Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-03-31
ARGUMENT FOR
THE ARNIORY BILL

RefefTlhB "
Ae last legislature to appropriate !e
,ss OOO year for four years TO
'rrd 'r armOrles for the National t
Ca.ra O Of the state, which Will be
''SrItted to the people for approval
rejection at the coming election,
|, seems pertinent to inquire If
he people understand the terms OF
Nm and the necessity that OK
~ y, Cor this appropriation. The ILL
- NJ values In the state Is
- that Il Is almost impossible for
.,mnaoles. outside of Portland,
,Aare a fine armory has been pro-
,,asd by Multnmah county, to ftnd
,.,ont housing for the amount al
l0tsd by the state for company ex-
,s,.os Many armories now used
Z. mere barns, wholly untitled for
mai, purpose. The United States
,0vsrument is now furnishing near
!, all Of the military equipment for
Nc state troops. amounting annual
h n more than fifteen thousand
4 sOllsrs and every captain Is res
DousIble under his bond, for over
1000 OF U. s. property, which he
hs no means of properly caring
! for; great deal of this property
las already unaccountably jisar-
psred for. under these circum-
ssnces, to hold an officer financial
I responsible for all the property -
med him and yet provide him no
hecuate means Of protecting or
ahng for Il does not seem to the
f. hy mind to be right or Just. The
roney provided for In this bill Is
nue Of a loan than an outright up-
ycpratlon, as It provides that rent
hal be paid TO the state by each
nnpany for use OF the armory. The
nupanles to be provided with ar
rsfies under this act are now pay
& about $4,000 q year in rents
llth will In about thirty years
he return the whole amount to
} state treasury II Is the policy
The Military Board that every
IN where a company exists the
r'1hd shall be provided for by the
hens Of that town and when com
''d the building and ground will
'ng to the state and increase In
's with the increase OF popula-
I and business, so that in the
The state will lose nothing and
make money on the transac-
The way in which the money
provided, $4,000 a year, makes
u appreciable tax which no one
0a can possibly feel, while the
Hi' to the state will be enorm-
ne state militia is not only a !
VI Tor instruction in the milf
AZ and preparation for war, |
: Is one OF the very best schools
god citizenship, There Is hard
auien In the state but what |
aaVe been benefited and his
''er and usefulness Increased |
'"ns term In the state guard. |
= rising generation this kind OF
'las Is OF immense value. be-
ns' the defense of the coun.
=" rest on the people. When
uu'laings are completed they
reuy benefit the state guard j..
110Fies will be their homes,
-''"aiy club rooms, where
I" ouly meet and drill, but
''a their games and athletic
aud social functions, so
70 Keep up interest and
III The unpaid military
SOasress viii never pro-
~ -4''sh' army to relieve them
1.' ~ necessity and our people
4ae 'he same pride the
~, !, u seeing to It that eyeryl
'.s =, to military duty is
uained 10 meet any
~ ! that may arise, and the
, Suald Is the only place to
ID ,..-a ''saa OF hamperlng and
ss the men who are patri-
- So su 70 give their time 10
], a'lOn ' and so make them
'assiimable value 70 the
49, snea trouble does come.
- s,.la ula encourage and aid
NJ ~ =, OF the Adjutant Gen
y - United States Army to
- s,,,e. " War the following
!" armorles is here