The Portland daily press., 1893-03-08
BOLD BRIGADIERS.
Maine Volunteer Militia May Be
Disbanded.
AND THE NATIONAL GUARD OF
MAINE TAKE ITS PLACE.

| A Sweeping Revision of Our Militia Laws
Proposition for Special Military TAI
-Bin Authorizing Enlargement OF
Cape Elizabeth Ferry Shp-People'z
Enforcement League.
AUGUSTA, March THE commission
appointed to revise the militia laws has
reported long bill, and if it passes the
Maine Volunteer Militia will be a thing
of the past. In its place we shall have
the National Guard of the State of Maine.
The commission consists of Gems. Selden
Conner, John Marshall Brown, Samuel
D. Leavitt, Winfield s. Choate, and Col.
Victor Brett. The commission describes
the new law in its report. The act pro-
vides for the enrolment biennially of all
persons between the ages of IS and 45,
except idiots etc., by the assessors of
cities, towns and plantations and for are
turn by the clerk to the adjutant gener-
al of the total number, and the number
exempt, the number in the national
guard and the number physically dis
abled, thus giving information of the
full strength of the enrolled militia.
The commission knew of no authority
for the long list of exemptions made in
the law of 1880 without provision for
the payment of an equivalent The act
increases the rank of the adiutant gen.
eral to major and adds an inspector gem
eral OF rife practice. It limits the num-
Der of aides de camp to two, which re-
duces the staff to nine, one less than the
present number. This provision is not
to apply to the present staff. The most
important feature Of the law is the or
ganization of the active militia. This is
designated as the National Guard of
the State of Maine,' and on peace foot
ing is to consist of not more than TWEEN
ty-four companies of infantry, one bat
terry of light artillery, two troops of
cavalry, an ambulance corps and a signal
corps. Companies are to be raised by
petitions to the commander in chief or
by his order. All enlistments are to be
made for three years, and none allowed
except of able bodied citizens of this
State between the ages of sixteen and
forty years.
The regimental organization provided
for consists of one colonel, one lieuten-
ant colonel, three majors, one surgeon,
with the rank of major, one assis-
tant surgeon with the rank of captain,
one assistant surgeon, one adjntant, one
quartermaster, and one inspector of rife
practice. each with the rank of first lieu
stoned staff, consisting Of sergeant ma
jor. quartermaster sergeant, commissary
sergeant, hospital steward, one trum-
peter, and one color bearer, and not less
than twelve companies, the division of
the regiment into batallions being for
drill and instruction and not for admin
istrative purposes. No provision is
made for an adjutant and Sc geant major
for the battalion except by detail. The
colonel of regiment is authorized to
enlist band of musicians not including
master, deputy master and drum major,
the band to furnish their own uniforms
and instruments. To brigade if organ
lied there will be a brigadier general
with staff consisting ofan assistant adju-
tant general, a brigade inspector, sur
geon who is to be medical director of the
brigade, and an inspector Of rife prac-
tice, each with the rank of major,
quartermaster, commissary and one
aide de camp, each with the captain, and
one aide de camp with the rank of first
lieutenant.
The organizations of the National
Guard may be arranged by the comman-
der in chief in squadrons, battalions,
regiments and brigades, and he may
change the arrangement at his pleasure.
The term of commissions is fixed at six
years, with provision that if an officer
is commissioned to succeed himself he
shall rank from the date of his original
commission it is provided that no officer
shall receive a commission under this act
until he has passed an examination be-
fore board to be appointed by the COM
mander In chief, as to his moral charac-
ter, his general knowledge of military
affairs proportionate to the Office to be
filed and his fitness for the service. If
IN officer fails to pass the examination
he is not eligible to election or appoint
ment to an Office of equal or higher
n de for the period of one year. The |
act provides that armories, headquar-
-ers and rife ranges shall be furnished
by towns where companies are located. |
That the State shall allo for rent of ar
mories and headquarters one hundred !
dollars each and that if any town does |
not furnish and maintain a rife range it |
may be done by the State and the ex-
oenses deducted from any sum due the |
own IOf TeuC. he eleventh UlCl6 re- |
ates to military duties and provides for |
In annual encampment, two inspectors
each year, besides one inspection of ar
nories. books, financial condition, etc., |
md for at least two drills each month, |
md for meetings of officers and non
officers of each company
or at least two hours each month, and |
or the meeting of regims ntal officers
vice each year, for military instruction
ind for rifle practice at encamp-
nents and at other times as ordered.
Provision is also made for calling out the |
National Guard in case of riot and for
5he instruction of the infantry in heavy
artillery and in the use of machine guns.
A service medal is given for nine years
service in the active militia with addi-
litional bar or clasp for three years adj
iitional service.
Title twelve relates to pay and allow
snces which remain substantially as I'M
ler the old law the most important
changes being the increase of pay of nom
officers to one dollar and
fifty cents per day and Of priyates to one