Evening star., 1896-12-24
DISTRICT NAVAL MILITIA
The Navy Departments Objections to the
Pending Bill.
MILF T IA
Assistant Secretary McAdOO's Letter
to Representative Robinson
ON the Subject.

Acting Secretary McAdoo has written u
letter to Representative Robinson of Penn
sylvania in regard to the bill recently in
troduced by him for the creation of a naval
militia in the District of Columbia. and he
has also addressed a similar letter to the
chairman Of the Senate committee on naval
affairs concerning a Senate bill before that
committee having the same object in view.
In his letter to Representative Robinson
the acting secretary expresses his objec-
ticns to the proposed legislation in the fol-
lowing language:
Concerning H. r. bill No. 1867, referred
by you to the department with request that
it will express it's opinion thereon, the de-
rartment has no objection to the creation
o. a naval militia in the District of Column
hia. On the contrary, it would be glad to
encourage such movement, but 1t cannot
indorse the provisions of this bill, because
1t would put the naval militia in the Dis
trict upon an entirely different footing. and
with advantages far beyond those enjoyed
by any similar organization in this country.
In all of the states where naval militia or
ganizations exist they form a part of the
regular authorized militia of the state, and
receive the amounts allowed for their MAIN
tenance from that appropriated for the
militia as whole, in proportion to their
number or as may be otherwise provided
by law.
Should Congress see fit to authorize the
formation of naval militia in the District
of Columbia, the department recommends
that they be authorized and provided for
in the regular appropriation for the militia
of the District in such a manner that will
enttle them to privileges and sums for
their maintenance as is now provided for
the existing militia. and that they be SUBJ
nf ha
existing militia authorities as part there
Of, and that the laws in force regarding
the existing militia shall apply to them,
except when otherwise specially provided
Should this be done, the Distric. naval
militia would have the same status at the
Navy Department now held by other exist
ing organizations, If the words and Dis
trict of Columbia be inserted in the clause
appropriating the sum to be annually ex-
pended for the supply of arms and other
specified material to the naval militia or
ganizations of the various states.
THE clause in tie bill which instructs the
Navy Department to furnish them with
stores. clothing, supplies, ETC., places no
limit on the amount and appropriates no
money for the purpose Should Congress
see fit to provide for these needs, at least
to the same degree as is done for the other
militia OF the District, and as is done by
the various states In different degrees it
would seem more In the interest of regular
itS economy and proper control that the
commended by the department
Unusual Requests.
The clauses which obligate the appoint
ment Of naval officers to various duties
connected with the District naval militia
are unusual, and should these privileges be
granted to this organization 1t would GER
tainly cause other similar organizations to
claim similar advantages and the Navy
10 fo,,
this purpose.
THE department would be very glad in
deed to see a naval militia in the District
Of Columbia which shall be organized
commanded and sustained under the gen.
eral militia law for the District, and their
expenses paid for from the same appro-
priation, end II such militia is SO created
II advises that the words District of Co.
lumbia' be added to the appropriation for
the various militias of the states, SO that
this organization would thereby receive the
same rights and privileges from the Navy
Department as do the other naval militias,
no more and no less"