The morning times., 1896-07-05

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figure was more than. $4,000. At last
Gen. 0rdway had Congress pass an act per
hitting him to lease a building for three
years.
Witlr.this authority he was able, after
the hardest kind OF work, to get Mr.. StilsoD
Hutchins Interested, and the present ar-
mory was built. When the brigade moved
in the First Battalion, the Washington
Light Infantry, was notified that Its quar-
tiers were ready for them. Afterwards, by
special permission, the First Battalion was
granted the privilege of remaining IN
the Washington Light Infantry Armory.
with the express stipulation that no rent
was to be allowed them. When the Ma
tioual Rifles were mustered into the Guard
Gen. Ordway, in his address, told them
the sa me thing. From this 1t can he seen
what claims these organizations have on
the armory fund.
GROUND OF COMPLAINT.
So, with this understa nding, delegation
composed uf Capt. John 8. Miller, Capt.
Allison Nailor and Capt. A. w. Kelley, OF
the Washington Light Infantry, and Lieut..
George w. Evans and Capt. James F.
Oyster, of the National Rifles, who pre-
pared Il petition asking for proportiOnate
amount of the sum of money appropriated
by Congress for the rent of National Guard
arnories in the District of Columbia. and
also for the ;innulment of the contract for
the hall.
The ground upon which the petition OF
the Infantry was presented was to the
effect that heretofore they have been
paid an annual rental for the use Of their
armory, and iBasmuch as they pay big
tax to the District on the property they
hold they thought 1t right and proper
that the District should compensate them
for the use Of their armory.
The petition of the National Rifles is
based on the ground that they, too, own
their own armory and have not yet been
paid an amount for rent from the District
funds appropriated by Congress. They
are entitled, the representatives claim,
TO n proportionate amount or the ar
nIories' fund and as they are heavy tax
payers to the District and are connected
with the National Guard claim the same
recognition given to other commands in the
District Militia.
WHERE TROUBLE MAY COME.
1t was represented by the petitioners that
on several occasion companies were re-
fused admittance to the hall because it had
been rented for OF her purposes, and on other
occasions. when the companies were al
lowed to 60 into the hall the atmosphere
was like that of oold-storage room. and
many of the men became sick from the ex.
posure; that the hall was wholly unfit for
drilling purposes. The hall had been used as
a skating rink. and the flooring on which
the companies drilled had been put down
over the sheet OF ice.
1t is these charges that may cause trouble
yet. If this complaint should be turned over
to the general commanding he would be
very much inclined TO ask these Officers
why the fact that men had been rendered
sick from exposure was not at once reported
to headquarters.
So the Guard can now understand why
the matter of camp has not been settled.
Had Gen. ordway been in the sa me posi-
tion he was last year camp would have
been ordered at once. 1t will take at least
thirty days notice for preparation, and
the Com missioners must act very soon. The
surgeon general Of the brigade SAYS that
camp cannot be held at Fort Washington
after August 10, on account OF malaria.
SO If the Com niissioners do not sign a
voucher for the 81 900 appropriated for
camp very Soon there will he none this
year. Blame the Commissioners, not Gen.
Ordway.
AN EXCITING PRACTICE MARCH.
The Miles Cyclists had an exciting ex-
perience on the practice march to Great
Falls last week. They reached the Falls
Saturday night at O'Clock and found sup
per awaiting them, Corporal jackson and
Private Weaver having gone ahead with
the commissary wagon. They were just
getting well fixed, when one of the horses
broke loose and ran away. Capt. Wig.
gins Immediately ordered squad OF three
men, under command Of Sergt. Gibson,
tochase the runaway, but they nevercaught
IL.
Sunday the command put in the day in