The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-16
A Rifle Ring Scheme.

~ 4nS
Shall the State of New York be compelled
to pay the Savage Syndicate $500, 600 for
an imperfect and undesirable rifle, or shall
the Governor be authorized to receive from
the national Government the improved
Springfield rifle in exchange for the Rem.
ington, now used by the National Guard, at
no cost except the expense of transporta-
tion7 This is a practical question which
must now be decided by the Legislature,
because an iniquitous scheme to force upon
the National Guard an improper rife is be-
fore the Senate. 1t is an attempt to revive
the proposition rejected last year by the de.
cision of Governor MORTON.
On May 10, 1895, chapter 800 of the laws
of that year, entitled AN act providing for
a board of examiners of improved firearms
for the use of the military forces of the
State, and making IN appropriation there.
for" became a law. This act provided that
the Governor should appoint three citizens
as a board of examiners to test, examine,
and recommend arms of modern pattern,
consisting of magazine breech- loading
rifles Inc other implements necessary to
supply the National Guard. 1t further
provided that all tests should be confined
to arms of American invention and manu-
facture. The report of the board was made
subject to the Governors approval, but
upon his approval the particular weapon
recommended by the board was to be
adopted for the use of the military and
naval forces of the State. By the fourth sec
tion the Adjutant-Gene was authorized
to make a contract for not exceeding Is, 900
rifles, the price not to exceed 800 for each
gun, or a total sum of $780, 900.
The Board of Examiners was appointed,
and this board recommended what is
known as the Savage gun" a weapon not
approved by any officer of prominence in
the National Guard, but the very one
which it was originally designed should be
selected by the Board Of Examiners ap-
pointed under the act.
Fortunately for the National Guard and
for the State Of New York, Governor NOR
o did not approve the report, and thus
the efforts of the schemers were rendered
n%ugatory.
The scheme now hobs up again serenely
in an act which provides that the Governor
is authorized to purchase for the State such
rifles and carbines, and in such numbers as
viz iSO Ahoy iCfuiiCy - tuo pdUUcTu Auu
construction recommended by the Board of
Examiners appointed under chapter 600 of
the Laws of 1895, and to exchange the
Remington rifles and carbines now used by
the National Guard in part payment for
the purchase price of the rifles recommended
by the board of 1895.
This is a cold-blooded proposition to force
upon the National Guard OF the State a
rifle not approved by the guard, and which
would never be satisfactory. 1t 10 q scheme
to make the State pay $500, 900 or more for
the benefit Of the owners Of the Savage gun,
and to deprive the State Of its existing op-
p~ortunity to secure from the Federal Gov
ernment Springfield rifles in exchange for
the Remington, for the National Guard.
No honest man should vote for such a bill.
1t the last session of the Fifty fourth
Congress an act was passed which pro-
vided that the Government could deliver to
the various States making application the
present Springfield rifles, the use of which
was given up by the army upon the
adoption of the Krag-J6rgenson rifle.
The recent reports made by United States
army officers to the War Department show
that they are not perfectly satisfied with
the new small calibre smokeless rifle, for,
although the bullet has great penetrating
power, it is so small that it may pass
through a mans body without disabling
him for fighting until some hours later.
Moreover, it cannot be held straight on to
the b~ullseye or to the mark, but it has to be
held either to the east or west of the object
fired upon. But for riot work and for the
particular duty which is apt to fall to the
National Guard, the Springfield rife is very
satisfactory, for it's larger projectile gives a
greater shock, and it would, therefore,
spread greater CONSERVATION among rioters.
The Springfield rifles which we can now
obtain from the central Government arc en-
tirely new, and 1t will be a monstrous act
of negligence on the part of the State If the
offer of the United States be not promptly
accepted.
The Remington rifle has been in use many
years. Its manufacture has ceased, and It's
longer use will become daily of increasing
danger. What. then, Is the remedyi It IL
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