The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-12
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Ths Frcvisios- 81 NJ. s'-rf,.'s mn s.d ere
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EugZestions ~ onrrs.
WASHINGTON. April 11.-Mr. Meyer the Chair
man Of the House Committee on the Militia
having reported. with a favorable recon-
mendstion. the militia bill introduced By Mr.
! Curtis, some interest may be felt as 10 IL
chances Of becoming q law.
The House Committee on Militia presumablI
Is not, and certainly IL not required to BIO. q
| very Industrious body. inasmuch as the sub
| iects presented to II are neither very numer.
| Gus nor very various. Congress usually pro.
vides the regular annual appropriation Of
| $500. 1000. and does not 90 much further into
militia legislation. Yet for many years there
have been efforts to revise the existing laws
for the citizen soldiery. some Of which are
utterly obsolete. There have been prepared
for this purpose the slocum bill. the McKenna
bill. the Henderson bill. the Cutting bill. and
| others that might be mentioned as predeces-
sors Of the present Curtis bill. The object OF
these various measures usually has been to
impose such conditions upon the distribution
Of the annual appropriation Of Congress. or
at least to accom- pany II with suob legislation
as will produce a greater efficiency.
An amendment made by the CON n, ittee TO
Mr.. Curts's bill will relieve II Of one fatal OBJ
lection. namely, it's proposed increase OF cost
II carried 5000. 600 annually. but the com nit
tee has inserted the customary 100000.
for Increases Of expenditure. however de-
sirabls. provided they are not necessary. But
that reduction takes away one tenn ptation to
accepting such OF the provisions OF the new
bill as are unpalatable, and the discussion OF
similar measure In the last Congress shows
that II has provisions that are unpalatable In
some quarters.
As to the propriety Of doing away with some
past age there can be no mo- doubt. INT In sb V
days OF breechloadinR rifles and magazine
arms T. y cerisinly rather out o.. date Tor the
each man shall provide himself with. or the
quarter Of a pound Of powder" or 70 dwell
ofncer. Apart from the details. the whole
theory OF the militia organization prescribed
In the law. OF century ago has long been
but the real difficulty is met In making q
sSTted on Ss ss;Ss sock are s s An
an agtsem emit as to what shall take their place.
poses 10 to divide the militia into the organ
lied and the Snorganized. giving to the former
that Of Rsssrys Militia. Then u Il t0 des s
Sse ~ Ike sGT be into the
ritory is to have an Adiutant. General, and u
Generals Is TO be sent annually 70 Congress BY
esmps and L q provided that I sSeh camps
drilled according to the tactics prescribed for |
the army The courts. martial OF the militia
The first suggestion that Offers itself is that
this 10 very conservative measure. really en-
bodying In statute form. under the legislation
OF Congress-. practices or laws which are
familiar under the State codes. There are q
lew reouirements not now existing In some |
states as to camp dnty hut even these are
BY the state authorities.
The next suggestion 10 that tho proposals OF |
power OF Congress TO provide Tor organizing. |
arming. and disciplining the militia, and for |
governing such part Of them ns may be en- |
serving to the States respectively, the appoint. |
ment OF the officers and the authority OF train
Sy to the sdsSne pre-
probably to point out any provision in Mr.
Curtis's bill. as has we'll been suggested. which
discipining the forces to which it Is applied.
Nevertheless 1t 10 probable that the bill will
epcountsE opposition. and i may not become
with which Congress- thus deals. consists OF
Iorces which were not organized by Congress,
on the part OF some Of them to hav-
nx Congress now assume the task Of organi-
.ation and discipline as far as they are con-
we're the chief means OF their support, this OBJ
eetion might possibly be overcome; but
s fi sc The Sow suP FORK 5sosi or by
mall nall Somparsd ,ylth what It's own
which were not desirable should be afixed to
ne distribution OF the annual sum for arms.
you'd not De s surprising to ind some States
ocalities also there is q distlnct objection to
What Is called "nationAlizing" the State
It can better be ascertained whether
he part OF the militia. OF course. its only oh
uestion will be as to the dssirabliity OF the
means taken.