Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-14
GOSSIP OF THE GUARD.

THE annual picnic of the Washington In.
fantry takes place next Tuesday at Silver
Lake Grove. The affair promises to be a
success.
NEXT Thursday evening Colonel Hawkins,
of the Tenth Regiment, will conduct the
election for Lieutenant Colonel in the
Eighteenth, caused by the expiration of the
commission of Colonel Rutledge. Colonel
Rutledge, who had intended retiring from
military life at the end of his present term.
| has decided at the request OF friends to ac-
cept a reelection for five years more He will
have no opposition.
COMPANY H, of the Eighteenth Regiment,
is the first local company to tai 9 steps to-
ward adopting and buying dress uniform.
Captain Simmons has called a meeting of his
organization for next Thursday evening to
complete arrangements in that line. Company
H and Company B, of the same regiment,
intend holding picnic on the 10Th inst. at
Silver Lake Grove, and from the amount of
hustling being done by the officers and men
the affafr will no doubt be success.
COMPANY drills in the local organizations
have been rather poorly attended during the
past few weeks and it is expected that they
will remain so for the next month Mt least,
or up until active preparations for the camp
begin Colonel Smith has decided to have
three or four battalion drills during the lat
ter part of June and through July, but no
dates have yet been announced for them.
Space for battalion drills is scarce on most
of the streets, but il is probable either New
Grant street or the Exposition grounds will
be selected for the purpose.
THE officers and men of the Fourteenth
Regiment still continue to talk of their trip
to Norristown last week. From reports in
the East the regiment certainly made the
best showing of any organization in the pa
rade. Some rather harsh criticism is being
passed about en- officer from another organi-
cation who paraded with the Fourteenth in
uniform and accepted everything that came
his way like the enlisted men. When a man
receives the distinction of being commits
stoned by the State of Pennsylvania,
certain amount of dignity and self-pride
should at least be cultivated if not already
possessed.
IT is quite evident that the present admin
istration at Harrisburg will practice con-
siderable economy in regard to the commits
sary department at the coming encamp-
ments. Adjutant General McClelland issued
an order last week for the purpose of more
thorough organization of the subsistence de-
partmcnt in the guard, and lays down the
faw in q very decided manner as to how the
grub shall be handled this year. The an
nouncement is made that rations are issued
for the use of enlisted men only and that
commissioned officers shall not take or re-
ceive any part of the same, but may pur-
chase stores at the cost price with 10 per
the 10 per cent should be added, but it looks
as if the State is on the make this year.
The prospective contest in Battery D, for
the vacancy caused by the resignation of
First Lieutenant George Shepherd, has been
settled by the withdrawal of Second Lieu
tenant Kimmelas candidate. The field is
now left clear for Quartermaster Lloyd, who
will have no other opposition. No date has
vet been named for the election, but it will
occur before camp Lieutenant Kimmel
who has been acting as Inspector of Rifle
Practice for the battery, announces that
qualified, and the prospects are good for q
better showing than ever before. Captain
Hunt has been invited to open up the cere-
monies at Schenley Park on July by firing
n salute from the battery, and has accepted
the offer.
AS WAS predicted in this column some
time ago Governor Pattison vetoed the
bill providing for the wholesale appoint
ment of graduates of colleges to commissions
as Brevet First Lieutenants in the National
Guard. The Governor very aptly touches
on the subject in the following manner in his
message: "soldiers of the State who have
served long and faithfully in its guard
would be shut out from the
rank and honor in their services, thus
lavishingly conferred upon youth who have
never served a day in the guard itself. can
see no occasion for an enlargement of the
present liberal provisions for giving brevet
rank to college graduates" Governor Pat
tison also vetoed the bill providing for
pensions to members of the guard injured
at encampments, but invites legislation of a
definite character to assist nilitiamen in
jured wpue on duty Of serious nature.