The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-30
The NAVAL RESERVE
Grounds Of the Republican
Reform Attack Upon
the States Bluejackets.
C0WARDLY FAKE ATTACKS
Money Spent for the Protection Of
Federal Property-s10,O0O
Appropriated.
Special i the Jerscy Citu Nescs.

Special t ) the Jersey Ctu Neus-
TRENTON, March 80. 1ss7.-The Naval
Reserves yesterday afternoon routed their
enemies completely and succeeded in ger-
ting from the Committee on Appropria-
tons $10,0oO-just $4,000 more than the
committee voted to give the Reserve last
week.
The committee gave a hearing to the
representatives of the Reserve yesterday
afternoon. Senator Johnson, chairman of
the committee, made a statement in
which he said he did not think that the
history of the bill to disband the Naval
Reserve, which was defeated in the As
sembly last week, was known. when
the committee had under consideration
the Naval Reserves request for an APP
propriation," he went on, 81 spoke against
allowing it. for I thought that however
excellent an Institution the Reserve was
it was one which the Fedora Govern
ment and not the State should support.
defense of the State in case of insurrec-
ton, but / can't see what use the Naval
Reserve would be in case of riot, unless,
perhaps, it could be used rs artillery.
After we had considered this subject the
committee unanimously decided to give
the Reserve nc appropriation and to have
introduced a bill to repeal the act Great
ing the Reserve. I drew that bill and re-
quested Mr.. Derousse to Introduce it.
That is all the responsibility which be-
longs to Mr.. Derousse in the matter"
Washington Irving, commander of the
Battalion Of the East, then spoke for the
Reserve. He presented letters from the
Mayors of Newark, Jersey City. Hoboken.
Plainfeld and other cities and petitions
signed by the leading citizens of those
cities asking that the Reserve be given
an appropriation.
1.-THE Chairman of the House Committee
on Appropriation has stated, on the floor
of the House, that the late bill proposing
the DISARMAMENT of the Naval Reserve
was introduced at the behest of the Joint
Committee because tina body had decided
that no appropriation for the support OF
the navy of the State should be granted;
explaining at the same time Ito quote his
own wordS) that there was no intention
of rejecting upon the organization
IF there is no intention of rejecting
upo the organization, there seems no
adequate reason for withholding the sums
necessary to its proper support-any other
course cannot but be construed as a re-
Election of the gravest kind.
can be but three reasons why
the Naval Reserve should not be accorded
recognition
"First-Because there is no need for it.
"Second-Because its utility is not COM
mensurate with its expense.
tsThird-Because of it's inefficiency or
lack of proper discipline.
THE need of a Naval Reserve will not
be argued here. That question has been
Ill - kIA L ar,- H.
proper committee and has already been
decided for you. The people of the State
made up their minds two years ago that
a Naval Reserve was a good thing to
have-that New Jersey needed one. Now,
after two years trial, they have again
decided that a Naval Reserve is q good
thing to have and that the present Or
ganization is both useful, necessary and
satisfactory, and they have expressed
their opinion with no uncertain und
THE third reason for Withholding an
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of inefficiency or
lack of discipline-cannot well be con-
sidered here; the joint committee, through
its duly accredited representative, having
already disclaimed any intention of re-
1ectfng upon the Nava Reserve.
Had any charges of this character
been made however, their r~efutation
would lave been simple-the testimony of
those who have had the OPPORTUNITY of
Judging and are capable of giving an ex-
pert opinion is all in the one direction of
high encomium. This is only alluded to
because of the charge that ~derogatory
statements have been made before this
This leaves but one reason to be con-
sidered: whether the utility of the ava
Reserve is commensurate with its ex-
pense. This is another question upon
pressed. The people have determined
upon the continued existence of the Naval
Reserve. The Naval Reserve cannot live
"Tt is NOT unreasonable 10 conclude that