Evening star., 1897-01-23
More Talk of New District Armory
Building.
EFFORTS TO INDUCE LEGISLATION
Convention Hall Again Available for
Drill Purposes.
MAJOR SUESS RESIGN S

| of Columbia National Guard, with a spa
| cious drill hall, on the reservation directly
| west of the 9Th street depot, caused a
| wave of enthusiasm to sweep through the
| brigade. The proposition met with hearty
| approval on all sides, both from officers
| and enlisted men almost without excep-
| ton. and has been practically the sole
| topic of conversation in local military
| circles.
IF we should be housed in an armory
| such as was described in The Star stated
| Capt. Eugene C. Edwards OF Company A,
I'd Battalion, to a Star reporter, Il will
guarantee to strengthen my command to
one hundred men within a month after
! moving in. and, furthermore, will main
| tain ii permanently at that figure.
| The views of Capt. Edwards were echoed
| by number of other well-known COM
pany commanders 1t is beyond dispute
| that the move would increase the eff
| cheney of the brigade, particularly In nu-
| merical strength, fully 80 per cent.
Gen. Ordvvay the Originator.
| The proposition In regard to the new ar
mory is far, very far, from being a myth.
Several officers of high standing in the
guard are actively determined that it shall
be brought to pass If such is among the
possibilities. As an evidence of the sta
| it is understood that Gen. Ordway was Its
| originator, and the belief may also be
stated that the commanding general Will
! personally press the matter before Con-
gress
The need of such building as the one
projected is felt more keenly just at the
present time by these who have In charge
J the arrangements for the inaugural ball.
| A vast amount of work Is necessary in
| order to put the pension office building in
proper condition for the mammoth recep-
| ton in honor of President Mckinley. AS
| has heretofore been stated, the govern
ment every four years entails loss of
about $4,000 in clerk hire alone. to say
nothing of delays in public business and
! many Inconvenience, in order that the
pension office may be the scene of the ball.
The idea is to plan the proposed armory
especially with a view of its permanent
selection a place for holding inaugural
balls. Other large gatherings, especially
those of a public character, could also be
statement that the proposition is not idle
talk. the appeal to Congress, SO it Is
learned, will receive the support of the
present inaugural executive committee, the
board of trade and the District Commits
sioners. The project has been under care
full consideration for some weeks past, and
| 1t was not made known until it's future ap-
peared promising. Congress will, in all
probability, be approached on the subject
during the coming extra session.
Maj. Gilbert Thompson, commanding the
Engineer Corps, takes exception to the
proposed site of the armory as follows:
There is one fatal objection to the site
as proposed in last Saturdays Star for a
| District armory in that 1t is on public
| reservation. Every interested citizen,
| whether In the militia or not, should op-
| pose such a location. Also, as the front of
a a
architectural pretensions, 1t would be q
| great pity to hide it a back street.
Rather purchase a square fronting on the
| avenue and put up building which will
also answer for great public assemblies and
afford room for quite a number of the Dis
| trict offices. During each four years such
| structure would save to the general and
| District government total of over $2OO,-
| COO.
.'As Congress at present Is indisposed to-
| ward any legislation involving expenditure
| of money, congressional committee could
! at least be appointed to take into con-
| sideration the necessity of such a public
building"
| The promoters of the plan do not agree
| with Maj. Thompson SO far as concerns
! the purchase of a site facing Pennsylvania
| avenue. They claim that the reservation
| adjoining the 9th street depot is the ideal
| spot. and will urge that the building be
| erected there. That 1t would be an eco
nomcal move on the part of the govern
/ Tent every one seems to be convinced, for
| II Is set forth, the money now expended for
| rental of armories is greater than would
| be the interest at per cent on the prin-
| cipal involved In the construction Of the
| armory.
| Again Possible to Drill.
AS stated in The Star several weeks ago
would be the case. Convention Hall has
! again become available for drill purposes.
| Drills Will be resumed therein every Mon
| day and Tuesday evening on and after
Monday next, the 25th instant, under the
assignments made in general orders No 2,
series of 1895. The hall not being at the
| disposal Of the guard ON Saturdays certain
| consultations are rendered necessary. The
| correct assignment Is as follows: The I'd
| and Sd Battalions, the second and fourth
Mondays of each month; the Engineer
| Corps, Light Battery A, the Ambulance
| Corps and the 4th Battalion, the second
| and fourth Tuesdays in each month; the
9th battalion. the first and third Mondays
of each month; the 1st ID and Sd Separate
Companies and the 9th Battalion, the first
| and third Tuesdays of each month.
The nights assigned may be designated
| for company, battalion or regimental drills
under such combinations and arrangements
| as battalion commanders may deem best
for their respective commands. or as may
| be prescribed by regimental commanders.
In view OF the approaching inaugural
| parade, every indication exists that there
/
| generally throughout the brigade during
| the next few weeks.
Company Match Protest Sustained,
| 1t is understood that the protest filed
| against the score of the team of Com
pany A. Engineer Corps. in the company
| match for January. fired Thursday even
| ing of last week, will be sustained by the
| inspector general Of rifle practice. to whom
| the matter was referred. 1t Will be re-
| called that Private Williams of the En-
| gineer team fired six Shots which was
| the foundation for the protest. First Lieu
! tenant William e. Harvey explained this
irregularity as follows: Private Williams
| fourth shot struck far below the target as
| a result OF defect In the cartridge. The
| matter was called to the attention of the
| inspector in charge, who, after consulting
| with team captains. permitted him to fire
| another shot In place of 1t, it being agreed
| that IL should only count in the event of
| his action being affirmed by the inspector
general OF rifle practice"
The sustaining of the protest makes the
| team Of Company b, 9Th Battalion the
| winner of the match.
| 1t may be stated that hereafter In
matches cartridges will be fired. whether
good, bad or Indifferent. and the result will
stand. The men. however will be permit.
ted to examine the cartridges before using
them For the information Of those con.
cerned. 1t Is declared by an officer of this
department Of rifle practice to be bad
I far