Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-06
ARMORY ECHOES,
Local Militia Interested in a New
Legislative Bill.
Other Matters That Are Demanding the
Attention Of Worcester's
Citizen Soldiers.

6AVotly l4lltlGSlGu Ill q pGLlllull lllGu dl
the state house last week, which asks
for the enactment of a law making it
illegal for a person exempt from MILL
tary duty receiving "a commission in the
Massachusetts volunteer militia. 1t is.
rumored that the petition had its birth
in this city. and that it will be presented
to the committee ON military affairs by
Senator Crane. Although original
ing in this city, the petition is a drive
against no one, but the promoters be-
leve commissions in the militia should
be given to men who, if occasion re-
quired. would not be hampered by civil
duties, in the performance of their duties
as soldiers. The result of the petition
will be watched with interest by mem
bers of the militia in this city, as such
bill as that asked for would effect
number of changes in which Worcester
men would be interested
In the opinion of many men high in
military life, some law similar TO that
asked for should be framed In CONVEX
sation with once prominent military
man last week, a queer state of affairs
was cited in the event of a serious strike
taking place in, Hampden county. In
such a case the Sheriff of the county,
by nature of the powers of his Office
has the right to call out the militia to
is not unlikely that Sheriff E. 2. Clark
would delay in getting the citizen SOL
diers out But to call out the militia it,
would be necessary for him to issue an
order upon the commander of the militia
in that section. In that case Sheriff e
F. Clark would order Col. e. p Clark
to get the militia out. Then the man
would be in a quandary. Should the man
be nothing but "tin soldier" he would
not command the troops in suppression
of the trouble, as he could say that his
office of sheriff eXempts him from mill
tary duty. 1t can easily be seen what a
1udicrous mess an INSCRIPTIONS officer
could make of such an affair. The above
citation was merely as an example and
not related with an idea of the least pos
sibility of Col. Clark failing to do his
full duty as soldier if such state of
affairs was brought about
Among the militia in this city, the
passage of such a law would result in
the forced resignation of Capt j. j.
Moynihan, who at present is q member
of the police department. Policemen
and firepen are exempt from military
duty, and a year ago such q law would
affect Capt. Joseph Bruso, Jr.. who at
that time was connected with the fire
department.. Among the line officers of
the I'd regiment, Capt. Mcdonald Of one
of the Springfield companies would be
obliged to resign his commission as he
holds the office of city marshal of
Springfield. It is not unlikely that the
present move will be followed by an
other limiting the time which person
can hold commission. There is a feel
ing among many that promotions are
too slow in the militia, and the first
step was taken last year, when the
length of service of a brigadier general
was limited to seven years by the legis-
lature.
Brigadier General Bancroft of the sec
ond brigade has issued general orders
No. 2 and the Emmett Guards, the only
local company in the brigade, has re-
ceived a copy The orders are as fol-
lows:
In accordance with General Orders
No. 2, paragraph 2, A. G. o., dated jan
uary Is, 1898, organizations of this brig
AIDE will be paraded for inspection in
full fatigue dress, with canteen and
haversack.
Also in accordance with General Or
ders No. 2, paragraph 8, A. c.. O., dated
January Is, 1898, the following instruc-
tons will be observed by all organiza-
tons in this, commend in preparing for
active service on sudden call.
The alarm list for assembling will be
employed, unless permission is obtained
from these headquarters to use some
other method. The uniform will be as
follows; Cap, blouse, trousers, with leg
gings for infantry, and overcoat, the lat
ter to be Worn.
1t is recommended that the men be
provided with wooden cap affording
protection to the ears, a flannel shirt, a
waistcoat, cardigan jacket or sweater,
broad toed, laced boots for infantry
arctic oVerShoes, wooden socks Can eX-
ira pair to be carried, wooden under
clothes thick wooden blanket and
rubber blanket, also thick wooden gloves
with long wrists, and faced with leather
for artillery and cavalry.
The equipment, in addition to the
cartridge belt, to be the o. S. army ha-
Versack and canteen, and also the
knapsack for infantry.
Company commanders of infantry
must arrange at once with some store
keeper in the immediate vicinity of their
respective commands, to deliver fmnle-
diately the following supplies for As
hours service, at the armory upon re-
ceipt of notice from him.
12O pounds hard tack; one pound per
day per man.
100 pounds canned corn beef one
pound per day per man.
221a pounds coffee; three ounces per
day per man.
80 pounds sugar: four ounces per day
per man.
The battery commanders and troop
commanders will each make adequate
arrangements OF a IKE nature.
There must also be provided for the
necessary forage of animals Il pounds
or II quarts of oats, and II pounds of
hay for each horse per day.
Each company commander must ar
range at once with the railroad COM
pany on whose line his command is
located, to transport his men to the
point of assembly ordered. and to ar
range for the quickest possible route.
The senior quartermaster of the troops
ordered out will arrange at once for
transporting the whole command from
the point of assembly to the point where
thei1 services are required.
BY command of
Brlgadier General Bancroft,
George H, Benyon,
Asst. Adjt. Gen.
This week viii be an important one
with the local militia companies of the
3D. as Major H. B, Fairbanks Will con-
duet ythe regmental inspection of the
three companies. The Light Infantry
viii be inspected Tuesday night, the
City Guards Thursday night and the
wellington Rifles Friday night.
Committees from the Wellington
Rifles, City Guards and Light Infantry
met during the week and arranged for
a whist league. Besides these COM
panies Battery B will enter team. A
schedule of IL games will be made up,
and eight men from each company will
constitute a team. Twenty-four points
will be a game, and the total points
scored instead of the number of games
won will determine the winner OF the
tournament The prize will be selected
at later meeting of the committee.
The Light Infantry is making extern
arranPar0a for tha final cacta