Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-22
THE NEW MILITIA LAW
RECOMMENDATION OF INTEREST
TO COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS.
Lieut.. Col. Parker Suggests That Each
State and Territory Shall Turn
in Old Arms.

Lieutenant Colonel James Parker, 10Th
Cavalry. chief of the militia division of the
adjutant generals Office, recently made a
recommendation in connection with the new
militia law of general interest to the col
leges and public schools of the country. In
his memorandum Colonel Parker says:
Section 10 of the militia act says: Each
state, territory and district shall, on receipt
of new arms, turn into the ordnance de-
partment of the United States army
all United States rifles and carbines now in
its possession Attention is called to the
fact that in many states a number of rifles
and carbines for which the said states are
responsible are now In the hands of schools
which have military instruction These
schools, ii is understood, are under bond to
the state in many instances for their safe
keeping. These schools are in addition TO
the regular military schools, which, on con-
dition of their having a United States in
structor and carrying out certain require
ments. are furnished with arms by the
United States. The military instruction
given in these schools (some of them high
schools. some of them colleges, etc.) is of
Importance, as 1T cultivates military spirit
in the people and gives rudiments of mill
tary training to many young men, strict
compliance with section Ii will result in
taking from these schools the arms that
they have.
Issue of New Guns.
THE issue to the National Guard of the
new 30 caliber guns will provide only
enough arms for the militia none for the
schools. 1t is therefore recommended that
the governors of the states be informed
that in turning in carbines and rifles under
section IL, militia act, schools which are
now in possession of L. s. arms and under
bond to the state for the same may, for
In this connection 1t is noted that there
many schools throughout the country
DESTROYS of giving military instruction and
which prevented from doing so by
the fact that they cannot obtain any arms
and equipments, not being provided with
military instructor detailed by the
United States. 1t is suggested that the
large stock of As caliber rifles now obsolete
for military purposes, might with advan-
tage be utilized for the purpose of issuing
to these schools arms and equipments
through the state making itself responsible
for the same"
Gen. Crozer, chief of ordnance, to whom
the communica ton was referred, returned
it to the adjutant general with the fol-
lowing Endorsement:
The United States arms now in the
possession of the states and territories
have been issued to them for the purpose
of arming and equipping the militia, and
for no other. The loan of these arms to
schools, matter how desirable it may
have been as a means of military instruc-
ton, seems to have been without the au-
thorty of law.
Congress has provided in section 1925 of
the Revised Statutes, amended by the
act approved September 26, 1883, for the
use of arms for the purpose of instruction
of students at institutions of learning and
has prescribed the conditions under which
such use is permitted. To adopt other
means of providing these institutions would
be to substitute the judgment of the de-
partment for that of Congress-
District High Schools.
The high schools of the District of Co.
lumbia are provided with United States
arms and equipments under a special act of
Congress, and are not affected by the pro-
visions of the militia law for the return
of rifles and carbines belonging to the
United States. joint resolution approved
February .. 1891. provides That the Sec
rotary of War is authorized to issue at his
discretion. and under proper regulations to
be prescribed by him. out of ordance and
ordnance stores belonging to the govern
ment, and which can be spared for the
purpose. such as may appear to be required
for military instruction and practice by the
students of the high schools of Washing
ton, d. c., and the Secretary shall require
a bond in each case in double the value of
the property for the care and safekeeping
thereof and for the return of same when
required"