The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-15
THE PLAN Is UNFAIR.
sosAr THE OFFICERS OF THE FIRST
REGIMENT or INFANTRY.
they Urge the Governor TO Reconsider His
Approval ofthc Distribution of Military
Stores Among tho State Troops.

lY Nne VHtStiS pA bt fISt regiment OF
Infantry. Virginia Volunteers. The cir
calar referred to is one sent out from
ihe Office OF the Adjutant-Ge General under
date OF December 3lst. and contains the
plan for apportoning and distributing
The ordnance and d-uartermaster' stores
Flowed by the United States TO the State
81 Virginia:
us Exccllency Philip W. Mckinney. Gov
crnor and Commander-in-Chic
Sir.-At a meeting OF the line officers OF
,he First Regiment, Virginia Volunteer
Infantry, the enclosed circular from the
Office OF the Adjutant-General, dated De-
cember 81. 1892. was referred TO a special
committee. consisting Of Captains G.. GRAY
BossicuX. Company A; Charles Gasser.
Company u, and George Wayne Ander-
son. Company +. for examination and re-
r1rt as 10 the equality and results of the
Man therein specified. as adopted upon
the recommendation Of the conference Of
officers. held in the city Of Richmond
November 10 and II, 1892. for the distribu-
ton of ordnance and quartermaster's
stores allowed by the United States to
the state OF Virginia"
The committee. having made a careful
cNamination and study Of the plan re-
farred TO. reported 10 a meeting OF officers
held January IL. 1898. and upon the
strength Of the facts developed by them
we. the officers OF the First Regiment.
Virginia Volunteer Infantry, do hereby
enter our respectful but earnest protest
AGAINST the plan adopted for distributing
The ordnance and quartermaster's stores
allowed by the United States to the State
q Virginia" and request that You Ex-
celloncy will reconsider the action APP
proving the same. taken November %,
run for fHa fol1ourgpp rga enpG-fn-uit.
l. The apparent spirit and purpose OF
The plan is TO secur strict equality among
the various organizations Of the State in
The distribution of the stores.
In this respect we have nothing to say
further than such a plan will affect each
orcanization In turn inJuriously or other
wise, according TO its wisdom or unwis-
dom. But we cannot refrain from call
irg Your Excellency's attention to the
follow!ng facts:
1. The allowance from the United States
IS in ordnance and q-uartermaster's
stores" (such as cartridges. belts, can
teens. blouses. trousers u the like, and
not in money.
, The purpose Of the allowance is 10
increase the efficiency and meet the needs
of the volunteer force by supplying the
needs OF those who adopt the ordnance
and q-uartermaster's stores used by the
United States, and not 10 give a money
credit 10 those organizations that do not
adopt them. The appropriation is in goods
and not in money. Therefore 1t is wrong
TO allow a money credit to those organi-
zations that do not use, and therefore
cannot need, such stores as the plan
adopted purposes 70 do.
3 The purpose and the appropria-
ton being as stated, the distribution
should be in proportion TO the needs OF
tie several State organizations, rather
than be based Upon any unyielding prin-
ciple OF equality in the amount gwen 10
the various organizations.
We are willing enough TO submit 10 the
strict equality plan IL those higher than
we think II best, but we respectfully sug-
cest TO Your Excellency that the needs
Of an organization, Of say four hundred
men. have q well-deined limit In the mat
ter OF ordnance and quarter1nasters
stores. and we suggest the unwisdom OF
craditing them every year with stores
they do not and cannot use, as the plan
nronoses 10 do. and at the same time re-
fising those very stores 10 organizations
mat are in crying need Of them; or what
is the same thing. charging such organl-
cations on the books as being largely over
drawn.
We would represent TO Your Excellency
that the needs OF the various organiza-
lions must and do necessarily vary ac-
cording 20 their numbers, their increase
and the use (wear and tear OF their
stores.
We cite for Your Excellency's informa-
ton facts pertinent 10 the First regiment
t1 particular. because we do not know the
facts relating TO the other regiments; but
what is true of US to-day may be true OF
our comrades tomorrow.
The First regiment. being wholly a city
r-.iment and therefore more faVorably
mated for drills and parades than our
r4faafD6 comrades IN Inc
country. had sixty-hve drills and parades
I'm 800 The wear and tear. therefore. on
,s ouartermaster's and ordnance
stores Except ammunition) was
but OF all proportion greater
than that Of organizations paradlng TWO
0r three dozen times a year ana conse-
ulently its need Of such stores must be
The First regiment increased in number
during 1882 one hundred and twenty-five
l2) men out Of a total increase IN an
ranches Of the service Of three hundred
and forty-two 349. Advertisements
Report. page 60. -
The Second increased by the mustellhs
in OF a new company mot even yet as
sirned we believe), which, OF course
nv he termed an unusual Increase, only
forty seven 90.
The Third did not Increase at all
The Fourth did not increase at All.
The Cavalry regiment only lncreaseu III
numbers fourteen QD. and in ADDITION
there was mustered in q new troop VD3
II forty-fve (5), a total increase usual
and unusual. Of only hfty-nine OSl'
Tn Artillery gained only six, and a new
battery () was mustered in OF h.ty-
seven CD. making a total gain OF ohly
sixty-three (G3). enu
And the Colored battalions gained hity-
four 90.
The inequality OF need for these stoies
il therefore manifest. An organization
that does not increase can only need ora
nance and quartermaster's stores 10 re.
mace those worn out and useless, ana II
does them little good to credit them VIII
such stores and deprive those mat heeu
them.
But waving the advisability or a marc
and fast system of equality In distrlpu-
ton 10 which we are willing 10 submit
though we think It is unwise, for what
IL true Of us now may hereafter be true
u any and all other ORGANIZATIONS we
respectfully submit:
2 That the plan Is obJ~ectlonaple DC
cause II nrovides for q continuing oal-
ance to the credit Of any organization
indeenitely. We earnestly insist thai II
an organization does not draw the ord-
nance and ouartermaster's stores. with
witch n is credited within the year, IL
should be accepted as conclusive that
such organization did not need sucn
stores. and the balance undrawn, lhsteau