Evening star., 1917-11-11
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Some apprehension was felt hfty
years ago with respect to the forma-
ton Of militia
Militia Companies companies in the
, south during the
3AoAAD4te0. troubled recon-
struction times. Even the District was
under the pail of this fear. In Tho
Star Of November s. 1867. IL the fol-
lowing on this matter:
owing to the numerous represents
tions made to the President relative to
the formation OF colored military. COM
panies in the south. and moro particu-
larly in this District. the Secretary OF
War ad interim was called on for . re-
port as to whether such organisations
were authorized in this District and ss
to whether the War Department had
furnished them arms. In reply an ON
cial report was received showing that
the War Department. since Cen Grant
has been In charge. had not only not
authorized the formation OF any militia
companies. white or black. but had.
through Gen. Candy. refused applica-
tions for arms. AS these organizations
have in some quarters excited serious
apprehensions as to their real design
and as they are deemed unnecessary
for tho preservation OF order or pro-
lection Of civil authority. the President
has directed Gen. Grant to disband and
suppress them; and 1t Is learned that
the War Department Is today taking
steps to carry out this request. It il
also probable that Gen. Grant will d.
rect the commanders OF military dis
ance OF either white or black volunteer
military organizations within their
commands. The President has called
on Gen. Grant for q report Of the num-
ment OF Washington. their location and
who commands them"
X
Naturally the civil force Of the gov
ernment greatly increased during the
war fifty years
Proposed Reduction ago. but on the
in Departments. % peace ther. wa. =.
less need Of such q large establishment
and reductions were contemplated. In
The Star Of November s. 1867. is the
following on this subject:
We regret to see. every now and
ton Of clerical force in the executive
departments. In some branches of the
service doubtless the work must stead
lily decrease. But in others there can
be no question that the force might be
doubled or even auadrupled with great
advantage. 1t costs no more to employ
a thousand men one year than 500 two
years. and as the work has to be done
there can be nothing gained by delay.
Indeed. much may be lost, as a prompt
settlement OF the thousands Of accounts
and claims presented for payment may
lead to the detection and correction Of
errors-to say nothing Of frauds-in-
volving millions. So far. then. as the
government itself is concerned it would
the aid necessary to secure a speedy
and faithful adjustment of all the
claims against 1t. and especially to re-
tain such as have been educated to the
cases that their accounts should be ad-
justed as speedily as possible. and it is
particularly desirable that those who
are entitled to pensions or bounty for
cent fearful struggle for national ex-
istence should receive it at time when
they most need 1t. . We have
seen much OF clerical life in Washing
thing of its anxieties from what we
have thus seen. AS rule. the salary
allowed is barely sufficient for a sup
port. and 1t IL cruel in the extreme to
keep the faithful recipient of 1t in a
state Of disquiet by the fear Of losing
that little"
According to an item in The Star Of
November 6. 1857. there was no uni
formity in the matter Of
Uneoual department hours half q
IT, century ago. whereas now
AAous save in some OF the depart