Evening star., 1902-01-18
THE SEM,-ANNUALqPAY DAY Is NEAR
Decision to Send Al Rifle Team
to Canada.
WILL NOT coo ABROAD

| In its history has the District National
| Guard, as at present formed, been ade-
quately housed or provided with essential
indoor facilities. For ten years or more
there has been crying need for a proper
home for the organized militia of the ma
tional capital. Each regiment of the Ma
tionai Guard of such states as New York
and Pennsylvania boasts Of more or less
| magnificent armory. erected and main
tanned by the state.
At intervals during the past few years
there have been circulated rumors that an
armory building was projected here, but
each quickly faded into the most pro-
nounced type of thin air. The recommen-
dation Of the park commission is most at
tractive to the guardsmen. The commits
sion suggests that the area between 18th
and 18th streets extending from Pennsyl-
vania avenue to B street, would accommo-
date an armory for the brigade Of District
National Guard.
The armory building, SO the commission
points out, should be constructed in such
style as to make it the proper frame for
the White Lot, Immediately to the west,
and the principal entrance to the building
should be opposite the center of the circle.
The latter has been set apart by the park
commission as ''the great drill ground of
the District
Pay Day fs Near.
Pay rolls, covering the service rendered
during the six months ended the 31st of
last month by those guardsmen not in gov
ernment employ, have been received at
militia headquarters from all the organiza-
tions of the brigade. Before payment can
be made really mammoth task looms up.
First. the adjutant general Is required to
scrutinfZe every entry on each payroll in
order to verify the names, dates and
amounts. The deductions provided by the
new schedule of pay has rendered this Ia
Dor far more complex than heretofore. In
case of tnaccuracies-and such are by no
means infrequent-the company commander
who prepared the roll Is summoned to
headquarters and the matter Strengthened
out: When all the rolls shall have, been
verified, they will be forwarded to the act
ing paymaster general. who, in turn, must
also examine the same carefully, In order
to see that the figuring is correct. Cap
tain Andrew Parker, the acting paymaSter
general. will then be confronted with the
duty Of writing ona thousand or more
checks. The checks Will be mailed about
the 1st of February The next payment,
ing the both Of June, will be made in cash
while the troops are. under canvas on the
occasion of the coming annual encamp
ment.
Several company commanders have d.
rected attention to the fact that men who
have been discharged from the guard are
the only ones, as a rule, who are found
snort b han. IN their hsar property accounts Men
ried on the payroll, under existing orders.
Therefore, 1t is argued,. deductions from
the pay due such men, sufficient to cover
the shortage, cannot be made. The sug-
gestion is advanced that authority be given
to carry on the payroils the names Of men
who have been discharged and who are
short on property to the extent OF secur-
ing credit from the pay due them to the
| amount of the value Of the property that
Is missing. as,s.g. ..
VIII Send Team to Canada,
At the meeting of the National Rifle As
| sociation in New York city recently, Cen
erai Harrtes and Major Bell being In at
tendance, It was decided to send an all
American team to Canada next summer In
the hope OF wrestling from the Canadians
the famous Palma trophy won at Sea Gdrt
last september by a team from the do
| minion to the north Of u.s. The conclusion
was reached at the meeting that It Is in
expedfent to send a rifle team to Ireland
this year. 1t is safe to assume that sew
eral District National Guardsmen will win
places on the all-American team that is
to compete for the Palma trophy. The de-
tails for the practice and those governing
the competition for places on the team will
be arranged later.
Lieutenant Albert 8. Jones, the energetic
secretary Of the association, read before
the meeting carefully prepared paper on
the subject Of military rifle shooting, of
which the following Is an extract:
the consensus OF OPINION among I'LL
classes OF rifemen whether Of the army,
National Guard or civilians, that some
| thing should be done to bring about con-
dition Of affairs wherein rifle shooting VIII
once again become popular pastime OF our
citizens and a more serious duty OF our
soldiers. both regular and volunteer. The
work Of the association should be carried
on with the idea Of inlpressing our citizens
and our lawmakers with the advantages re-
suIting from It's duties. You read a great
deal In the papers about rifle shooting not
being popular pastfme in this country,
and no doubt a large number Of men re-
gard 1t as an amusement, but 1t Is quite
evident to every one now that 1t should be
engrained into the public mind; tpat II
must become a necessary pastime for all
classes, not with view to making war,
but in order that the country be fully pre-
pared war should happen to break out.
Should Have Governmental support.
There should. as national duty. be
determination in the minds Of the Ameri-
can people to uphold their position In the
world. To this end, the National Rife AS
ISOLATION should be thoroughly supported
and maintained in all parts, but to make
1t a power for good in this country It has
become obvious to all those In close touch
with the situation that It must nave De-
hind It the support OF the general govern
ment''
Lieut.. Jones recommended that the asso-
citation encourage the organizing OF rifle
clubs within the National Guard regiments
throughout the country. and that the rules
under which the different clubs would op-
crate be kept uniform.
The propositions discussed at the meeting
in New York city VIII be laid before the
National Guard Association. which Will
convene at the New willard. IN this city.
next Tuesday. with asvieW of having them
indorsed by the latter organization Such
course will result In bringing the ideas to
the direct attention OF tfthe Adjutants general
Of the several states.ed iii
Rifle Reports Arey Overdue.
Mai Bell. inspector general Of rifle prac-
tice. reports that several nSganizatien COM
manders have not yea submitted their an
nual reports relating to rifle practice, which
were due last November. This delinquency
has resulted in postponement Of the pre-
sentatfon Of rifle practice insignia to those
guardsmen who have eagned the decora-
tons.
Although nothing has, yet been heard
from the reQuisitioM forwarded several
weeks ago the shipments OF Krag-Jorgen-
sen rifles to equip the local brigade IL ex-
pected to arrive here some time next
month.