The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-19

IL Is made necessary because ths money
must bs eked out To provide uniforms and
equipments for the troops will by no
means bs accepted as "A satisfactory expla-
nation to persons familiar with the facts.
for tho real difficulty lies deeper. The
annual militia appropriation has never
been extravagant. often it has been eco
nomical to the verge of short sighted
stinainess. But. generally speaking, IL
would be ample TO meet the annual re-
quirsments ana provide a reserve as we'll,
TO meet such contingencies as has now
arisen In the need of rev Quitting had
not a radically wrohg system been per
pstuated 10y which the funds are used
neither TO the benefit of the militia nor,
to n degree proportionate TO the cost, TO
the advantage of the State.
We refer, Of course to the factor Of in
dependent commands supported wholly or
in part by the State, Dut who are held
neither in theory nor practice, TO cores
ponding return in service given.
The military force OF our State is divided
into two separate and distinct organiza-
tions, one consisting Of an actual enrolled
disciplined body. including the different
branches of service, infantry. battery,
and one or more troops of cavalry, the
other some half a dozen independent COM
panies located in different parts of the
commonwealth. The first OF these is or
ganized, drilled and equipped fully in ac-
cordance with the tactics of the United
States army, and receive that support
from the State TO which it is clearly en-
titled. Among other appropriations for
this organized body has been that for the
annual encampment costing the state SIG,
600 to SIS, 600 each year.
This expense is assumed solely upon the
ground that military knowledge is abso-
lltely necessary to attain the desired
efficiency could only he afforded 10y pi &C
tical experience in the field, as full bri-
sads. Consequently the appropriations
have always been chserfully made.
Now what about these independent
oompaniesS These unattached and unde-
fined commands receive annual appropri-
ations for aimory rent. commissioner $
salary, keep for uniforms and various
other demands often not for ANY specified
object, other than to remburse their
empty treasures. We might first enquire
how many of these appropriations have
been legal; how many have been made in
accordance with the requirement. OF our
State constitution. Article Nv, section IA
says: "The assent of two thirds OF the
members elected to each house OF ths
General Assembl shall BE- required to
every bill appropriatinR the public money
or property for local or private purposes. -
IL 10 to lie presumed that our Legislators
who are ever ready to present and adyo-
cate appropriations of this nature have
been at least prudent enough to have
seen that the official record OF their re-
spective houses easily furnish the proof
Of the legality of their action. Now. our
next inquiry would be upon what posi-
Bile pretence could suoh appropriations be
votedS And the only reply tnat could
possibly be made would be that in case
OF an emergency these independent com.
paniss would be ordered out.
But let us look into this.
No one but the comunantsr-in-ob -obief
can order these companies out. and
when out some question might arise as to
who, except the command der in n-chisf,
could exercise authority over them. They
having been wholly relieved from camp
iuty, could not OF course have obtained
that especial knowledge claimed only to
be attained by practical experience
through an encsmpment and of what
value would they be? An order is given.
important in the extreme for its prompt
execution. Six or eight companies on
the riaht or left are entirely ignorant as
to how TO execute the ordor and TIE whole
division would be thrown into confusion.
and disaster would inevitably result. Such
forces had evidently better be out than in.
II, on the other hand, it Is contended that
the necessary knowledge can bs acquired
in these independent companies, by study.
in their armorles. thsn the whole necessity
for an encampment yanishes.
But this is not SO. 1t is only through
sncampment and the masslng of the
different companies to act IN coDsort tnat
the information needed can he acquired.