Evening star., 1896-11-27
Assistant Secretary Of the Navy Nc
Adoo Answers Some Questions.
SPECIAL AC70F CONGRESS NECESSARY
What a District Organization Must
First Do.
NO AID A 7 PR e S e n T

Department., VINO mas cnarSe OIL the nlutla
branch of the naval service, has written
an encouraging letter to Committeeman
Robert P. Hams, S. G. Hopkins and W. E.
Megrath Of this city. in explanation of the
steps necessary to the proposed establish
ment Of a naval militia in the District of
Columbia. The communication is in re-
sponse to their letter Of November "a. MAX
ing certain inquiries in regard to the pro-
posed organization.
In his letter Mr.. McAdoo says he hastens
to make reply to the inquiries, ''in order
that those who are interested in this move
ment may fully understan the limitations
which surround the department with re-
gard to this matter"
He then takes up the inquiries Seriatum
and answers them as follows:
Special Legislation Necessary.
you ask first" he says:
"'Can a naval militia reserve battalion
be formed in the District of Columbia, and
be officially recognized and share in the an
nual appropriations by Congress for the
naval militia, without special act of Con-
gress authorizing the same?'
mo. 1t will require special act of Con-
gress to permit you to participate in the
distribution now made of the funds appro-
priated by Congress for the use of the ma
val militia. The naval militia is strictly q
state organization, dependent primarily, If
not wholly, on state and local support. The
whole amount of money allowed by Con-
gress for all the states would not of itself
support the organization in any one of the
larger states. The states In which naval
militias are organized appropriate from
their own funds, some of them, very large
sums of money for clothing. equipping and
caring for the organization. The depart
ment does not take notice of naval mill
tia organization at all until it has been
properly mustered in by the state authori-
ties and uniformed by them The depart
ment does not deal directly with any naval
militia organization. All business relating
to the naval militia is transacted between
the department and the governor and
proper military authorities of the state.
''Exrerience has demonstrated that no
naval militia organization can exist with
out strong state and local support, as the
proportion of the sum allowed by Congress
and even the good will and liberal efforts of
the department would not be sufficient to
support 1t otherwise. To organize in the
District of Columbia it would be necessary
that Congress should pass an act authoriZ-
Ing the mastering in of the naval militia
part Of the existing militia system of the
District, appropriate for them and have
who now control the forces Of the District.
What Could he Furnished.
Second. When a naval militia or reserve
battalion has been legally organized In the
District of Columbia, what arms, accouter-
ments, equipments and boats could be fur
nished for the use thereof by the depart
nent?"
when the naval militia Of the District of
Columbia is. by act of Congress, put on the
same footing as the naval militia Organiza-
tions of the various states. 1t will be ell
titled to all the benefits that the depart
ment now confers upon those organizations.
1t will be allowed a pro rata of the $4,000
annually appropriated by Congress, in ac-
cordance with the whole number of reg
ularly mustered in men, and under such
rules as the department may deem wise
and for the best interest of the naval
militia organizations as a whole through
cut the country. Out of the sum allowed
tEem as pro rata share the department
will furnish arms and certain accouter-
ments, equipments and boats as far as the
amount deposited to their credit will allow.
The department deals as literally as pos
Sible in this regard, and 1t has been it's
custom heretofore to loan certain boats to
the naval militia. but l regret to say that
now all material Of that kind has been ex-
hausted, including available ships for
armories. There are at present no ships in
sight that could be loaned for armories ex-
Island, and these would need repairs under
d special act of Congress to fit them for
being SO loaned.
Can't Loan Arms, &c.
Third. Should it be decided by the de-
partment that an act Of Congress is neces-
sary to authorize the formation of naval
militia cr reserve battalion in the District
of Columbia, before sharing in the annual
appropriation, may the organization eff
fected on the 18th of November, and above
referred to, be allowed, pending legislation,
the temporary use of small arms, cutlasses
belts and pistols within the inclosure of the
navy yard at Washington, for the purpose
of drill and instruction, provided such small
al ms, cutlaSses, belts and pistols are not
taken from the navy yard or out of the
immediate custody of the commandant of
the yard"
Strictly speaking. the government has no
without authority of law. Therefore, until
your organization has legal status it does
not seem possible to make loans to you of
public property, as requested, even for
temporary use. The difficulties in the Way
will be seen when 1t is noticed that II re-
quires an act of Congress to allow the de-
partment to loan even condemned and use
less guns to such organizations as the
Grand Army of the Republic. AS to drill
ing In the yard, If the commandant should
report to the department that it would not
interfere with the routine of business there
the department would very carefully con-
slider the proposition.
RecapltuIation.
To resume, first, the department cannot,
under the law, take official notice of a
naval militia organization until it has been
duly enrolled and uniformed under a state
law.
Second. All these organizations must de-
pend mainly upon state and local support
IN the way of appropriations and money.
Third. In the case of the District of Co.
lumbia the naval militia Will have to be
organized by an act Of Congress. To make
the practice of the department uniform
they ought to be placed under the adju-
tant general of the District as Is the case
in the various states. Congress ought to
make provision for them in the naval mi
ltia appropriation bill. 1t costs more 70
mali tain a naval militia than a land mill
tia, because they have, as it were, a dual
existeI ce. Their equipment is much larger
and fuller The best naval militia organi-
zaticns are good land forces and water
forces both, and it therefore requires more
hard work ard mc1 ey to drill and train a
naval militiaman than a land milit;aman
bee ause mis- education is more all-around-
Fourth. The department, of course. will
be only too glad. if Congress takes the
proper action and your organization is
mus tered III according to law with propar
provision made for it, to recognize Won in
the annual distribution.
Fifth. Unless the present law is amend
ed the District Of Calunhio u,I,.+ha. .