The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
CONGRESS AND THE STATE rRooPs.
some Measures Proposed for Ineressing
Militia En1olencv.

Militia En1cienev.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-There are two
classes of bills before Congress relating to the
National Guard or militia of the States. One
Affects their system of training, their govern
mont when called into the service of the Federal
Government, and 30 on. The other relates to
arms md equipments.
Taking this latter first, there nre two bills
pending, one of which provides that any State
or Territory or the District of Columbia may
return It's old rifles or equipments. issued by
the Government, and thereupon shall have the
value as ascertained credited on It's share OF the
appropriations made by Congress for the mill
tia. The other allows the Secretary of War to
issue tho 45-calibre Springfield rifles to tho
States and Territories on the return of the
arms now in their possession. Army stores
and supplies Of all kinds may also be purchased
by them at their cash value, II such stores and
supplies can be spared.
The object OF the first bill, as explained by
Sen. Flagler, who recommended It, Is TO give to
the State forces valuable supplies of the army
pattern in return for any OF less useful lnator-
il they may now have. Under the existing
law. tho proceeds of unserviceahle and obsolete
ordnance stores must be turned into the Treas
ury. This is all very we'll as applied to tho
army. but tho militia. whose appropria lions
are limited to n specific annual amount. should
have the benefit of the sale of such arms as
they may return.
The actual operation of the law is that. since
the Stntes get no benefit from returning their
old arms and ordnance stores, they keen them,
and thus there is a temptation, at least IN
weapons or equipments. in order to avoid the
cost of better ones. There 10 also a liability
that, when such troops are called into he
United states service, especially In consider
able numbers. some may present themselves
with these imperfect arms. Gen. Flagler. says
that In the civil war there were cases Of defent
following the use by troops of worthless arms
sr n sp siSss $fii Al that t, for , issD s3sIs ,s sss ss- % {
seem strange at first. in view OF the fact that
the army has a 3o,calibre magazine rifle. and
uniformity Is aimed Mt. But Gen. Flagler's view
Is that the larger calibre is better adapted 70
close,range fighting, and other service which
to perform. II is simpler and not so liable to
get out of order. and IL uses black gunpowder.
which does not deteriorate from storage and
long lack OF use. Admitting. therefore. that,
with other things equal. it is desirable that the
state forces should have practice with the arm
they are to use in war, which would very like
ly be the army weapon, us reserves of IL viii be
gradually accumulated, Yet Gen, FlaGler con
ally "a very mucn betterS rifle for the National
Guard in peace.
Again, not only would it take n very long
time to supply magazine rifles to the State
troops in any case. but it would take ten years,
AZ. he %reckons, under the existing annual appro-
priation OF $500, 900, of which 5000. 900 to $780,
600 is available for arms and equipments, the
remainder ,goinH TO camp and garrison eQut-
page ana Other supplies. Hence. in order to Ell
feet the exchange more quickly. II would be
necessary to increase the annual appropria-
ion. or else make IL large special approximation,
the cost of the exchange being estimated at
81 900. 600. On the other hand. the 45-calibrc
rifles in store could be used, and come Of the
State troops already have them. The ex-
change for older ones would require about 5O,-
600 OF the new rifles.
The second bill mentioned has. in fact, passed
the Senate, and is now before the House. which
may ai,o pass II, unless. indeed. IL should he in
corDorated. instead, in some more elaborate
militia measure. in which case IL would per-
haps share the %latter's fate OF enactment or
failure. 1t is noticeable that neither OF the
pending bills would require, ACCORDING to Gen.
FlaRier. any additional appropriation. The
general result would De toward uniformity and
greater efficiency In arms and equipments. AS
TO the provision for buying supplies, that would
also tend to uniformity. and it is said that the
States desire II. as they MAKE large appropria-
tons of their own. Sometimes the Ordnance
Department helps them out by furnishing pat
terms, drawings. and specifications OF manu-
facture; but there seems to be no great obiec-
lion 10 letting them buy spare stores directly
OF the Government.
AS to the more comprehensive bills pending,
which 20 beyond the matter of ordnance sup
plies, although having rs their basis the annual
Rppro o~riation OF Congress. IL Is difficult to fore
cast the fate OF any of them. The subject in
volved is somewhat complex, dealing as II does
with existing organizations formed under State
laws. and the short session always finds a
struggle for existence and for consideration
among many bills. 1t cannot be said that the
esuit Is hlw iys the survival of the Attcst, but
general legislation for the State forces may be
missed in the struggle.