Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-20
STATE HOUSE.
1st Maine Boys Will Soon Re-
ceive Their Back Pay.
The Result Of Adj. Gen. Richards
Trip to Washington.
Governor and Council Will Meet. at 4 O'clock,
This Afternoon.

Adjutant General Richards is back
at his desk at the State House after
being absent week. During that time
he has accomplished one thing fol
which he will receive the everlasting
gratitude of the men who served in the
late war. That is he established the
records so that the men may now re-
ceive their pay until the time they
were mustered out.
1t will be remembered that when the
men were mustered out some did not
receive their full pay for the time they
were in the service. Instead they were
paid up to Oct. 80. while many served
several weeks after that time. Ever
since the point has been at issue Gen
Richards has been at work, trying tC
make some arrangements by which the
men might receive the pay for the full
time they served although he has done
it in such quiet manner that few
have been aware of the fact. During
his trip to Washington, he looked into
ished 50 that now it will be a COM
paratively short time before the men
receive the money due them.
The main purpose of General Rich
ards trip to Washington was that he
might be present with the adjutant
generals of the other states in consul
tation about the bill providing an an
nual appropriation of $2,000OOO for the
equipment of the National Guard of
the different states.
THE amount of this appropriation is
not to be loaned the several states. as
generally supposed said General
Richards, yesterday, rather it is to
provide equipments to be loaned the
National Guard 50 that. in case anoth-
er trouble should suddenly come up the
troops would be sent to the field pro-
perly equipped.
II would recommend that only part
of the equipment be issued and that
the rest be kept in store. 1t would be
my idea TO issue the KragJ orgensen
rifles and what other equipments may
be necessary. BY this means the men
would become accustomed to handling
the new rifles and equipments. And, if
a call should come suddenly the men
would be fully prepared.
should this bill be passed it would
not mean that the State needs TO make
a smaller appropriation for the sup
port of the National Guard. The ap-
preparation from the government is to
be used in the equipment of the Guard
while the money appropriated by the
State is for the support of the Guard.
And it will need to make just as large
an appropriation. 1t cannot make a
less appropriation and have the Guard
on the same footing with those of other
states.
Yes. I think that the bill will pass.
AS it is now it meets the requirements.
1t is the idea of the committee before
whose attention it is brought that it
shall not be amended and its efficiency
injured. From what l learned | think
that the bill ought to pass at once and
if it does pass the different states will
get their equipments by July l."
While in Washington and in consul
tation with the adjutant generals from
other states General Richards had an
excellent chance to learn how the Ma
tional Guard of Maine compared with
those of other states.
Il do not consider that l deserve any
credit for the excellent equipment Of
sent to Chickamauga. Rather | con-
slider that the adjutant generals in the
other states were to be blamed for not
sending better equipped troops to the
field
Should this new bill be passed of
which | have spoken the troops would
be faultlessly equipped. 1t will be a
matter of economy for the government
by having them equipped before they
go to the front.
"A good part of the so called ex-
travagance of the government in fit
ting out the troops was due to the diff
fercnt states not sending properly
equipped men. With the equipment
furnished by the new bill there will be
no need of any haste in equipping the
men and thus the increased expense
made necessary through rushing will
be avoided.