Evening star., 1896-11-14

wiSeSt policy that could be followed by the
powers that be, whether such powers be
the commanding general or the District
Commissioners. would be to abrogate the
contract il that action can be consistently
taken. In support of that course. it may
be repeated that but 4 small percentage OF
the men will report for the drills that are
held on the ice. Not only do they object to
the cold and condition of dampness under
foot, but to the alleged dangerous pneu-
monia-charged atmosphere, which, they
say. is due TO the presence of the ice. Above
all. the state of affairs affords the men an
excuse to absent themselves from drills,
which they would not otherwise have.
Again, 1t is stated as fact that the hall
Is never opened to the Guard on the nights
assigned to 1t until o'clock, although the
contract specifies o'clock as the hour.
until S:15 o'clock. The quality and guam
tity of the light and heat both in the hall
and armory is of such limited character
IS SO generally known. and has been Of
ten spoken OF as to make further comment
at this time unnecessary.
Here nowdy-do,' may very properly
be sung, i'll case the contract is abrogated
III II Is done. the question. and an import
ant one 1t is. to be answered is: How
shall the lack of facilities for drilling be
metz 1t is entirely out of the question to
CONSIDER Tor moment proposition that
has been submitted to transport the troops
OF the National Guard to a hall remote
ire m the l. street armory for drill. The
time lost and the Inconvenience occasiopeG
n.ust necessarily prove fatal to the success
!ui operation of such Dlan When the
l. street armory was erected for the G,,ard
the use or Convention Hall for drill Dur-
poses was most important factor ShouId
1he dri!l hall be given up the armory
might be truthfufy Iikened to a wagon
without horse.
Center Market Hail.
An offer has been made which. in view of
the expected situation on l. street, gives
IOun6H tho
turn Of the brigade to the Center market
quarters is among the possibilities. Gen.
william Birney. authentic report has it,
was granted a hearing by the Commission
efs Immediately after the departure We'd
'eSuay Last OF the Convention Hall man
ayers from the District building. Gen
hlrney, Ii Is sad. offered the Center market
quarters. with the sole use of the Central
nail over the 9th street wing of the mar
he!, 10 the guard at the figure formerly
Paw reLeFed TO be about sin0D per an
NUM-. Ihls includes light and heat and
the promise Was made that the rooms
would be placed in excellent condition ana
mat any request within reason that might
m ps asLsed would be cheerfully granted 1t
- - pointed out as significant fact thai
commissioner Ross, so i is said rem.rkoi
~ Zen Birney. in replying to the cfTar
cited: Had Mr.. Hutchins stated definitely
h:S ne Mouio consent to an abrogati of
iiIs contract. we might give consideration
to that effect VI "oioS
conversation at random in the compa,y
nf l9oti. m SHOWS pretty conclusiveiy that most
Vi the men would welcome an order 10 re-
urn 20 the Center Market Armory The
80 ooJeclon all along to the l. street
iy ,,i,loiy Eas been that it is not central and
iiit ehieht or access, while the Cenror
market quarters are down town co,,,o,,;t.
~ tht theaterS and satisfactory 10 every.
o,ie. company commanders as a r,:ja h.v,
arnoo. eoinpialhed that the transfer of the
No
io~ec by noticeable and serious f,ii
eHL On in the membership of their connanIs
from which they have never renorera3
h,i OF certain organizations thar
~ ~ate recently expended large sums Of
I'iohe! IN beautifyiag the walls NJ t,ai
't1i; ,ouiiis az the armory state that they wnuli
"Ehngly and gladly stand the joss an 'nii ~
1ineht 10 cther quarters would entail
10 al Sueu further that the t-oons ,o,,
housed III the l. street STRUCTURE co,,,i ~,
lady accommodated at the Center
tat he'; Elth the possible exception of Iha
Lisnt Battery and offices of the ,onrI
staff. ard no trouble wouId ha avnas.li,'i SIT d,
cations N 'iese orsahl-
rne gallery, say the knowing ona-
could be arranged in inv o,,ar ~. 80
street wing of the market. Then II X; ~ ~
Pidiiteu mobilization of the troops In in
siu,ie the Isl battalion and Companies y
anu =, "a battalion could be more expe-
dfuously and simply effected at the C,.ntar
market than at the l. street building E,ur
thermore. the rental Of the latter and CON
Vention Hal is believed to be about s11 orn
per annum, while that of the f,rmer v.o,,,,
be about 5000 "o''
brigade Team at Sen ;frt.
The exclusive statemen: in The Star las,
Saturday to the effect that the animal
visits of a brigade team to Sea Girt youJd
probably be disc ontinned caused not a lit
tie discussion in National Guard circles
JyS
doubt. The publication was based on the
very highest authority. The abolition of
the yearly Jaunts to Sea Girt wcul. 70
uouDt De an extremely bitter pill for sey-
crai suardsmen to swallow and acnce their
readiness not to accept as fact stalements
to that effect. The publication in The Star
was based on conversation last week be-
tween Major Geo. II. Harries inspector gem
eral OF ride practice. and the brigade team,
captain.and Col Theodore Mosher, adjutant
general. in the presence of Star reporter
Major HarrieS at the time stated that he
was seriously considering the alvisabiiity
of doing away with the brigade team and
that such would probably be the action
taken. So far as is known change in
,he situation has occurred, and therefore ii
may be reiterated that there is every
son to believe that upon the return to the
city of the commanding general. the In
spector general of rifle practice will recon-
mend that the annual visits of a brigade
team, representing the District National
Presentation of Decorations.
The rifle practice decorations for 1884 AID
1898 will be formally presented to those
me mbers of the ID Regiment entitled to
bars. crosses and buttons at an assembly
OF the regiment in Convention Han Tues
day evening next. Lieut.. Col NJ. Emmett
Urell has ordered the regiment to assem-
lie al S:1J o'clock in line of masses, facing
east. The presentation is to occur 1t $50
o'clock. and will be made by Col. Cecil
Clay. who is in command of the brigade
during the absence of Gen. Ordway. The
Second Regiment Band is to be in attend
arce. and the affair Will undoubtedly prove
OF more than passing interest. and attract
d large coEcourse of spectators.
To Discuss Efficiency Prizes.
4 meeting of the commissioned officers of
the guard has been called for Wednesday
evening. November IS. at O'Clock in the
lecture room of the armory to consider and
perfect a plan for increasing the efficiency
of the guard All officers earnestly re-
Quested by those interested in the move
rent to be present.
1t is expected that the board of officers 10
judge and determine the winners of the