Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1915 — MILITIA COMPANIES GIVEN INSPECTION [ARTICLE]

MILITIA COMPANIES GIVEN INSPECTION

Rensselaer and Monticello Mad* Good Showing Before United State* Army Officer. At the federal inspection of Company M Monday night Captain Tuteur had forty-eight enlisted men two officers in line and considering the very congested quarters which has been a great handicap to the drill pratcice for the past eight months, made a very good showing. Lieutenant P. Remington, of the United States army, is making the inspections and on Tuesday night went to Monticello to inspect the company of that place. There a good sized drill hall is available and Captain Herbert A. Gardner had his company in good shape. He had 42 men and 2 officers out of an aggregate strength of 51. Following the inspection at Monticello a banquet was served and a committee from the businessmen’s association hfeaded* by Williash Anheir, B. B. Baker and other representative men were present and expressed their appreciation of the value of a militia company to a town and proposed to get back of the organization and boost it for a larger membership and it was proposed that the company give public drills in a park that it is expected to provide for this summer. Major George H. Healey, of Rensselaer, was present and made a short talk setting out the amount of money that a militia company brings to a community each year and talked of the probability that at no distant date the federal pay bill will be passed and that then the militia company in a city will amount to as much as a small factory.

Captain Grdner told of an effort that was being made to have an armory erected and showed that a good business investment could be made by combining a swimming „l>ool, bowling alley and other features and several men present signified their intention of considering the proposition. It is very probable that the battalion rifle match will be held at Monticello this year and possible that the regimental match may also be held there. Both the Rensselaer and Mon'ticello companies are picking up and the members taking a greater interest in the instruction than for some time previously and it is probable that the other companies In the second battalion, those at Soutji Bend and Plymouth, which are to be inspected Thursday and Friday night of this week, are also to enjoy a god growth in membffship and interest this spring.