The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-11-18
MILITIA BILL IN
Congress Received the Draft
of the Act to Regulate
the National Guard.
NEW JERSEY ENDORSES PLAN
Act APPRoPRATEs 100000 TO
FURNISH ARMS, ORDINANCE,
QUARTERAIAsTERS STORES
AND OTHER EQUIPMENTS.


AND OTHER EQUIPMENTS.
Backed by the approval Of the Inter
state National Guard association a bill
Tor increasing the efficiency of the militia
Of the country is to be introduced in
Congress this winter. The cooperation
If the military departments of the vari-
ous States has been asked in the work
Of securing the passage of the bill.
The New Jersey military authorities
have endorsed the plan and will ask the
members of Congress from THIS State to
vote for the bill. The proposed meas
ure was drawn by Brigadier General
Jamcs A. Drain, of Olympia, Washing
ton. chairman of the executive commit
tee of the Interstate National Guard As
sociation.
Section / provides that $2,000,000 be
annually appropriated by Congress TO
provide arms, ordinance, quartermasters
stores and camp equipage for issue to
the militia At present 81 ,00o, 900 is ap-
propriated annually for the same pur-
pose
The bill makes no provision for any
change in the method of apportioning
the appropriation among the States, and
this is being criticised by friends of the
National Guard in this State At pres
ent the government appropriation is ap-
oortioned to the Suites according to the
number of their representatives. in Com
gress, and no State is entitled to share
N The apportionment unless the number
Of its organized and active uniformed
militia shall be at least 100 men for each
representative in congress.
Those in this state who claim that the
new bill should make a change in the
method of apportionment base their
claims on the contention that the money
should be distributed according to the
:.s-fsql number of the active militia in
each state. They compare New Jersey
MA Ao.1h caioiua to show what they
ela:m are tde inequalities of the pres
emf system. Each OF these states has
y representatives in congress, which
gives each of them s23, ,9s7.24 of the
s1.o0oo0o appropriation
By putting with this comparison of
the national guard of the two states it is
pointed out that the defects of the sys-
tenn are made very apparent In its last
report to the secretary of war New Jer-
sey was shown to have total MEM
barship in its national guard of 4.5O0
men. This state appropriates from its
cwn treasury S150,000 annually for the
support and maintenance of its guard,
has 81 10000 invested in. regimental
arnories. and in many other respects
is far ahead of North Carolina in its ma
tional guard department.
North Carolina, which gets as much
from the government as this state, has
national guard membership of only
1 1877, appropriates far less than this
Estate from its own treasury, and is be-
hind New Jersey in the matter of armo-
ries and other military appurtenances.
A reference TO the state of Texas also
shows up what are claimed to be the
inequalities. Texas, with IS represen-
tstives in congress, gets $50, ,905. Sc from
the national appropriate though its
national guard membership is but 3,0ST,
or over 400 less.than New Jersey.
Colonel G. E. Godfrey. of the adju-
tant generals office. is making a special
study of this phase of. the question and
will take the matter up with the mill
tary authorities of other states
One of the principal changes made by
tie proposed new bill is that the govern
mental appropriation shall be available
for fhe actual excess Of expenses Of
travel in making the inspections provid-
ed 3 for over the allowances made for
same by law; for the promotion of rife
practice, including the acquisition, cen
struction, maintenance and equipment of
shooting galleries and suitable target