The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-04-01
THE MILITIA CUT DOWN
TEN COMPANIES ARE TO BE ABoL-
ISHED.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Retains
One Company.

Olympia, Wash, March 26.-The state
administration has decided upon a gen
eral and radical reduction of the national
guard of the state. 1t is proposed to cut
out 10 companies of the guard, as fol-
lows
Company A, Olympia; e, Seattle; r,
New Whatcom, and H, Vancouver, Of
the First infantry regiment; A. Ellens-
burg; C. Walla Walla; q. Pomeroy; f,
Dayton, all of the First infantry battal-
Ion; Troop b, cavalry, Tacoma, and Bat
terry A, light artillery, Spokane.
This leaves but six companies In the
state, as follows: Companies B and d
at Seattle, and c at Tacoma, on the west
side. and b at Spokane and D at Waits
burg. with Troop A. cavalry, at Yakima,
on the east side. 1t Is proposed that
Companies B and d on the east side con-
stitute the First infantry battalion under
command of Major John Carr, headquar-
ters at Dayton, and Companies B, c and
ID constitute the Second infantry bat
talon on the west side. under the com
mand Of Major ]. ]. Welsenberger, head
quarters at New Whatcom.
The uniforms and equipment of the
Walla Walla company will be turned
over to Company B at Spokane, and the
battery at Spokane will also turn over
10 that company all uniform clothing
except overcoats). rs blankets, 60 haver-
rifle ammunition.
1t is also proposed to do away with the
reslmental organization Of the First in
fantry regiment and the battalion organ
ization of the First infantry battalion re-
organizing the latter as previously out
hned. The membership of infantry com
panies Is to be increased to 1O5 enlisted
men, instead of so enlisted men. as at
present and the commanders of the com
panies that are to remain in the guard
Wall be instructed to recruit up to the
ruii standard at once. The commander
OF troop A, cavalry, at Yakima. will be
instructed to recruit to his maximum
strength, 60, as speedily as possible.
Brigade and battalion headquarters will
be dispensed with. Under the amend
ment to the military code passed at the
last session of the legislature only $500
a year Is allowed each company for ar
mory rent. Heretofore $40 a month was
allowed The amendment also provided
that there VIII be no pay for attendance
on the four parades required by the mil
ltary code. The parades must be ordered
and participated In. but no pay will be
forthcoming for them.
Some OF the organizations named above
~ pehg slated to go out are making
EFFORTS to be retained. going SO far as to
say that they will bear the expense of
maintenance themselves IL permitted TO
be members of the guard
The proposed action in reducing the
strength OF the guard was rendered ne
cessary owing to an appropriation of but
SoooO by the recent legislature for two
years maintenance, as compared with
100000 In 1885, Major John F. Ballalne
secretary to the governor and acting
auJutant general. will, 1t is expected. take
drastic measures In reducing the size of
the militia. He aims to retain the com
panies that have the best standing for
discipline, force and efficiency. but also
considered the point of geographical dis
Tho crack troop of cavalry which has
oeen the pride of Tacoma will have TO 70 |
With the other disbanded organizations
because one troop Is all the appropriation |
VIII permit, and the open country around |
akima, Major Ballaine says, is better |
uitec to cavalry than the heavily tim |
'ered country elsewhere west of the Cas-
'ades. Moreover. he says, there never
las been any COLL for cavalry this side |
u the Cascades, while the demand has
occurred several times on the east side
tockmen.
Governor Rogers has announced that
Aa1or Ballaine will continue to serve MS
citing adJutant general and the military
oard has set aside $25 per month extra
ay Tor performing the duties of the no
ition. After all the property Is turned
4 TO the depot and the guard reorganized
n the plans laid down here the military
expenses or the state will be about $4,000
year. "N'