104 The Financial History of Connecticut. 



4. Military Expenses. 

 In 1847 the legislature passed an act relating to the mihtia,' 

 aiming to make it a more effective body. The operation of the 

 act caused a considerable increase of military expense when viewed 

 from the ratio point of view, but measured in dollars and cents the 

 increase was not large. The average annual expense for the three 

 years ending March 31, 1847, was ten hundred ninety-one dollars 

 and for the three following years it was nineteen hundred thirty- 

 four dollars. In 1850 further legislation was enacted in which 

 provision was made for the payment to the town clerks of three 

 cents for every name enrolled by them in the militia.^ The act of 

 1847 had provided for the enrolment of the militia, but it was to 

 be done by the collectors of the state tax and no extra compen- 

 sation was given. The expenses were somewhat increased by the 

 act of 1850, and the annual average for the five years ending in 

 1855 was four thousand eight hundred sixty-eight dollars ; but the 

 act of 1854 revolutionized the system and caused a greatly increased 

 expenditure. Governor Button, in his message to the assembly 

 in 1854, called its attention to the increasing number of foreigners 

 and the need for better military protection. Lawlessness was 

 liable to occur at the hands of these foreigners and the possibility 

 of riots necessitated an efficient militia. He therefore advised a 

 revision of the militia laws for the purpose of organizing a better 

 mihtary force.^ The legislature responded to his appeal by passing 

 an act which provided for a stated compensation to members of 

 the active militia.* Until this time the inducements offered to 

 join the active militia had been exemption from the poll tax and 

 an allowance which was paid from the military commutation money 

 and fines and was therefore an uncertain quantity.'^ This act re- 

 quired three days regimental or brigade camp duty in the fall of 

 each year^ and in 1855 an additional drill of three days in August 

 for the officers was ordered.'^ These acts added greatly to the 

 mihtary expenditures of the state. From 1855 to 1861 the total 

 expenses amounted to one hundred fifty-two thousand fifty-three 

 dollars, an average of twenty-five thousand three hundred forty- 

 two dollars per year. 



1 Public Acts, 1847, chap. 43. - Public Acts, 1850, chap. 57, sec. 2. 



3 Governor Button's Message to the General Assembly, May 1854, p. 7. 

 * Public Acts, 1854, chap. 68, sec. 49. 



5 Public Acts, 1847, chap. 43, sec. 62. 



6 Public Acts, 1854, chap. 68, sec. 45. 

 ' PubUc Acts, 1855, chap. 89, sec. 3. 



