Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-05-22
MILITIA BILL.


We copy from the Reading Gazette, q sy.
nopsis Of the new militia law. It embraces
oil the main features Of the Bill, and will nc
doubt be quite interesting to many of our
readers
Section provides that all able bodied
~. N!te male citizens between the ages of TWEEN.
ty Oh and forty.fve years, and not exempted
by the laws OF the United States shall be
subject 10 military duty, excepting persons 10
the Army aid Navy of the United States,
Ministers of the Gospel, Professors of Collie
ges and School Dl rectors. and Judges OF the
Courts, together W, th all persons regularly
and bonorably discha, ,ged from the Army or
Navy OF the United Sta tes or from ihe Mill
tia Of this State, or any o., the ohiteu states;
and all persons who have served for seven
consecutive years in unit. 'rmeo company
the proof of such service to be the certlncate
OF the commanding officer
Section provides for the annnal assess
ment Of all persons liable to military uuty'
at the rate of so cents each, q roll o. whom
shall be separately kept by the Assessor, and
left at some public place for examination, of
whit notice shall be given accordingly
The County Commissioners are to determine
who are exempt from military duty under this
Act. Persons refusing to give information
to the Assessor, of the names Of persons liza.
BILE to be enrolled, shall be fined $40 for each
such refusal. The Assessors Commissioners
Clerks, Collectors. &c, in the execution Of
their duties under this Act. shall be subject
to the instructions of the AGtutant General
and any neglect or refusal to perform the
same shall be punishable by fine OF not less
than $25 nor more than $50.
Section provides for the collection OF the
tax of fifty cents annually from every Pc. son
not exempt from military duty as commute
tion for the non- performance OF such duty
specified under the Act Of Congl ess OF May s
1892; the same to be collected at tie same
time and in the same manner as other taxes
are collected, and paid into the County Trea-
sury as Military Fund" the account Of
which shall be kept separately by the Trea-
surer, and the fund applied exclusively to mil
itary purposes.
The commanding officer of each uniformed !
company shall, on the first Monday of May, |
in each year, deliver to the Commissioners of
his proper county and to the Brigade lnspec- |
tor Of his Brigade, copy of the roll Of mem-
bcrs of his company, and also a list Of persons
who have paid to the funds of his company 80
cents year as an equivalent for military SER
vice, which contribution shall exempt said
persons from paying the tax to the collector.
The Assessors, Commissioners, Collectors,
Receivers, and Clerks, are to receive for their
services, compensation at the same rate as for
making the annual assessments Of property
and holding appeals; and the Treasurers
shall receive one per cent. of the Military
Fond as fees for receiving and disbursing
the same.
Section relates TO the Organization, Uni.
form, ard Discipline Of the Militia. The
State is divided, as now, into twenty Divi-
sions; each county shall be a separate Bri-
gade, and the city of Philadelphia shall be
divided into three Brgades The regulations
of the c. 5. Army shall be conformed to, as
near as possible except that a Regiment may
consist of five companies and the uniform Of
all companies hereafter organized shall be
that of the Army Of the United States. a
company shall number not less than 80, rank
and file, and when deficient in this number,
shall be disbanded by the brigade Inspector.
The Commander in Chief Governor is au-
thorized to select books in instruction in tac-
tics aud discipline which shall be furnished
by the Adintant General to all commissioned
officers, and paid for out Of the military
Fund"
All existing uniformed companies that num-
Der 80 nou.commissioned officers and pri-
Yates each, are considered organized under
this Act.
Whenever there are FIVE uniformed compa.
nies in any Brigade, they shall be formed into
- iNVS bub SpHi hIttdNg VI Saul-
zed into Regiments, shall continue under their
present officers until the expiration of their
ConmisSiO
Sec 5 provides that on the FIRST Monday OF
Jane after the expiration Of the commissions
Of the Brgader Generals now IN Office, and
on the lst Monday Of June in every FIVE years
thereafter, the members Of all the uniformed
companies that shall be organized on or be-
fore the first Monday of June, 1859, shall
meet at their usual place of meeting, and elect
a Brigadier General and Brigade Inspector
for each Brigade, and such field officers a!
their several Regiments or BattalIons may
be entitled to, Us well as the commissioned
officers to which each company may be enti
tied. The commanding officer Of each com
pany, assisted by two members whom he ma.
chose, shall superntend the election. Tht
returns shall be delivered within five days
to the Brigade Inspector, who shall transmit
the same to the Secretary of the Common
wealth and file duplicate copy in his owl
Office. Vacancies to be filled as now proyi
ded
On the first Monday Of June after the sal
election and on the first Monday of July i
every five years thereafter the election 70
Major General shall be held, by the commits
stoned officers of each Brigade, at the count
seat Of their respective Brigades. The Brig
adler General, or other senior officer present
assisted by the Brigade Inspector shall 81
perintend said election.
This section further provides for the ar
pointment and election of the nOr-commi!
stoned officers of Regiments, Battaions an
Companies, as heretofore directs to whor
designations shall be made; and declares th0
no one shall be eligible as Brigadier GenerG
or Brigade Inspector who lives out of tn
bounds of the Division.
Section G provides for the organization {
the Division, Brigade and Regimental Stat
The number and grade of the officers Of tn
several staff Departments, remain as hereto
fore. This section also defines the duties
the Brigade Inspector, aud fixes his salary Q
Sl50 year, with allowance for printing an
stationery.
Section authorizes the commanding Of
Ger Of each Regiment or Battalion to organ
ize Band Cf Music, and appoint the leade
thereof; which Band, when required, sha
attend the meetings, parades, &C., Of sal
Regiment or Battalion. The Bands may
disbauded by the same authority that organ
zes them.
Section relates TO the issuing and saf