The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-30
virginia MILITIA
ASK LARGER SUM-
Legislature Urged to Increase APP
preparation to Four Times
Present Amount.
STRONG APPEAL BEING MADE
Records Show That Old Do
minion Troops Receive Less
Than Those in Other States.

In accordance with the plans re.
Gently adopted by the State Military
Board, strong pressure is being brought
to bear upon members OF the Legisla-
ture for the passage Of law lncreas-
ing the general militia fund to four
times the present amount. The appro-
priation heretofore has been about
$4,000, or u per cent Of ali taxes
except school tax. To put the service
on proper basis will require 2 per
cent of all taxes except the school
tax. and that is what the Legislature
will be urged to provide. Massachu-
sets, for instance, appropriates s46s.000
annually. Delaware alone being in the
class of Virginia as to the sum re-
ceived from the state.
Proud, But Not Liberal.
The Importance of securing an ade-
quate camp site and rifle range has
long been apparent Just now special
committee is In communication with
the business organizations Of num-
Der of Virginia cities and the rail-
roads touching those points, the -
being to ascertain what induccmen4
and accommodations can be offered for
a permanent location. Richmond 10
one of the cities regarded as available.
Ear more important than this how
ever Is the need OF State aid. Tho
Commonwealth has always taken par
donable pride In tho military com
mands. but the Commonwealth. or at
least the General Assembly. does not
seem to appreciate the fact that off =
GERS and men are forced to draw upon
their personal bank accounts to keep
the standard high Moreover, with thD
limited support, 1t Is difficult to In
I duce young men to enlist because OF
the scant quarters and the lack Of camp
| sites and rifle ranges. The enlist 4
ment, 1t is believed would reach the
top notch should the Legislature show a
more generous spirit toward the soi-
diers.
Shows Need TO Legislature.
| ReSimental officers have been sup-2
| piled with information showing Just
| what help is derived by the militia in
the various States. and they are using
| 1t to good effect. a systematic CAM
| paiSn Is being conducted. and the Off
| GERS have been gratified to find that
hundreds of civilians are giving en-
couragement to the movement. II they
We're in the House or the Senate they
would give votes. However, they have
written to the legislators reminding
| them that in their opinion the Common
| wealth Is not doing th?S proper thing
by the soldier boys, and declaring that
when the value OF the militia Is recos-
nized by all classes of people thera
will be no complaint from taxpayers
admitted in some quarters that the
| sum of 100000, or four times the
amount of tho present appropriations,
will hardly be sufficient for all needs,
but the State Military Board, after de-
d Iiberate investigation. decided that II
would not be the part. OF wisdom ON 70
ask more. In other words. the Boardi
II wants the actual necessities, without
A any luxurles.
What other States Give.
In this connection 1t is interesting 70
note what other States appropriate.
4 The table below shows how poorly the
4 Virginia organization fares along Win
the average, 1t being at the pottoln :.
the list:
California, sl76.5oo: Connecticut,
$50. 900; Delaware, s15.1oO; Florida.
sac, 500: Georgia, $4,000: illinois. gsas,-
5 900: Indiana, $4,000: Kansas. S101. loo;
Kentucky, $4,000; louisiana, ssl.soo,
Maine. $3947s.3o: MARYLAND. seo.ooo'
Massachusetts. $46S.000: Michigan
s247549.9O: Nebraska, SIS. 600; New JET ct,
sey. s167, $50; New York, s450,o0O; North
cnroI,nn $4,000; Pennsylvania. $40
900; Rhode Island, $4,000; Mouth Sar-
DINA, 100000; Tennessee, s2o.ouo'
Texas. $2S.76o: Wisconsin, s1l0,oooi
Virginia. $4,000.
Pay OF Privntes Lowest.
AS already indicated. Virginia Is
without a camp site or target range.
This is true of seven other States In
: the list printed above. The pay of
!. priyates when on duty other than en-
campments is lowest in Virginia. While
the cities of the State are looking into
the matter of raising money toward
d the purchase of a camp site 1t IS Wen
to remark that Jacksonville. Fla. gave
81 900 recently for that purpose. IN q.
: majority Of the States the militia Iui ~
comes from a general appropriations; in
], Virginia 1t is based upon part Of the
tax paid, and If that plan is to pre-
!, vail hereafter the officers and men pc
lieve they should have more than =
, par cent. That. too, is the opinion OF
hundreds of citizens who have given
= the question attention and study.
! ,nAlAoInnM Or nulnAcn