1850.

No. 4.

[No. 4.]

REPORT of the Committee on Militia, to whom was referred the report of the Adjutant and Quartermaster General for the year

1849.

LANSING, 22nd January, A. D. 1850. Your commmittee, to whom was referred the annual report of the Adjutant and Quartermaster General for the year 1849, having had the same under consideration, have instructed me, as their chairman, to make the following report:

It appears from the report of that officer, that since the passage of the existing militia law, approved May, 1846, he has had much cause of complaint, on account of the imperfect manner in which the civil authorities, viz: the assessors, supervisors, township and county clerks, have made their returns to his office, as required by law, of the numerical strength of the active and enrolled militia; and in many instances, have wholly neglected that duty.

It is, therefore, the opinion of your committee that there should be some further provision made by law, by which that officer's cause of complaint may be wholly removed, and such numerical strength may be fully obtained.

And it appearing to your committee that there is no law now existing and in force whereby any compensation is provided for the payment of the assessor for registering the names of individuals liable to do military duty in their respective townships.

Your committee, therefore, beg leave to suggest the propriety of the enactment of a law providing for the assessors of the respective townships in this state an adequate compensation for such service.

And your committee do further report, that, in their opinion, it is important that the entire numerical strength of the militia should be annually returned to the office of the Adjutant and Quartermaster General, in order to enable that officer to make his returns to the

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general government of such numerical strength correctly, and obtain the military supplies to which the state is entitled annually, under the now existing laws of Congress.

And your committee do further report, that they are of the opinion that a sufficient sum of money should be appropriated and placed at the disposal of the Quartermaster General, to enable that officer from time to time, as the necessity of the case may require, to pay transportation on arms, accoutrements and military stores belonging to the state, and to erect and repair gun racks, and other conveniences in the state armory, for the preservation and safe keeping of the arms and military stores of the state, and for the payment of such other contingent expenses as may necessarily be incurred from time to time; such as cleaning and repiaring guns, &c.

And your committee respectfully suggest, that, in their opinion, the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars would be no more than sufficient to defray the contingent expenses, above referred to, for the current year of 1850, and respectfully recommend the appropriation of that amount for such purpose.

All of which is respectfully submitted, asking leave that your committee may be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. JACOB PRICE, Chairman.