The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-05

q
Tho annual report Of the secretary OF
war contains. among other things. full
drta as TO me militia organization IA the
different states. While the report itself
makes no allusion 20 the fact. the figures
given show q grossly negotiable division
OF the national militia fund among the
different states. due to the provisions Of
the existing law.
The Federal appropriation for militia
purposes II annually 500. ooo. This fund Is
distributed among the states In proper
ton to THAR population by census returns.
not. an II should b. in proportion 70 the
regularly enrolled militia, or In proportion
TO the state appropriation for like pur-
poses. Taking the whole country together.
the Federal appropriation amounts 10
about ons-sixhth Of the whole expenditure
Tor militia purposes. the state appropria-
tions making up the difference. How
some of the states benefit by this system
OF distribution 81 the expense Of Others
n shown by the figures The state OF
Washington. for example. receives an
nuaily s.. go.M from tie Federal govern
ment. This under the law can be drawn
either In money or equipment. washing
ton takes her share In equipment The
state also appropriates 10000 for the sup
port Of the militia Contrast this with
the Southern states. Alnbama receives
s.4s from the Federal government and
appropriates ssAooo Of stats funds. Ar
kansas receives $3.50 and makes no state
appropriation Florida receives the same
Federal appropriation a. Washington ond
expends but s17.o 900 atats money Delaware
receives s1sS and expends locally but
$500. Mississippi receives from the Eed-
eraI government s7.sss and expands Of
state money but sAaoo or sg.sco les. than
Il expended by Minnesota. which receives
the Same amount OF Federal assistance.
Missouri receives from the general gov
eminent si&sss and sxpards OF local
money but t1oooe. North Carolina re-
ceives s.. sss and expsnds Of state funds
ss.ooo; South Carolina receives r.le, ana
expands $1,000: Tennessee receives SIC ssi
and espends 5000: Texas receive. g2.sSs
and sxpends s5.ooo: virginl. receives $40, su
and expends 81. 81: West Virginia receives
CfD and sxpends si5.eoe.
TO more clearly demonstrate tn. an
fairness OF the present system OF dls,ri
button OF the militia funds. ne following
shows tho amour, OF the Federal spprn-
priation for each man actually enrolled
In the militia Ia several az the states: In
New York The Federal appropriation only
amounts TO ssss for each rnilitlaman. IN
Massachusetts ss,E: IN Washington 70
satn. Ia the other group OF states the
Federal appropriation for each militia
man runs es follows IN Texas. tAM.
Kansas, S.7s; Missouri s6@. Kentucky.
s.: Arkansas. ts
In the whole United States me sRwre-
gate state sp2f sprsa,ian Il seven times as
rres; a. tho national appropriation. IN
Wisconsin I, Is ten time. IS great: in New
York fourteen times as great. and in Mas.
saehusetss nineteen times as great. The
aggregate Federal apportsanment exceeds
tie combined state appropriations ~ up-
wards OF $4,000 IN the following wroup ~
.tatssi ArkanxsS. Delaware. ceorxia
Mspsfsxippl Missouri. North Carolina
eouth Carolina. Tennessee. Texas ard
Virginia
Ira object Of extending rese-Ai assist
anee 60 the militia 81 the various states
Is 10 Keep % trained body - solslsry
sn these states which ear net Only Re
relied upon 10 40 police iaty IN emergency
sn taoss states. but % act as a military
reserve behind the small regular army.
The only equitable manner o. distribution
az shs fund would be 70 diviae Il among
shs states IN exscs proportion TO the nam
her OF militia not emily actually enrolled.
but who have been inspected ara proved
90 ee Of a certain standard ef efficiency.
The present systen b unfair ans iaeoais-
able. as ire forsscsng figures clearly DEM
cnstratA