Evening star., 1897-01-20
THE NATIONAL RIFLES.
status Of the Organization Explafne
by the Secretary.

ny the secretary.
Mr. Edward P. Harrington, secretary Of
the National Rifles Association. takes ex-
ceptlon to statements made in regard to
the dissolution of Company B of the ID
battalion. In conversation with q Star re-
porter ne explained the situatio as follows.
l ne Nauonal R1f1es' military company is
s.i'l III existence, and a the present time
there Is every indica ton that It will ,on.
- Aoi some years to come The organi-
zauon is governed by the same rules and
a"s tnat nave governed it for many
Years past: with the exception that In
January, 1885, the corporate AFFAIRS u-era
separated from the mere COMPANY mat
tsi yrs. IN october, 1896. at the biennial elec-
in the nerson many changes were made
.hough at the time there was much fric-
ion ana some irritation vet in thr .nnai,
me me oncers who We're superseded accepted
Will OF the majority ~ 'Ae
~ Company B of the I'd Battalion. n =
", was composed Of members of tho
Salional 1sa. Rifles, and was formed in .June
denendant una 1,atter M OF fact 1t was totally in
IoI n tnere were several members of ,b.
n,ines' among them myself, who never on
l.s.ed IN the National Guard, let alone in
terasts ~ p D. FOR they felt that the in
.erests OF the organization would be better
supserVeo as an independent comnanv
Many OF those who enlisted In Comnanv p
save save II only a perfunctory support, and for
on ehsnl II had only an astral existence. AS
company clerk of the National Ri1as
lever knew officially anything relative tn
company b, nor do the records of that mr.
sam.1auon SAM snow any connection between
.uen, any o1ssension which may exist in
the National Rifles relative to its nronar.
question should have no more effect unon
company b than upon any other comnanv
~ n.t the National Guard. The truth Of the
oencate child never. strong and if IL Il;
aead II perished from non-supoort Much
mas oeen written about the boiling Morton
ths So, VINO were deferred from entering
Cae ranks OF the National Rifles and of
Company 3 on account Of troubles in the
;TL, Matlonal Rif1es over the property question
iHls question cannot in any possible man
~ Sa ailect any one who enters the ranks of
M me compahy, and the boiling members of
me morton Cadets or any other persons
VINO might desire to enter its ranks would
nave no more to say relative to the prom
erty than the members Of the Zulu HEAVY
Artillery iAe@Vs
The G Street Property.
Ihere Is at the present time no disposi-
.ioh 10 dispose of the G street property. for
lhe majority understand as well as the
minority that the property would not, at
the present time bring its full value If 1t
was soid. All that the majority of the
>N-~NAAo-AS " Tic NdUOnQl Hlf1eS CORPORA
ton desire is that the corporate rights of
each individual member shall be definitely
determined. There has been much contro-
'ersy IN the organiza ton upon this subject
ana several plans have been proposed for
It's settlement. The most radical plan pro-
poseo only provides for a dissolution and
an immediate re-incorporation upon a stock
basis: This Is all that the most radical
members of the majority have asked. and
nc iloaerate members of the majority
Smons Sao whom are many of the older mem
perS OF the corporation, would be content
Win Win some assurance in writing that their
lnIerests vii! be protected. But until re-
Seh.ly the minority have been defiant, and
Eavs Taw neen aided by the board of directors.
Few, II any, of the members of the major
ny nave expected to reap any benefits until
the d1ssolution of the corporation by opera
tlon a.. OF law. The majority are now nearly
templating further changes and they now
nave majority of the board of directors
"A compromise agreement, signed by seven
,nemoers . representing all sides in the con-
being signed ~
III prudence, moderation and little for
Dearance are allowed to rule, the National
Rines Will emerge from the present
troubles of the organization in the public
print, but deem 1t my duty to correct any
misrepresentation that may exist in the
PUBLIC mind, and may cause injustice to
worthy and deserving organiza tion."
the dimculty over the property owned by
the Rifles will probably, itsis said, get into
the courts sooner or LATER The conserva-
Simpson, Mr.. Boteler and Capt. Evans, In
sist that as the Rifles is ian Incorporated
organization. Its property cannot be sold
and divided among the members until 1902,
when the charter, secured in 1882 win ex-
pire. 1t Is expected an effort will be made
by the majority to dispose of the property.
ana that the courts will be asked to grant