Evening journal., 1891-01-22
TO ABOLISH THE MILITIA.
REPRESENTATIVE RlDGeLY'S EGO
NoMlc SCHEME.

Proposition Made by aTr. Ridgely.
A movement is on foot to abolish The
National Guard Of Delaware. Repre-
sentative Ridgely II Kent county gave
notice in the House to-day OF bill to
repeal chapter 420, volume xvii, and
chapter IS. volume xviii, Laws OF Della
ware II this bill should be passed me
National Guard Of Delaware will be a
thing of the past, as they are the acts
establishing II in its present form. In
event OF its passage the only recourse The
governor would have in case of an emer-
gency requiring troops would be to issue
a call for able-bodied men, as provided in
the Revised Code.
The bill is backed principally by
farmers OF the state, who object TO the
expense Of encampments and maintain
ing the organization.
1t will be strongly opposed by the
friends Of the militia. and there is little
chance of the Legislature passing IL. The
unqualified approval of the organization
by Governor Reynolds Ia his inaugural
message viii do much TO defeat the bill
what General KenneY Says.
Late Adjutant- General Kenney said TO
night that the bill would never pass
The following extract from his bi en-
nial report to the Legislature throws
much light upon the way in which the
militia has been supported by the Federal
and not the State Government.
Strength Of the Guard.
The strength Of the National Guard.
as per the returns just made, is 557
officers and enlisted men, organized into
one Regiment Of Infantry, (eight com
psnies,) and one Squadron Of Cavalry,
two troops)
lnasmuch as there has been from some
quarters a continued complaint of the ex.
pense Of the annual encampment Of the
guard, and inasmuch as there are few who
are informed on the subject of what the
annual encampments have cost the state,
deem II proper, that | should, in this
report, set forth clearly the actual facts,
which will, or should. satisfy those com.
planning, and generally all unfriendly Il
the organization, that so far these err
campments have cost the state nothing.
How the Militia is Supported.
have already referred to the act o
Congress, passed in 1908, making al
annual appropriation of 5000 600, which
sum was divided among the states ac.
cording to their representation in Con-
gress, and each state was privileged Il
| draw arms and equipments annually e
the amount of its share of said $3.50, COO
! Any state failing to draw arms, etc, diS
not lose the benefit of sal.
share Of the appropriation. 6u
the amount so appropriated, or an,
balance thereof, was placed TO the state
credit-but was available only 10 arms
etc, and not in cash At the baginninl
1 Of the war of the rebellion there was
! large balance to the credit of this state
| it's undrawn share Of the said 5000. 600
which had from year TO year been place
to its credit. After organization, tb
| Delaware troops were mustered into th
United States service, taking with theI
into that service the state arms an,
accoutrements. At the end of the wal
or expiration OF the term Of service
these soldiers, they were duly mustere
out, turning over (wrongfully) 70 Ii
United States authorities these Delawai
arms, etc.
Delaware Legislation.
From the close Of this war to the Sc,
sion of our General Assembly of 1877
| h4HLE dUD cars u AANE Utbn UQInlI
known regarding the wrongful possessic
by the General Government OF tbes
arms, etc. But at that session a ioir
resolution was adopted, see Laws
Del. Vol 10 authorizing and directin
the attorney general to make demand q
and collect from the United States tn
money value of these stores, which wa
done, ana in June. July and October G
I NnN -
treasury of this state the sun OF twent,
eight Thousand, nine hundred and sixtl
nine dollars and seVenty-six cen
1928, 800 49, Lsee Report of Legislati'
Committee, January, 1879, being Il
value of the guns, etc above referred {
every cent of which shOnld have be.
accredited to the military department
the state. and not placed to the gener
fund. as was the case; for the reasC
that it was a conversion to money
stores given the state BY the Unit
States Government, for q specific purpos
viz: military, there being no intention
. the part of the United States TO give
the State of Delaware certain amou
Of arms, etc. annually. with which
arm and equip its militia. and therel
) prepare It for duty and service in case
nesd) but instesd thereof TO allow q
, state to convert them into money al
use it towards the maintenance Of pub
schools erection of state-houses,
building Of railroads.
Nevertheless, this 92s. .969 .78 was pa
into the treasury Of the state. and u.s.
the same as funds derived from intern
sources
Cost of Encampments.
The first encampment OF the sta
troops was held in 1887. just ten yea
after the SOS, $50. 76 had been received
the state, the simple interest on whic
up TO that time, amounted TO $i7. 38i s
) making the total fund, $46, 351 61. fro
4 which deduct the cost Of the 1887 q
campment, which was 81, ,922 IS, al
g there is balance Of $50, 1879 AZ. II
interest on this balance for one year. l
, to the encampment of 1888 Is 81. .367 z
, which, with the principal, makes Il
I fund $41, 477.19, from which dedu
the cost Of the encampment Of 1888
which was $S, 7S7 70, and there remaiI
I $32, $50 40 This balance, with i
interest for one year. makes $34, ESQ u
from which deduct the expenses Of II
encampment Of 1889. viz. $40 $50 Q
and there is left $23, zoo. 40 to viii,
add the interest for one year, whiC
4 makes $25, 122. 81. and from this tai
the encRmpment costs Of 1890, which 81
$14, 23S 03, and there will be in Jul
/, ] 1891, Of this government fund, not oI
1 cent of which is paid or furnished by IL
state, the sum Of $11. .53754.
Military Men Excited.
/