The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-31
HIS 1ESSAGE
TO THE ASSEMBLY.
Governor Dyer Deals With rlatters OF
Present and Important Interest.
Rhode Islands Efforts DUR
ing War With Spain.

The annual message of Gov. Dyer to |
the general assembly was read today I'm |
the senate and house OF representatives |
as follows:
To the Honorable the General Assem-
bly, of the state OF Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations:
In presenting the annual message 20
your honorable body ] desire To ask
your careful consideration of such mat
ters as it becomes my duty at this time
TO bring TO your attention.
RHODE ISLAND IN THE WAR
WITH SPAIN.
The history OF the part taken by
Rhode Island in the war with Spain be-
gins i'm the autumn of 1897. when II be-
came evident that hostilities between
the United states and the kingdom OF
Spain were more than likely 60 occur.
With this in view "A caretul inNeslea-
tion of the militia of the state was
made by myself. with the adJutaht-
general. and the United states army
officer on duty with our militia .Ihe nrst
step taken was TO ascertain the condi-
-
talon as to efficiency; second. What
uniforms and equipments were needed
TO enable IL To answer any sudden cal
for service; and third, 10 CSntef Win
the army officers at Fort Adams ana
| with the war department In Washlhs
| ton i'm relation To the part this state
! would be expected 10 take in the de-
! fence of Narragansett bay, ana III lur
! nishing troops for foreign service. The
result of this investigation was 10 con-
firm orr impression that the militia. as
! an organization could not be taken INTO
the service Of the United States except
| for emergent duty in the state ms
! was no fault of the militia ltseI-It
was the fault of the old and obsolete
| law under which il was organized IN
] 1879. and which has been amended from
! time 10 time. until scarcely none OF
the original law remains. rms conul-
| ton of affairs existed at the beginning
of the war with Spain.
on the 18th of February. 1898, upon
! my recommendation the Generai AS
! sembly passed resolution, authorizing
| the commander chief. i'm his discre-
ton. to dispense with the annual en-
| campment of the Brigade. TX. l. M,
-and making provision Tor the necessary
/ clothing, tentage equipment, anu sup
plies for the Brigade. X. l. Nj. This ac-
ton OF the General Assembly was car
|
of officers appointed for the purpose.
on the 21st OF April, 1898, an act was
passed by the General Assembly max
ing an appropriation of $l5O,OOo. TO pro-
vide for certain military and naval eX-
penses "to be expended under the direc-
tion of the commander -chlef. oi
account of the utter inability of the
government to furnish anything in the
way of uniforms, equipments, or mile
| tary supplies, II was necessary at the
May session to ask FOR further appro-
priation OF $4,000 for military ana
| naval expenses.
ON the 18th day OF June, 1898, this
additional sum was placed at the as
posal of the governor without reference
and without a dissenting voice.
Under the first call of the president
for 125. 900 troops. April 23, 1898, the es.
timated quota of this state was az
men, but the day before the call was
issued the governor OF the state tele
graphed TO the secretary or war ask
ing IL the government would accept I
regiment of infantry instead of the eX
act quota required under the call of th'
president on the 25th inst the gov
ernor was notified that the number o
troops from Rhode Island. under tn
call of the president dated April 25d
would be one regiment OF infantry. an'
also that IL was the wish OF the presl
dent that the regiments OF natona
guards or state militia should be use'
as far as their numbers would permi
, I'm responding to this call for the rea
| son that they were all armed. equippe
and drilled and further requested I
! inform the department as early as pos
sible what equipments. ammunition
arms blankets. tents. etc, were
hand In the state. and what addlt'ona
material would he required, and Whe
| the troops would be ready to music
2 into the United states service. Tn
governor Immediately replied, giNln
4 the exnct number of the organized mill
= tia. aud stated that the whole actiN
I militia of the state was n less numpt
T. than would be required for one reg
\ ment of infantry. as called for by IN
[ president. and that he much preferre
10 raise a regiment To be compose
= largely OF men who had been traine
n either In the organized militia or mil
u tary schools, stating that ne thouFi
they could be mustered in in about or
e week. ana that the state could furns
= enough uniforms Springfield rine
% euuipments, ammunition. tentage,blanF
T. cts anr haVersaCks. the only aftc
e lacking being canteens.
\ proclamation was issued at one
j. calling for volunteers. and recruith
= stations were opened. Arrangemen
~ FOR recruiting had been made son
~ time previous To inc chlls III hhtl'ip'
N ton OF the same and the work OF raj
ing the regiment was carried on raj
~ idly
% The city Of Providence having be'
=. designated by the United states as
rendezvous for the troops 10 he rals'
i'm Rhode Island. this department tel
graphcd asking that the state can
around at Quousct Point bc substitute
therefor. Permission was granted
The war department. and the sta
camp ground put in condition to =
- ceive the troops as fast a. they cou
:, be raised on the second day or Nj
- last. camp Dyer" the state militia
l. most. was established at Quouset ron
and Lieut. Col Henry II. Rose. r.
~ NJ retired. was placed I'm comman
. Anticiuat nE. however. that this can
~ ground would be selected had caus
- "a thorough sanitary Investigation
~ tho buildings and grounds to he ma
- bv the surgeon general aud the sect
- tsrv of the state board or health. M
as fast as the recruits were enroll
and examined they were sent there.
viii be rememberd that the month
MAY was very cold and stormy. and