The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-30
STATE GETS
A VAST SUM
Fifty Thousand Available To-
Morrow for Virginia Soldiers
DICK BILL PROVISIONS
twill Make State Militia Equal to Reg
uiars in Equipment and Instruction.,
and Will Not Abridge Rights
of Governors.

Tomorrow there will be In the Treas
ury Of the United States s43,427.2O. TO be
used for the betterment of the Vir-
Einia militia More than half of this
sum comes through the Bacon amend
ment to the Dick bill, the remaining por-
ton being the usual apportionment out
of the regular appropriation.
The future Of the State militia Is as
sured The national government. under
the Dick bill. approved January Sd, 1903.
makes provision for the equipment of
the militia of the several States and
territories of The Union with the same
completeness and adequacy as the regu-
lar army. All State troops are to have
the same guns. the Same uniforms and
other equipment as the regular troops
have. They are TO have camps OF In
4struction when needed; they are to use
the same tactics and In every way to be
MS efficient MS possible and as much like
the United States regular army as pos
sibe. Those who saw the militia IN the
war with Cuba will understand what
this means Six different kinds Of rifles
militia had to be provided Every part
OF the country had It's own idea Of the
proper size Of organizations, and no two
ideas were alike.
No Rights Abridged.
NJ Joint camps OF instruction, In which
national guardsmen and regulars" VIII
take part in manoeuvres and practice
marches, are also provided for in tho
bill. These encampments Will give tho
1cltizen-solder chance TO see how his
4 comrade OF the army lives in camp and
they will also promote good fellowship
between the two brancehs Of the ser
vice. Attendance at these encampments
pn@ the part of national guardsmen Will
he at the request OF the Governor. and
not by order Of the army authorities.
While the President OF the United
States Is the commander.in-chie OF az
4 the military forces OF the nation, the
Governors OF States will be deprived OF
no rights, privileges or prerogntives by
the operation OF the new law.
sgg The law as 1t stands. has been ap-
proved by nearly every national guard
Il Officer Of prominence in the country,
Colonel Edward =. Britton, the chairman
I Of the executive committee Of the Inter-
\state National Guard Association. worked
diligently for Its passage, and 1t is due
largely to the efforts of the officers OF
he guard. who were the best able to
lee the defects of the present system,
hat this measure for It's betterment has.
become a law.
"a virginia's Share.
To bring about this great change In
he militia OF the country. numbering at
present ll5,cUO men, an appropriation OF
$4,000. 600 is made. The Dick bill. intro
Sduced in the House by General Charles
1bIck, OF Ohio. and In the Senate by
Senator Joseph r. Hawey. does not
make a specific appropriation for carry
ing out Its provisions. Senator Bacon,
n of Georgia, had an amendment put in
the army appropriation bill for the APP
preparation OF s2oob,Ooo to be appor-
toned to the several States according
"a Misrepresentation In the House of Rep
resentatives. Under this apportionment
Virginia ought to get about $50 900. Adj
jutant- General Male has received noti-
hcation that $25.4so.2o Of the amount
coming to Virginia will be available to-
morrow. The rest will come later on.