The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-02
STATE MILITEEA FUNDS
FINANCES OF INDIANA'S MILITARY
FORCES IN A TANGLE.
The Governor, Adjutant General and
QUartermaster General Great
Iy PcrpIexed.

The Spanish war has thrown the finances
OF the state militia into a tang,e from which
there now seems to be no one who can eX-
tricate them. Governor Mount, Adjutant
General Gore and Quartermaster General
Richardson have jointly and severally tried
their hands at the task, and have all con-
fessed that they are as far from the solu-
ton Of the problem as when they started.
Yesterday, however, they each one asked
the advice of the attorney general, and a
step has been taken to simplify the work of
Strengthening out the difficulty, but there
still remains stupendous task ahead of
them. Briefly stated, the facts are as fol-
lows:
The state is desirous of beginning the
work Of organizing the new militia about
the first of the year. The organization, how
ever, will not be sworn in until after the
passage or failure of the bill now before
Congress for the uniform muster in of all
state militia forces so that they will be
available for federal service without adj
ditional muster. AS a first step it is desired
to purchase many supplies which can be
bought at advantageous figures at this time,
but none of the state officials know whether
or not there is any balance left against
which to draw.
The States yearly appropriation for the
militia is $4,000, which is augmented by
about $12,0 received>from the United States
government During the past year none of
the government appropriation has been
touched by the State while only $4,000 of
the state appropriation had been expended
on the militia when the war broke out. The
state officials therefore thnk that there
should be about COZ TO the credit of the
militia in the state and federal treasures
at the present time
The difficulty the state officials encounter
however, is that it has been pointed out 20
them that the balance Of the militia money
was included in the amount spent in mus
tering the troops last spring and which is
to be returned by the government.
This view of the matter is the most for
midable complication in the situation, as,
according to present plans OF the treasury
officials, the money paid back by the gov
ernment will be used in redeeming state
bonds which will mature next year. This
arrangement will, in effect, leave the militia
charged with about $47,0 which 1t has never
used, and which it can never receive the
The militia officials calculated that the
best method to pursue would be TO anticipate
the repayment of the governments indebted
ness, and as there Is balance in the treas
ury more than sufficient to cover the amount
of the balance due the militia, claim 1t and
spend 1t in new equipments for the pros
pective militia and let the treasury officials
arrange for the redemption of the bonds as
best they may when the federal money Is
cials are confronted with q situation which
threatens to balk their plans. Several times
before 1t has been found necessary to use
money for unusual expenses in connection
with the militia, but the opinions of all at
torney generals who have been asked was
that no money could be appropriated for
such expenses until the regular appropria-
tion had been exhausted. Last spring when
the call for troops was made money was re-
CURED Gu rec and under the law the balance OF
been exhausted before any more money
could have been taken from the general
fund to pay the militia or to buy supplies
In this manner the militia balance became
h0pelcssly entangled with the general fund,
and in making the drafts on the treasury
no distinction was made between the bal
ance and the special allowances for ''un-
usual expenses" The government will re-
fund the money expended by the State in
lump, and it has been practically arranged
that it will all be applied to the redemp-
ton OF state bonds, leaving the militia out
of the reckoning.
the officials have arranged to purchase cloth
for $500 uniforms to cost $4,000 at an early
period. This, with camp utensils; will use
up all the balance there should be to the
credit Of the militia. To settle the matter
the officials will ask the attorney general
for his opinion as to whether or not the
the state troops under the call of the Presi-r
dent includes the balance due the militia
from the state appropriation.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OPINION.
LSSlSiudys uOWGNGI, GOF6TIlOT AlOuuL,
with the adjutant general and quartermas-
ter general, asked the attorney general if
the Governor had the right to use money
now in the treasury up to the amount of the
unexpended balance due the militia and ap-
ply 1t to the equipment of the militia, which
has not yet been organized. In answering
the inquiry the attorney general without
discussing the question of whether or not
there was any "unexpended balance" to the
credit Of the militia, said that if there is
one 1T is at the absolute disposal of the
Governor to eXpend on the militia as he
wishes, whether the militia is organized or
not. What the developments of the next
few days will be in this connection it is i'm
possible to surmise, but the militia officials
feel that 1t will be unwise for the Governor
to draw on the supposed balance due the
militia at the risk of violating the law
which provides that the entire appropriation
must have been used up before any more
money can be drawn from the treasury for
the benefit of the militia, and therefore
nothing will be done until the attorney
general passes upon the question of whether
the militia has lega' expended it's appro-
prIation or not.