New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-02
MILITIA RETURNS DEFECTIVE.
EFFORTS MAKING BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT TO
crcr,pr UNIFORMITY AMONG THE STATES.

rrrORT- MAKING BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT TO
SECURE UNIFORMITY AMONG THE STATES.
Washington. May (SpcciaD.-The present system
NJ accounting 10 the War Department for Federal
s,ippes issued the militia OF the country ~ eN
tremely faulty, and an effort Is being MADE 10 I'M
prove the method and bring about simplicity ac-
curacy and uniformity Adjutant-General McAipin
OF New-York Is among the first OF the STATE a"-
thori,ies to approve the new programme ana 10 r.
snond to certain inquiries sent out by the war De-
nartment relative TO new method
Tho State forces get from the National Govern
ment certain supplies In the way OF ordnance anu
equipments These provided FOR IN the annual
appropriations by Congress. ana each ar"cie Oh
tanned under the yearly appropriations las money
,,o,,o and ought 10 be accounted for. 1t happens
sometimes that States 10 which invoices OF mill
tary stores are made do not regularly submit re-
turns for the same Now and tbeh IL occur" "''
States make the returns. but do not actua''y H"'e
on hand the articles for which they account p''"
courses are irregular and unsatisfactory The sup
niles arc issued by the War Department Tor pfac
t,cal nurposes and II no returns are made there ~
no means of knowing the State troops are equipped
for service which they may be called upon to per
form in casss OF emergency. and II che returns
sbnw that articles are on hand when they are not
the actual condition Of the militia IS nCt prope..y
represented BY reports. ana m"c" eo'"' '
result. - -, .., mazda n get nj the
,r,'e strength and efficiency OF the National Guard
~ the country. The military authorities say that
tbev are not expecting anything resembling wal,
t ,ba, the collection of Information bearing on the
rea, stat,is OF the militia Is not ony desirable put
innortant II is essential that the war department
shnuld know how many muskets. bayohetS, cart
ridge boxes sacks canteens. tents ana other sup
piles for hed service are actually IN the na,us %
he militia and servceable. Under the present sSs
fem Of accountability. or. rather. the piacuce y,
ssai,,ng returns OF Federal stores ana supplies, II
~ not nossible to get definite intelligence on Inc
sn,iect Hence A circular .etter has been sent 10
eli Adiutant- Generals OF States having orgahzru
Naomi Guards calling attention to existing I'M
infections in the present system ana suggesting
improvements -, ~. W. r,onor,ren, Is to
aar'se a simple and uniform sys stem OF accounting
Cor Government supplies received by states In inc
itter sent out to Adjutant General. General Doe
,he ssistant Secretary of War. has requested that
cnnies az forms returns. etc. In use by the States
he furnished TO the War Department. ana that
Recommendations looking 10 better system OF ac
countatI,ity be submitted General McAipih' y.
N.wyork wos the first official 10 respond 10 the
,nSuIry, He has suggested that the regular Army
rat,,rns are simple and I'm the main satisfactory.
TO insure uniformity ne recommends that all states
toow the practice OF the regular service other
States have been heard FROM and In time IL rs eh-
nected that all having organized militia VIII r.
snond General Doe favors the adoption or the
Army system OF accounts as best suited 10 me re-
o,iirements This provides for the submission OF
Quarterly returns OF public stores and supplies, ana
the auditing Of the same. II also provides ,or IN,
Ike purpose OF determining whether the articles on
chargeeare actually On hand. their condition. e,c
record is kept Of all returns made. and failure
10 send In the quarterly reports Is readily ascei
tanned In case Of such failure officers have tnei1
attention called to tho neglect