The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-04
xoDrEY1xa rsE xrLrr1A nr.n
Ths erevisloss or ar. nawiey and Mr.. Cut
ties Ter Distrtbuting the Appropriation.

1ODxFH7RG THE MILITIA BILE.
The previsloss or SIR. nawley and Mr.. Cut.
ties fsr Distributins the Appropriated.
wAsHrscTos, May sit Is now generally
admitted that tho proposed increase Of the an :
nual militia appropriation from 100000 to
100000 10 hopeless. Accordingly this part Of
the plan will not be pushed. at least in the
House bill. at any risk Of defeating the entire
measure. which contains sundry provisions
that the committee desires to save.
In this decision good judgment has been
shown The chances were not one In ton. and
perhaps hardly one In hundred. Of increas-
ing the appropriation. 1t was impossible to
discover any special reason for doing 80 ut tho
present time: and since tho annual sum was
doubled only few years ago. Congress
which on nearly all subjects. except. perhaps.
public buildings and river and harbor expcnd.
lures. has developed frugal mind. could
not be expected to make further increase for
the militia. Tho proper time for attempting
this Is when new magazine rifle has been
adopted for the army. That will give a reason
for issuing now arms and munitions to tho
militia. OF the same pattern.
Turning to the general legislation proposed
In Mr. Cuttings bill. its principal feature per-
haps Is contained In section ~. which declares
that the amount OF the appropriation for fur
nishing stores and supplies for tho National
Guard shall DO apportioned by the Secretary
OF War pro rata among tho several States and
Territories and tho District OF Columbia. nc.
cordinG to au allotment based upon the num-
ber OF regularly commissioned and enlisted
National Guard that shall have appeared for
muster between tho first day OF March and the
thtrtteth day OF April OF tho fiscal year pre-.
ceding that for which the allotment is malc
IN 4.
present ut this muster shnll be nscertaned.
As to this point tho bill provides that the See.
Rotary may detail. in his discretion. officers
OF tho army to properly verify tho presence of
the men: and the allotment OF tho appropria-
ton shall DO made only upon the certificate Of
tho army officers detailed. or in such
otncr manner rs tho Secretary of War may
prescrihe;' This last clause seems to huvu
may object to the mcthod otherwise pro-
scrlb e. for ascrr'aining the numhny.
viii consent even 10 this chang. in The exist.
ing systom The House is believed TO have
DEVELOPED q relish for legislation that docs not
crease o. expense. AMI hence may he temptel
R R NJ {, CufttiInEs militia hil as thus modified.
of benefit to States TINT have u large organ.
lied militia. is directly against tho interests Of
those ihat maintain l only small nMmber in
while there may seem to, be 4 esrta in justice
HE II slyn fkd rsH"ra' hs to the States IL nroH
hand: 1t may be for the general benefit of the
GSonntry not 70 ati.Smit this Kind Of reward.
duced into tho Senate by Gen Haw!ry, pro
poses this plan:
Ina, oneaali the amonn, Of the arrr2rraon for
arportinnsd ~ The secretary q among Inc .ever
and wlcn u" Zach " sur. re- re-
ssPPsss,s sSa e. ens II the .n%sis. .. NJ INIT,
f rrs p"P1 mn r "s s end 81. rss =. s
several Sta:ss Tsrr"t and D.rs {" cS.am ia : aS
,ni:s"nsi and ,n.,ea National pari rrov H%
81 be Il ts.t s' ss Al" sa ss"ss1 ssS
s.n. ny s to wm,h sss Stat. i entitled in The Con
ataSbls shall be covered back Into the Treasury.
Whether even this provision, which is in the
may also be doubted. The portion o. il that
requires Mt least 100 mon Tor each Senator
bnt thero Will be careful counting M OF the
actual results in some States. The great argu-
from the nresent system is that cme e' p Hs
the appropriation by Congress Is TO secure rs
Tar as possible leasHnab!r degree Of militia
may be for the interest OF the United States to
help those States that do not properly help
different from the organ zntion Contemplated
by the original law making Federal uppro- |
it 10 i: II might he urged therefore.
to the present system these state voluDteer |
organizations should be provided for Is tho
money Of the States them selvos.
As a fact. all the States would apporently get
some share under the limits Of the HawIey
bill. although two or three would avoid exclu-
aud Wyoming would re1uiro 300 men, aud
they hive BOB and BOB respectively.K Kentucky
tives, would require l.'OO militia under the
Hawley rule. and 1t reports 1910. West Viz
ginia. with four Representatives and two Sem
ators would need 800 militia. and has 7oS
That part Of the bill might accordingly escape
hosti o criticism But there will lie more or
less doubt as to the expectancy Of applying in
I his matter the rule that to him that hath shall
be given. The Representatives Of many states
present pro rata aiiowance. und may urge that
tho object OF making Federal appropriation
for State organizations ia to insure the sue
cess Of the latter. and hence really should 20 |
where 1t Is most needed. rather than where it
Is needed the least.