The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-12-21
GRAND ARMY NEW

BILL Is before Congress In increase the
appropriation from SiUO. 600 to 81. 100 900 pct
annuin, and II is likely that the bill viii
pass without much opposition. The bill
was introduced at the last session of Con.
gress. and since that time the position of ITS
advocates has heen very materially strength.
ehed by the Disturbances that occurred in
-four States of the Union during the past
summer In each case the NetiOnal Guard
was called out to preserve the peace, and il
was satisfactorily demonstrated that money
spent in maintaining the state forces is as
economically placed rs though devoted to
the regular army. The additional expense
10 the General Government of scnding regli
lars to the Idaho mines is many times the
amount that would be annually allotted TO
that state upon the 81 900 600 basis. The
expense TO the four States of Pennsylvani
New York. Tent essce and Idaho. in prS
srving The peace during the past summer
j. about equal TO the full amount of IT,.
Federal aid contemplated by the bill nov
before Congress. The Adjutant General for
the Army has recommended that the an.
nual appropriation @ increased to sl. 600.
100, as has also Secretary of War Elkins,
Maj. Gen. Schotield. commanding the Army,
and Inspector General breckenridge.
IT has been recommended by Gen. Flag.
Ter, the Chief OF Ordnance of the Army that
the tate troops he suppiied at once with
the new aims adopted by the regular army.
The War Department has said that II this
recommendation he adopted by any of the
States that every effort will be made 10 ex.
redite the delivery of the new guns. and
that the only possible delay will be in the
supplying the ammunition, the character
of which has not yet been fully detcrmin.
3D. II is calculated that 10000 of these new
magazine rifles can he manufactured for
81, 100000. The adoption OF Gen. Flaglers
recommendation would result in rearming
the entire National Guard of the Union
within Is moh,hs. This isthe most en-.
comrsging nrws that has come to the active
militia since the war and its importance
cannot be over-estimated. II is thought
that smokeless powder will be adopted
before the new rifles are completed, with
which the new ammunition NAV be charg.
cd. Under these conditions and within a
reasonable time, there is no reason why The
voluntary troops OF this country should
not be the best IN the world
THERE is much dissatisfaction among the
members and friends OF the National Guard
over the present plan Of distributing the an.
nual appropriation OF the general Govern.
ment among the various States. The pres.
ent allotment ofthe annual appropriation
OF siOO,OOO which gives to each State an
amount proportionae to its Congressional
representatives. IL very unfair one. The
amount received by some States is not more
than half that received bv others maintain.
ing double the number of men in their Ma
tional Guard. The aid given different Statcs
Is very disproportionate. There are 10 States
with total effective strength OF more than
one half of all the organized militia of the
United States, and which contribute to their
support about $1,000, 900 per annum, receive
less than $l5O.0OO year. while the other "a
States which appropriate much less to their
own support, receive t250.000. Last year
tll ,O57, and Missouri with $50 men got SlI.,
E42, while Connecticut, with over 5000
troops, received only IS, 52S, and New IIamD
shire with about 1900 men received but t3,.
7s5. Arkansas, where the inspecting officers
in 1881 could not find single organization,
l.6O0 men was forced to be content with
t36so.72. Minnesota spends $4,000 yeaI