The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-15

io'ces now enrolled, and we do not think
- wise TO encourage the formation OF
new organizations beyond the point al
lowed by the old plan OF distribution 10
cne dctrlment OF the forces now in the
state service.
g We object to this plan. because Il is
Unfair In its details. II provides ~(section
y that after deducting 50, 500 for the
emergency fund. the remainder OF the
ordnance and quartermaster stores should
be ivide as follows: Two-tenths OF
the money value thereof shall be set
aside for the use Of the artillery, and
the remainder eight-tenths shall be pro-
rated to the infantry and cavalry upon
the OASIS or their average attendance at
the last preceding annual inspection and
muster Thus the artillery are given
two-tenths without condition, and not de-
pendent upon attendance at inspection,
whereas the cavalry and infantry are
made TO depend wholly upon such at
tendance.
D. II plan provided that on ...e LIST
day Of April Of each year the $500
emergency fund shall be allotted 10 the
troops OF all branches, as provided in
section 2; that is TO say. two-tenths to
the artillery absolutely, and the remain
der to infantry and cavalry in pro-
portion 10 attendance at the
preceding muster and inspection
The inequality of this appears upon ex-
animation. The fund to be distributed,
money value of ordnance and quarter
masters stores. $3.198.74, Of which two
tenths to artillery. $780, two-tenths Of
emergency fund. $500. to artillery, $500;
total to artillery 1929, Sl,13975. The re-
port OF the Assistant Inspector-General
shows the total OF officers and men in ar
tllery TO be 254, so they receive for every
officer and man, whether at inspection or
not. NfS per man. They had present at
inspection 235 officers and men. for which
they receive SS "A man. Deducting the
amounts mentioned, as set aside for artil-
lery from the fund, we have a balance Of
S,55S.99, which is to be distributed pro
rata among the 1888 infantry and 29
cavalry officers and men present at in
spectiOn 1892, a total of 1922, which gives
each infantryman and cavalryman pres
ent at inspection the pitiful sum Of sos.
instead of the $44S or $4.S5 per man, re-
ceived by the artillery.
These stores have heretofore been d.
vided among all branches of the service
equally on a pro rata for officers and
men present at inspection ARTILLERY as
we'll as infantry. and upon that fair
basis infantry. cavalry and artillery
would this year receive 1921 $40 per man
present at inspection, instead of s2.6 to
infantry and cavalry.
1t therefore results that each In
AaAAA y man NlAAA u GU = AAtAaA 80 80 1N'N
present at inspection is made by this
plan TO turn over to the artillery 26 $40
cents from the amount of stores that he
ought to be allowed on a fair and equal
basis, and that he would have drawn
under the old plan.
This is the same as saying that the
infantry and cavalry turn over to the ar
tillery $5g7.1 $40 more than they them
selves get, which is equal to 1914 and a
fraction per man for each artilleryman
present at inspection, or 40 cents per man
more than they themselves get. Under
this plan the First regiment of Infantry
gets only $500 instead of s927.GO. which they
would get under the old and equal di-
vision, thus giving the artillery slO1.6O OF
stores. The Second gets only s627.30 in
instead of s644.6s, giving the artillery
$42.2 q 2-5 Of stores. The Third gets $569.9O
instead of s6446S. giving the artillery
S74.7S1 Is of stores. The Fourth gets $1,000
Instead Of 1925 6 Ia. thus giving the ar
tillery S107 .06 1-5 Of stores The First cav
airy gets 1892. 10 instead Of s6lO.l9. giving
the artillery S77.74 of stores. The Rich
mond Light Infantry Blues get 1880 in
stead Of 1923, giving the artillery SS.S3
of stores Of they ought TO participate at
alD. The Huntington Rifles get $3.50 In
stead of sll1.31 is. giving 1921 10 OF
sores to the artillery. The First colored
batallior gets $iiS.20 instead OF siI5.Vi 80,
| giving SO4.Si % STORES.
The Second Colored Battalion gets
s4Gs. IS. instead Of s53l.GO, giving the artil-
lery S61. 60 Of stores.
In short. every company and troop In
the State is made to contribute % 9-lO
cents for every man they had present at
the inspection TO the artillery in ord
nance and quartermaster's stores. Under
the old plan the distribution was equal to
all arms, based upon attendance 1T IN
spection.
We see no just reason why the artill cry
should be exempt from attendance at
inspection as q basis of their allotment,
nor can we imagine why the old principle
Of equality should be discarded unless IL
be the means of fning the infantry and
cavalry for the purpose of equipping the
artillery with the most improved Weapons
and finest outfit attainable. We recog-
nize. of course. the abstract desirabuify
OF having our comrades OF the artillery
armed with the most improved weapons,
but so also is 1t desirable that the infantry
and cavalry be uniformly provided Wit
overcoats and armed with the best
weapons.
In the First regiment, for example, we
have not over 100 Overcoats for 500 men.
We would suggest to Your Excellency
that infantry are called upon to aid the
civil power a dozen times or more, where
artillery are not even thought or.
The cavalry, too, would be called upon
before artillery for such purposes.
In short, however desirable 1t may De
10 provide improved breech-loacing or
Calling guns for the artillery, we sub
nit that as long as the resources of the
volunteers Of Virginia are as measre as
they are. il is unwise, improper and I'M
lust to deprive the infantry and cavalry
for the purpose Of improving the artillery
ont of all proportion to the resources ana
other military of the State; and we are
Informed that it would require several
wears Of this mulcting process to proV1e
enough TO buy even a single such gun
The appropriation from the state (Aln-
tary FUND.- is unequally divided, the ar
tulcry being allowed IL larger share, De
cause of the supposed necessity or TINS
Greater expense, and under present CIR
cumstances that should be enough (eVen
though. in fact. they are not at the eA-
uense which II is designed TO meet.
We urge Your Excellency to review 'he
enclosed circular, pages 3. 4 and ., wnere
win be found the workings OF the Ola
plan. which we think will be found lair
| and satisfactory, and better because more
elastic. u 60
Several organizations will be found 10
have overdrawn their equal
hrt none further oveTdrawn than a wise
discretion in the Adjutant-General hlsh-