The McCook tribune., 1897-01-22
Nebraska National Grard.

The report of the adjuta nt-general
shows that during the past two years.
the national guard in this state has
made great Improvement in its knowledge
of military duty. and shat The equipment
is sufficient, with me exception of a
few articles. to enable it to take the field
for active service in or out of the state.
There is yet much to be done to bring
the guard up to the accepted standard
of efficiency, and that can be accom-
pliShed only by careful, theoretical in
struction of the commissioned officers
in military science and practical instruc-
tion of the whole guard in annual en-
campments. The national guardsmen are
volunteers ready for duty whenever
emergency demands their services. BY
personal application, ard in a great
measure by their own expense, they are
learning the routine of the drill, the re-
quirements of military discipline and ac-
Quiring the minutia of duty.
The proper maintenance of the ma
tional guard of the state requires that
reasonable appropriations should be made
to bring the services TO a high state of
efficiency. While the law expressly pro-
vGes for annual encampmentS for inStruc-
ton, the appropriations have heretofore
besn insufficient and only one encamp-
ment had been held during each biennial
period prior to my administration. After
the encampment at Hastings in 1885, it
was found that a great saving had been
made by economical management, and
the oficarS Of the guard in consultation
were unanimously of the opinion that
the good of the service and requirements
of law demanded the annual encamp-
nTant held at Lincoln in 1896. While the
available appropriation was insufficient
the guardsmen were willing to accept
half pay and look to this session of the
legislature for the balance. The two en-
campnrents were held at an average cost
of $14,219.S1. a saving of s., 4,34227 on each
encamp,nent. as compared with the en-
campment Of 1894.
The indebtedness Of the guard as a re-
suit of the last encampment is S., 5,4na
more than there remains of funds on
hand. Several hundred dollars will be re-
quircd to bear expenses until the end OF
the biennial period, increasing the de-
ficiency to about $1,000. A slightly in
creased appropriation over that usually
made will enable the guard to comply
with the requirements of the law in the
matter Of holding annual encampments
and keep the service in a high state OF
efficiency. This would seem to me to be
advisable. The excellent condition of the
states militia is due in a great measure
to the efficient management of the ad-
jutant-gereral, Brig.-Gen. Patrick II. Ear
ry. The guard is also indebted to Major
U. S. a. for valued service in instruc-
ton.
Your attention is invited to the need CT
a thorough revision Of the militia law. It
has been found that the present law, in
many instances, does not meet the re-
Quirements, and also, that several of the
sections are exceedingly ambiguous. Your
attention is especially invited to section
% which is clearly in direct violation Of
ths, laws of the United tSateS.
There are now deposited in Office of the
acknowledgement the battle flags of
First Nebraska infantry, and the flags
and Sui6ons Of the First Nebraska cav
airy. together with other very valuable
relics CT the late CEil war. 1 would
recommend that these flags be placed in
Theoretically sealed cases to preserve them
from atmospheric destruction. AS these
are symbols of the heroism of Nebraska
volunteer soldiers. they should be guarded
sacredly by the state.