The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-17
WHO VI SAID Al ARM0RY?'.
The Question of a Home for Prince
az ton Militia Boys and the Prop
er Steps to Take.
Inc Law ON the rIatter and What
*:5c nas Been Done SO Far==A Pub
- ~
! 3 lie Question to Solve.

~
as Enough we might, though matters
are progressing very slowly at the
present time Princeton has a good
company of militia and this is some
thing that every town cannot claim.
Wien the boys returned from the
south after the hostilities with Spain
had ceased, it was proposed that COM
papy=of home guards Of militia be or
gained and. through the efforts of
Capt. Patterson company was organ
lzed= and is now known as Company c.
OF the National Guards of Minnesota.
Inc company was duly mustered in
ane pecame part of the State militia
last spring and in all respects has COM
piled with the State law regulating the
National Guard. The company has
been using the hall over Berg's store,
which is poorly fitted for drilling pur-
poses, and at the last meeting of the
council it was decided to rent Jesmer's
opera house for drills the coming win
ter
The local militia had not been organ
lied long before the village council
was asked to build an armory for the
milltlamen, and it was pointed out to
them that under the law it was the
councils duty to do so A committee
composed of Councilmen Briggs, Jones
and .esmer was appointed to look up a
site, and several have been examined.
in an informal way only. as the CON-
mlttee has done nothing definite in the
matter. Section one Of the act to pro-
vide suitable arInories for the com
panies of the National Guard, reads:
whenever it shall appear by the certificate Of
the commander of the regiment or battalion to
which any company, organized under the pro-
visions of the general laws of the State of Min
nesota {the military code) and the amend
ments thereof. belongs, that such battery or
company has reached the minimum number of
enlisted men who regularly attend the drills
and rrades Of such battery and company, the
eoAAz.ar.fssng officeto Of the regiment or battai-
town Or village, or where there is no mayor
then the proper authorities of the town or vii
lage in which such battery or company is To-
Gated shall constitute board to erect or rent
within the bounds of such city town or village
for the use of such battery or company a suit
able or convenient armory. drill-room and
place of deposit for the safe keeping of the
arms, uniforms. equipments accoutrements
4 l.
sionS of this act. .
The law says that certain persons
shall constitute a board to rent. erect,
construct and maintain an armory. but
it does not say said board shall do those
things, though 1t seems clear that the
mandatory intent of the law is there,
and that it is incumbent on the board
to furnish the militia suita bic quarters.
Section two of the act says:
The expenses of erecting, altering, repairing
charging or renting armories. purchasing
lands for the erection of armories, and for pro-
viding the necessary camp-stools. apparatus
and fixtures for heating and lighting and the
fuel and gas or oil for the same, and water
closets in such building, and for the proper
preserving from injury the arms, equipments.
uniforms and records stored therein by the
construction of suitable lockers, Closets gun
racks and cases for uniforms, equipments,
arms and records and for the maintenance
thereof in good and. safe repair, shall be por-
ton of the charges of such city, town or village
and shall be Levied collected and paid in the
same manner as other city. town or village
charges are levied collected ann maid
The law places the armory under the
control of the commanding. officer of
the regiment or company, who also has
the power to hire a. janitor, engineer,
or whoever is necessary to look after
the heating, lighting, and general care
OF the armory. Such persons shall re-
ceive compensation not to exceed So
per day, for the time actually necessary
in the performance of their duties, and
shall be paid by the city or village
where said armory is located.
1t will be seen that the law gives the
proper local authorities acting in con-
junction with the commanding officer
of the regiment or battalion consider
able latitude and power in the matter,
but leaves the matter rather open and
indefinite, in that no limit is placed on
the amount of money to be expended,
the legislature presuming no doubt
that such matters would be controlled
by public interest and consideration.
The legislature has been generous in
its legislation for the equipment and
the maintenance of the National Guard
and all that is left for the,local author
tiles to do is to see that the home com
panles are, properly provided for.
There is no civic organization that
means more to the State than a good
we'll drilled militia company, and it
provides the members with profitable
pastime and opportunity to improve
and better themselves in a physical
way, as we'll as fitting them for guard