Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-18
NAVAL RESERVES.
Next Legislature Will Fully
Discuss Their Usefulness.
A Few Points About the Fund for
the Maine Monument.
Popularity Of Some OF the HsaIth Reports
Other State Capitol News.

that will come before the next session OF
the Legislature. This is accepted as a
sure thing by those who have any con-
nection with the State military matters.
Adjutant General Richards favors the
idea of the reserve, and will recommend
that the Legislature pass an act author
ilZing the formation of a naval reserve,
though POSSIBLY no appropriation will be
asked for at this session, but the State
will fall back to await the action of the
Unlteu States government on naval re-
seAves in general.
At one time when Portland was so
scared of the threatened visit of the
Spanish squadron, they could not under
stand why Governor Powers and General
Richards did not favor the formation OF
a naval reserve, that would be under the
State laws. They could not be made to
see that the laws of the State provided for
no such a body, but stated distinctly just
what bodies could be formed, of mill
tary nature. The Governor and the gen.
eral both favored the idea of a reserve as
much as any one, but until the Legisa-
ture assembled there was no way to form
one. The only thing they could do, they
explained at the time, was to detail men
from some of the companies of the Ma
tional Guard, until the Legislature pro-
vided for the formation of regular re-
serve, when it was thought necessary.
At one time the Portland public were
very bitter toward the general, but when
they saw the matter in it's true light, and
saw that he was but doing his duty, they
soon became as firm a friend to him as
the rest of the people with whom he had
business.
At that time during the controversy 1t
was not known but that an extra session
of the Legislature might be necessary,
and to be ready for it, General Richards
drew up two different bills, one of which
was to be presented to the Legislature,
providing for a naval reserve. To be sure
that they were good, he sent them to
Commodore Rush commandment or the
Portsmouth navy yard, for his inspec-
ito and approval. That officer gave them
both careful inspection, and approved one
OF them.
This bill is now at the generals office
at the State House, and will be ready
when the Legislature assemblies to be
presented with the generals and the 9TH
err officers hearty approval.
no appropriation asked for, but rather
the formation of such body will be
made clear and legal, as we'll as all the
| laws relating to it. Furthermore 1t may
be recommended that the State ask that
| Congress make some appropriation as
well as furnish some ship for the pur-
pose. AS Congress will doubtless take
some action that will affect the seacoas1
states in the way of the naval reserves
it will be but step by the passing Of
such an act by the State, in the right
| direction. &
General Richards would not approve the
| idea of having another Montauk or any
ship of that description. His idea woult
| be to advise that some converted yach
| or steamer be used, which would 'Dt
armed with modern guns Maine coult
easily have one of the best reserves in the
service, by drawing upon the ranks o.
the fishermen of the State, who have
from boyhood up followed the sea. ant
then there are many others in the cite:
who would like to join them. The grea
trouble would be that there would be al
over-abundance of applications for places
in the ranks, especially of the officers.
Whatever may be done in the way o
the reorganization of the Guard, TIM
winter, General Richards will not, so
is said, favor the incorporation of caviar!
troops or light batteries, as he does no
think Maine is the place for them
Though he is a cavalryman himself. III
would officially oppose the formation o
those two branches. What he wants, III
says, are two good regiments of infantry
with each member having an earnes
sense of his responsibility, and with
true soldiers disdain of feathers. witt
thoughts only of solid sense and business
General Richards has made arrange
ments so that when the soldiers shal
have moved from Camp Powers, all tn
emergency blankets which are the prop
erty of the State, together with all tn
| other blankets, bed ticks, mattresses tina
have been used in the hospital, in fac
5 everything that belongs TO the State O
4 that nature. shall be thoroughly disin
fected in the steam disinfecting plant Q
the Insane hospital. We will have tn
hospital buildings and the other build