The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-18
SPRINGFIELD RIFLES FOR MILITIA
Law of Interest to Local Military Men
Portland People in Washington.
ESPECIAL TO THE pREss.l

iSREClAL IL 1hb fhESSsl
Washington, February III he House
and Senate have passed bill of interest
to the militia men in the various states.
There are in the United States ten
millior women of age and qualification
suitable for military service. This is
called the enrolled militia. The strength
of the organized militia of the states and
territories and the District of Columbia,
mostly known as the National Guard,
is 112, S79 men and officers. OF these
there are in infantry. 90, .61; in artillery,
5,045; in cavalry, 4,952; special corps,
], 002; generals and generals stats, l, AZ
These are armed with Springfield rifles
of various models from 1873 to 1884, cali
bres 80 and As. They have also Peabody
rifles of .45 calibre. Marlin rifles, Rem
ingtons, calibre so, Speucers and VIM
cbesters. The larger proportions are
Springfelds, many of which are reported
AS in bad condition, especially those OF
old models. So are such other arms as
are no longer manufactured and which
it is therefore difficult to repair. There
has been a continuous enti eaty from
many of the states for permission to turn
in old rifles ana receive in exchange
therefor, or receive as originals issue,
modern Springfield oalibre As.
While the question of new magazine
arm for the regular army was in sus-
pense the War Department was I'M
willing to Issue these weapon except
as far as they were called for under
each states share of the annual appro-
piration of $500, 600. Now. the Krag j or
gensen magazine rife is being fur
nished to the regular army, which will
be entirely supplied with it within about
two months. This will involve this re-
turn to the arsenal of moro than 20, eco
Springdelds. probably nearly all in SER
viceable condition.
The terms of the bill under which tn g
rifles are to be issued to the various
statea are as follow:
Be 1T enacted, etc., that the Secretary
Of War is hereby authorized to issue to
the governors of the several states and
territories such number of SpriE gfield
breech loading rifles, oalibre 45 one-hun-
dredths OF an fnch, as are now required
for arming all of the regularly orga-
Dized armerd and equipped militia (gen-
orally known as the National Guard)
of each state and territory that are not
already supplied with this arm: Pro-
yided, that each state or territory be
required on receipt of the new arms to
turn into the ordinance department,
Z. S. A., (without receiving any money
credit therefor), an equal number of the
arms now in it's possession, except its
Springfield rifles, callbre As one-hun-
dredths of an inch.
Section 2-That each state and territory
shall hereafter make an animal return
to the Secretary of War Of all the arms
issued to them under this or any former
not of Congress az provided for in the
act of February. 1887, making perm a.
nent annual appropriation for arming
and equlpping the militia.
Section 3-That any stats or territory
may, in addition to the stores and sup
plies issued under the provisions Of this
act and the act of February, 1887, pur-
chase for the use Of its national guard or
reserve militia, at regulation prices for
cnsh at place of sale, such stores and
supplies from any department OF the
army as, in the opinion of the Secretary
of War, can be spared.
Sheriff Usher B. Thompson of York
county, is visiting Washington for few
days.
Mr.. W. L. Gard, Mrs. o. R. Wish, Miss
Scott, Miss Wish, Mrs. Calvert, Mr..
George Trefethen, all of Portland, are
visiting Washington on the Pennsylvania
railroad excursion.
Hon. John E. Sawyer of Portland was
in Washington Tuesday and appeared
| before the ways and mean committee