Evening star., 1896-12-26
Competition Or General Efficiency
Prizes Hab Reen Planned.
POSSIBILITY OF ia new ARMoRY
Second Regiment Team Wins the
Rifle Match.
MUDDLE OF THE MORTONS

The brigade generally will be deeply in
terested in the announcement that a plan,
complete In all the details, has practically
been agreed upon, for the purpose of in
creasing the general efficiency Of the Dis
trict National Guard. The idea originated
with 1st Efeut. j. Bruce Webb, quarter
master Of the I'd Battalion, several weeks
ago. and since that time has been discussed
at meetings of the commissioned officers
and by committee appointed to look into
the matter. The latter has named a sub
committee, consis ting of Maj. Richard
oBrien, I'd Battalion; Capt Frank w.
Holt, Company B. Engineer Corps; Capt.
George W. England. Company d, 5th Bat
talon; 1st Lieut.. A. p. Robbins, Light Bat
terry A, and 1st Lieut.. ]. Bruce Webb,
quartermaster I'd Battalion, to prepare
report which will be submitted to the gen-
eral committee Wednesday evening next.
Maj. O'Brien's subcommittee is to meet
this evening, and, it is understood, will
agree to recommend that competition be
heid open to all the companies of the
brigade. At least 5000 in cash prizes ac-
cord1ng to the report, will be distributed
in the contest, as follows: 500 to the best
company, $50 to the second best 500 to
the third, SIS to the fourth, $50 to the fifth
and $25 to the sixth. These prizes alone
are sufficient to attract the attention of
every member Of the guard, and it is quite
likely that a complete and widespread
awakening all along the line will follow the
ann Juncement.
To Commence January 1.
The competition, so it Is planned, will
open January 1, or very shortly thereafter,
and will be conducted under five heads, as
follows: First, the condition of company
books and papers. as set forth in the report
OF the annual inspection by the adjutant
equipments, as set forth in the report of
the inspector general; third, the condition
or government property and quarters, as
set forth In the report of the quartermaster
general; fourth, the record for target prac-
tice, as set forth in the report of the in
spector general of rifle practice, and, fifth,
efficiency in drill. The fourth head is sub
divided so as to include work In the gallery
and work on the range, and the fifth to
include the manual of arms, the school of
the soldier. company and battalion, extend
ed order and guard duty.
The scale of marking will be ten points
for each heead and subhead, making 100
the figure of merit possible to attain. The
separate companies iare to be marked in
accordance with the special duties char
acteristic of each.
panies will be inspected prior to March
next and again at the time of the annual
inspection. The early inspection will be
without notice to the company to be ex-
amined.
Board Of Judges.
The board Of judges will consist of all
the company commanders, all the adju-
tants and all the quartermasters Of the bri-
gade. They will have placed in their hands
the system of marking, which is to be so
arranged as to lessen the possibility of
unfairness. Fer instance. a company
commander, the adjutant and the quar-
termaster Of the first battalion will
IH<. rnd to do rtx he
panies ofathe 9th battalion, similar officers
or1the 9Th battalion to score the companies
of the I'd battalion, and so on. Battalion
commanders, also, will be requested to
Inspect their commands once each month
The competition will end according to the
plans November 30. The work accom-
plished at camp next June particularly
guard duty, will be included In the contest.
The indications are that every company
organization of the Guard will enthusiast
ically endeavor to earn possession of the
first prize. The result must necessarily be,
1t is thought, beneficial and of wide scope.
New ArmOry Possible.
1t is not unlikely that before many years
glide into history the District National
Guard will be quartered in suitable arm
cry erected and owned by the government.
1t has been learned that an effort will GER
tainly be made to induce Congress, before
the expiration of the present session, to
provide a permanent home for the local
citizen soldiery.
This announcement may explain the qui-
etus that prevails regarding the drill hall
situation. TIE fact that the guard is alb
solutely denied all facilities for drill, with
no indications Of relief, could be set forth
as rather convincing argument to In
duce legisla ton. Possibly, sooner or later,
the adage "'Tis an i'll wind that blows no.
body good" may apply to the District
Guard.
Mortons and Their Troubles.
The troubles Of the Morton Cadets are
not yet at an end, 1t seems, although the
company, at a meeting Tuesday evening
lest decided to discharge the boilers in the
interest of the service. In accordance with
this action, Capt. Shilling requested, off,
c:ally, that Privates Charles P. Ravenburg,
" lillian Clabaugh,' George F. Plugge, Har-
ry r. Sisson, Milton O'Connell, j. Paul
Chauncey, William Wagner and Francis o.
Grayson be discharged from the National
Guard In the interest of the service, be-
cause of Decentralization"
1t is understood, however, that the re-
quest has been sent forward through mill
tary channels disapproved by Capt. Shil-
lng's superior officers for the reason that
he asks the honorable discharge, in the
interest of the service, of eight of the en-
listed men of his company, because of '.in-
subordination." If these men are guilty of
INSTRUMENTATION, it is claimed. they should
be discharged without honor; II they are
not guilty, no reason can be seen why they
should be discharged in the interest of the
service. The action Of headquarters In the
matter is question to be answered in the
future.
Sergt. Harry r. Sisson and Corporal F. o.
Grayson of the boiling faction, upon the
recommendation Of Capt. Shilling, have
been reduced to the ranks in battalion or
ders
Second Lieutenant Charles NJ Robinson.
jr., claimed by some 10 have been Identified
with the boltings faction. has rendered his
resignation. and h has been forwarded with
the recommendation that 1t be accepted.
Second Regime1t the Winner.
In the rifle match open to regimental
| teams, shot in the aellery Tuesday even
| ing last the representatives of the I'd Regi-
| ment proved vietori0as, tieing the record.
| with total of 445e the team of the 1st
Regiment being within speaking distance,
In the company matnh, shot last week, the
team of Company b. I'd Battalion, with a
total of 237, SURPASSED all past records the
conditions being similar in the history of
| the District Guard.
The work with the rife in the gallery
| thus far has shown a decidedly marked
! Improvement over last season, and it is ex.
pected that befone the close of the indoor
season greater stride forward will be