New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-16
FAILURE OF THE MILITIA BILL.
rspmSxG IGNORANCE OF LAW AND HISTORY

SURPRISING IGNORANCE OF LAW AND HISTORY
DIspLAYID ~ CONGR SsN.N
Washington JAN Is CS2ccian.-The return Of the
Militia BID 10 the House calendar yesterday inter
days discussion in the morning hour. undoubtedly
Ensures It's failure, which is greatly to be regretted
The bill IS tho result OF "A careful and Intelligent
effort 10 bring the militia laws OF the United safes
Ito Harmony with modern conditions and the op
position to IT ignorant and scnseess as II was
Obstinate. The laws now In fore were mainly en-
acted in 1892 and 1875. and OF obsolete,
many 81 the provisions have no; been enforced
during the last fifty years. In fact. they for
gotten long ago. How many officers Of the National
Guard OF the state OF NewYork any other State
know the requirements Of the Militia law now on
the statute-book one OF them is that every able
bodied male citizen OF the respective states resident
therein. who is OF the age OF eighteen years and
under the age OF for,yfvc years shall be enrolled
IN the mliia." Another section OF The law prescrLes
how esch enrolled milItlaman shall be armed and
accoutrtd. This section Is supposed TO be in force
to-day, for 1t appears In the latest edition OF the
Revised statutes. II is OF the obsolete and now
absurd provision, Of the act of 1892 which the Com
mitee on the Militia sought TO repeal by the bill
under discussion yesterday.
The debate show ed that the opponents OF the blu
were Ignorant only OF the existing law but OF the
provisions OF the Constitution OF the United States re-
lating 60 the militia. Thus Mr.. Bland. Of Missouri,
wanted to know what power Congress has TO dictate
and surprised when he informed that that
provision had been in the law 1895. Then
Mr. De Almond and Mr. Bland both denounced the
provision which requires that the Aduant General OF
state shall make repos; OF the militia thereof 20
tie secretary OF War gross violation OF the rights
Of the States. which provision Is also embodied in the
law OF 1905. Mr. Watson Of Georgia, was frightened
by the spectre Of GENERALIZATION" which he discovered
In the BILL and he refused to be comforted even when
the provisions the Constitution and Of laws enacted
when George Washington was President were read to
him. Mr.. McMinin thought that because Brain's
veterans went down before Our State militia seventy
seven years ago at Ncw-Drlcans there ought to be no
change in the law. He was also greatly disturbed
because had discovered the word National In the
lin; II there is word In the English language that
McMilln cannot "abide" that word is "National."
Among other things he said
"Ony four five years ago was this kind of
legislation entered upon. In this hail proposition
was made organize National militia. Mr.. Clcve
land then President. and the proposition was
found by him sufficiently suspicious TO Induce him 10
Jet the bill become law without his signature Now
We have National nluseuns, National parks ; We have
National banks ana are 10 have q National
Mlita'-'Naton:l everything. IL has got TO be II
common Idea that the people Will 90 10 wreck ana
rain unless you 'NatiOnalze everything In which they
are concerned. What has become OF the States That
uey are no longer considered able o. worthy to do
aDythng7'
Every objection raised by the opponents OF the bill
WAS fairly met and completely answered. but all 10
no purpose. The cOgent and exhaustive speech o!
heneral Cutting alone would have been suinccnt 10
carry the bin through any intelligent legislative boiy
AS gallant Union solder during the war ana as an
orcer Ia the California National Guard for nine years
BE- had acquired thorough knowlcd:c of Tie subject
nnd II he who framed the original bill wi1ch, after
some notifications. was reported from the committee"