The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-05-23

this week by Adjutant General Bond
to the finance committee OF the west
Virginia Legislature:
AS you are aware. the approprt-
alton of $4,000 per year. made at
the recent regular session OF the reg
islature for the support of fhe mill
tia, was vetoed by the governor. and
unless the present session makes an
appropriation for this department, II
will. be without funds for IT'S masn:e-i
nance after juno 80. 1915.
lit would seem TO me rehect1on
upon Your intelligence to attempt TO
call your attention to the importance
of maintaining ya%well-tra1Red ans
well equipped militia. in the light
vices rendered by the West Virginia
national guard within the state the
last four or five years.
AT the close of the recent session
of the legislature reports We're spread
broadcast over. the state and nation
that the West Virginia national
guard would have to disband because
Of lack of appropriations This
worked serious injury to the ma
tional guard, and many of our best
members have 70 great extent lost
interest in the organization felt
it my duty TO holG the national guard
together. IL possible, and am pleaaed
to report that enough of the mem
bers have expressed a willingness TO
continue in the service regardless o.
"a lack of appropriations. TO assure ME
that we would be able to hold the or
ganization together with the aid OF
the federal allotment. until sucn
time as the legislature might meet
An arrangement was made with the
owners of arn1ories by which we
were to continue using them. the
owners trusting to the legislature
to make appropriations to pay the
rents
Now that the legislature is again
in session. it can advance no further
argument which Will be effective In
keeping the national guard together.
unless appropriation is made2:or our
support: and feel certain that you
viii give this department due cons1d-
t'eration-
..At your former session askeS
for an appropriation of only S65.0O0
Idition of the state and the desired
retrenchment in every department OF
! the state government IF the West
Virginia national guard is to keep
abreast of the organized MALTA OF
other states and maintain the stand
ard required by the war department.
fan annual appropriation of at least
I
| seem considerable sum. but 1t can
| not be termed extravaganza when
Eco-npared with what other states arc
f6oing along similar lines.
/ The West Virginia national guard
lis being administered almost misery
when compared with that OF sotneI
states. For the year 1914 the aver
fare cost to states per member of the
I national guard was S4-66- In Wesi
Virginia the cost was S40.S5- based
| on a total strength OF 1.621- In
iOh;o the cost was S71-S5 per msc-
IN New York $500. In Connect
cut ST. L. In Michigan S6SS..22. In
/ Washington s11.45- In Massachu-
| sets S104 These states are cited
! because the West Virginia national
guard Will compare earorably with
/. the organized. militia of same II
I the District of CoIumbia.<where ar
fairs are administered under the .dt-
rect supervision of ffie war depart
ment. the cost was SAO.11. only q
cents cheaper than in West Virginia
Pennsylvania gets along on little
less than than $50. per man. but this
lis made possible by the large
strength. Pennsylvania having To-
| 935 men in its national guard The
tcost per man in the United States
army was S1.314-
1 New Requirements of the war de
! partnent f$ West Vfrginia:s mimi:
mum required strength at 1.9So,n
order that we may participate IN the
federal allotment Of funds. IF given
1.-THE average appropriation for ne
limited States. based on this strengen