Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-05
NATIONAL GUARD UNIFORMS.
They Will BE ISSUED by the Quarter
masters Department of the Army.

Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn has made
a decision of considerable interest to the
national guard CT the various states. 1t
arose over the action of the authorities of
the state of Alabama in contracting with n
Philadelphia firm without the knowledge of
the quartermaster general of the army. for
certain articles of uniform. offering in part
payment certain materials, trimmings and
chevrons, which were to be furnished by
the War Department. A requisition for the
materials was estimated for and furnished
to the firm named by authority of the Sec
rotary of War, but after il had been issued
it was ascertained that the uniforms fur
nished to the state were of an inferior
character.
Quartermaster General Weeks says that
the reason given for this irregular transac-
ton is that there was not sufficient time
to obtain the materials to make them up
for use at the state encampment. The rul-
ing of Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn is
based upon representations and recon-
mendations made by the quartermaster
general.
The ruling in question is as follows:
Section of an act entitled An act
to amend section 1861 of the Revised
Statutes. making an annual appropria-
ton to provide arms an equipments for
the militia provides that fhe purchase or
manufacture of arms. ordnance stores,
quartermaster's stores and camp equipa ge
for the militia under the provisions of this
act shall be made under the direction of the
Secretary of War, such arms, ordnance
and quartermaSter's stores and camp equi-
page are now manufactured or otherwise
provided for the use of the regular army
and they shall he receipted for and remain
the property of the United States and terri
tories. for which purpose the Secretary of
War shall prescribe and supply the neces-
Sary blanks and make such regulations as
he may Geem necessary to protect the in
terests of the United States
1t is very clear that the arms ordnance,
stores. quartermaster'S stores and camp
equipage issued to the militia of the states
and territories. contemplated by the pro-
visions of this act, are limited to such as
are manufactured or provided for the use
of the regular army. The regulations of
the army do not provide for the issue of
materials to enlisted men in the regular
army from which to make regulation uni
forms. AS the Issuance of quartermaster's
stores to the states and territories are bv
the provisions of this act to be made under
the same rules, regulations and conditions
as the issuance of such stores to enlisted
men of the regular army such quarter
listed men of the regular army can be
issued to the militia of the states and terri
tories As materials, therefore, are not
furnished by the Quartermaster's DEPART
ment to enlisted men of the regular army
Tor the making of regulation uniforms.
such materials will not hereafter be fur
nished to the militia of the states and
territories under the said act of February
1, 1887, and the decision of the Secretary
OF War of July q. 1887. is hereby reversed.
The issue of clothing to the militia of the
states and territories will hereafter be con-
fined to the regulation uniforms of the
regular army"