1310 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
NATIONAL MUSEUM—ARMORY BUILDING. 
December 21, 1889—House. 
Mr. Louis E. McComas, from Committee on Appropriations, sub- 
mitted Report (H. 3) to accompany bill (H. 3711): 
[Extract.] 
HEADQUARTERS MILITIA OF THE DistTRICT oF COLUMBIA, 
Washington, D. C., December 16, 1889. 
Sir: The appropriations estimated for the District militia are for expenses author- 
ized by the act of March 1, 1889. 
The largest item is for rent of armories, and is not only required by law, but justified 
by previous equities. Under an appropriation made in 1855 a.building known as the 
Armory was erected on the Mall, and dedicated by law to the use of the District 
militia. In 1876 the building was unoccupied, the District militia not having been 
reorganized after the war, and the building was availed of to store the foreign exhibits 
from the Centennial Exhibition presented to our Government, and under that 
authority was used by the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum, and Fish 
Commission until 1885, after which time they continued in possession of it without 
any specific authority. 
In 1887, the District militia having been reorganized, the Secretary of War made a 
demand upon the parties in possession to surrender the building to him, as its cus- 
todian under the law, for its legitimate uses. The matter was subsequently brought 
to the attention of the Senate Committee on Appropriations by a request from the 
Secretary of War either that the Fish Commission be provided with quarters else- 
where, or that provision be made for the District militia elsewhere (S. Report 1814, 
first session, Fiftieth Congress). It being deemed inexpedient to remove the Fish 
Commission, a clause was inserted in the sundry civil appropriation bill to transfer 
the building to them, and subsequently an appropriation was reported and passed by 
the Senate to enable the Secretary of War to rent armories for the District militia 
elsewhere. This appropriation was dropped in conference between the two Houses. 
on account of the passage of the bill specifically providing by law for such armories 
to be rented. 
The only other items requiring special notice are those for the cost of the annual 
camp of instruction, and the majority of those items are for permanent necessities 
and comparatively few for current expenses. It is proper to observe that in most of 
the States the militia are paid for all time served on duty in camps of instruction, 
but that the District militia do their work and submit to instruction without pay, 
the appropriations being solely for actual expenses incurred. 
Under the act of March 1 the militia of the District has been thoroughly reorgan- 
ized and completely equipped and uniformed, and consists of eight battalions of 
infantry, one separate company, one battery of light artillery, one signal company, 
and one ambulance company, having an aggregate strength of about 2,000 men. 
Respectfully, yours, 
ALBERT ORDWAY, 
Brigadier-General, District of Columbia Militia. 
Hon. L. E. McComas, 
Chairman Sabcommittee on District Appropriation Bill, 
January 12, 1891—House. 
Deficiency estimates for 1891. 
For raising the walls, providing a new roof, and fitting up the 
interior of the third and attic stories of the Armory building on the 
Mall, city of Washington, for offices, files, and storage rooms, and 
