball, etc.
This is also the law. which gravely de-
mands that each commissioned officer shall
be armed with a sword, or hanger and
spontoon" and if there are any who doubt
that these Obsolete regulations are not the
law of the land for the well regulated
militia" which the constitution declares,
sis necessary to the security of free State. "
they are referred to the thirty-sX sections
numbered from 1925 to 1861, Revised Stat
utes of the United States of America
NEW MEASURES NEEDED.
The admitted fact is that the National
Guard has far outstripped the measures
of 1892 for its organization and develop
ment; in some States because of the sup
port given il by the State Government, but
mainly because of the organizations them
selves and the individual efforts Of their
members.
Scores of measures have been introduced
for the purpose of having Congress organ
ize, arm and discipline the militia in accord
ance with the constitutional declaration TO
that effect but they all came to naught and
the law of 1892 with few and, on the
WHOLE unimportant amendments, still
stands hollow pretense TO mock the mill
tary progress of the nation.
The most radical of the proposed meas
nres was that of Representative David B.
Henderson Of l wa, introduced at the pre-
yious session, but it did not become law,
tay5raby as it was generally received. The
groundwork of Cuttings bill is Henderson's,
even to the appropriation of the language of
some of the sections but it is much simpler.
more practical and does not adopt the radi-
cal and. perhaps. impractical conditions
which buTdened the Henderson measure,
Withal the Cutting bill brings the Ma
tional Guard in closer touch with the War
Department without attempting any pro-
fessed scheme Of naturalization, and it does
so without oyerturning the existing State
organizations OF the imposing Of conditions
foreign to the well understood pecularities
OF the cit zen soldier OF the original law
Cuttings bill repeats II sections, amends 6.
ard retains 20, to which is added new sec
tons and the euacting clause, to take effect
Immediately.
CUTTINGS BILL OUTLINED
The amended and new sections outline the
following scheme: The militia shall con-
sst of every able-boded male citizen of the
age of Is and under 10, the organized militia
TO be the National Guard and the morgan
lied the reserve militia. The National
Guard shall consist Of such regularly en-
listed troops as are or may be organized in
the States and Territories in pursuance OF
respective laws not in conflict with the gen.
eral law.
Neither class will be subject or liable to
military duty to the United States except
when called into service by act of Congress
passed for that purpose or by a pTnclama-
ton of tile President, and every officer ard
enlisted man OF the National Guard refusing
martial The organization shall conform AS
closely as possible to that of the regular
army. Each State and Territory shall have
its Adjutaut-General and shall make its re-
turns and reports to the Secretary of War
as prescribed by the latter, who in his an
nual report shall transmit t. Congress an
abstract Of such State and Territorial re-
ports, with such observations as he may
deem necessary for further information.
Tire system of drills and tactics for the
National Guard will be that Of the regular
army. The annual appropriation will be
100000 (orlg nally 100000 and increased
to 100000 Tor the issue to the guard of
ordnance, QuartermaSter, subsistence ana
other military stores and supplies, such pur-
chase ana manufacture of stores and sup
plies to be made under the direction of the
Secretary of War in the same manner as
manufactured or otherwise provided for the
Use OF the army
APPROPRIATION APPoRTIoNMENT.
Such stores and supplies will remain the
property of the United States, receipted and
accounted for. and when unserviceabe dis
posed OF as the Secretary may direct. This
appropriation shall be apportoned pro rata
according to an allotment based upon the
number of active, uniformed and organized
National Guard mustered between March
1st and March 30th of the fiscal year imme-
diately preceding that for which the allot-
ment is made, officers of the army being de-
tailed to verify the presence of the men aud
the allotment made the certificates of the
officers so detailed.
Every State and Territory may moreover
and in addition purchase arms, ordnance
equipments, stores aud supplies from any
department Of the army at the price at
which they are listed to the army, and funds so
received shall not be covered into the Treas
ury, but shall be used TO replace articles
thus sold, and shall for this purpose be
available until used. The Secretary of War
is authorized to receive ordnance and stores
which on June 30, 1887, were unserViceaole
and unsuitable and to credit the States and
Territories with the same, so as to balance
their respective accounts on that date.
National Guards furnished and equipped
as above must yearly, unless excused by the
Governor, 20 into camp Of instruction or
be- Quartered at a United States port for in
struction in heavy artillery at least five con-
secutiVe days, assemble for drill and instruc-
ton not less than twelve times and shall re-
quire an annual inspection of each organi-
zstiOn by its officers.
PATRIOTIC PROVISIONS.
Officers Of the army may be detailed to
attend encampments of such guards and re-
port 10 the Secretary Of War, who shall fur
nish copy of the report to the Governor.
Upon the application of the latter officers of
the army may also be detailed to act as in
structors, but when SO detailed shall receive
no pay or emoiuments from the United
States, eXcept those of his rank in the army,
such appointment revokable at the request
OF the Governor or at the pleasure OF the
Secretary of War.
Then follow three sections which will
meet with hearty response from every
American:
SECTION 10. That IL shall be unlawful for any
person or persons not citizens OF the United
States TO publicly parade with firearms or 10 Join
In any public parade with firearms.
sec 70 That II shall be unlawful for any per-
son or persons to publicly parade and carry any
national flag or emblem other tn u the flag OF
the United States without first obtaining permits
zion IN willing OF the Governor of The state or
Territory where such parade takes placs.
Sec. 81. That every person found guilty OF A
violation OF the provisions of Sections 8 and 30
ceeding $500 and by Imprisonment until The fine
ls pare, Dut slen Imprisonment not TO exceed one
day Tor each 81 OF tie fine imposed.
BRIGADIER OF THE THIRD,
Captain Matthew w. Muller of C Fresno)
Oh the oiXth infantry received word on