The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-19
NEW MILITARY LAW.
Radical Changes Fer the Bet
ter i'm the State Militia. :
NO MORE ELECTIVE OFFICERS.
Generals and all Commissioned ofacers
20 BE Appointed-Fewer Compan-
les OF More Men.

TIE military law, Including the sfo.so
Improvisation which passed the lsgfs-
iature a few days ago. IN looked on with
general satisfaction by both officers and
naen Of the local militia companies While
the force has been considerably reduced
as to number OF companies. the strength
OF the guard will In reality be The same.
as the new law allows company coEn-
rr,arders 20 recruit their commands 20 1aS
men. while under the old law the maxi
mum was but sixty men. The force has
been cut down from twenty-five com
panies 20 seventeen. This practically viii
remove companies located In districts
where their services would probably never
be needed.
One OF the leading features OF the bin
Is a provision for the establishment and
maintenance Of a battery, an addition
which has long been talked of In military
circles. There are many queries as 70
where the battery will be located How
ever. the ooniniander-In-ehief has the
power of deciding the question and the 10
cation will rot be known until the Official
news II given out.
Another important feature II that al
elections Of officers in the National Guard
have been discarded. The brlgafler and
adjutaft general. formerly elected by the
field and line officers. will be appointed
BY the governor with the confirmation of
the senate. This change makes a finan-
ciai saving 70 the National Guard OF about
5000 a year. Field officers of regiments
and battalions. formerly elected by the
line officers from their respective regi-
nAnts will now be commissioned by the
c-oru,nanSer-in-chief Commissioned off,
GERS of companies. formerly elected by
their respective companies. VIII now be
appointed by the commandeFstn-ehief. up
on the majority petition Of their respec-
tive organizations.
IN other words. the new law will effect
a complete reorganization OF the state
militia, as at the expiration of ninety
DAYS from the date OF the passage OF the
bill all general. field and line officers will
cease TO exist. the vacancies being imrne-
diately refIled by appointment by the
governor.
Places have been made for three new
STAFF officers. namely. chief signal officer
for the brigade. with rank of lieutenant
colonel. and two signal officers. one for
each regiment. with rank of first iieu-
tenant. Regimental adjutants have been
promoted from the rank OF first heuten-
ants TO that os captains.
The announcement Of rife practice was
not overlooked by the legislature. the gov
ernor being authorized 20 spend Si59 year
~ In prizes for competitive shoots.
vides for court-nar;is.l and delinquency
court, the findings of which can be car
ried into effect. which was impossible un-
der the old law, owing TO a fatal defect.
Disobedience 10 orders by enlisted men
will be punished by six months hard
labor In. the penitentiary; disrespect 10
a superior. three months: for mutiny, one
year; aesertion. six months: for drunken
ness while on duty, thirty days In the
county Jail; conduct prejudicial to good
order and military discipline, thirty days
In the county jail. The officers will be
fined $40 each day for non-attendance.
For offenses by officers the law provides
that upon conviction such officers shall be
cashiered. and shall become DISTINGUISHED
from holding any military commission or
any Office In the state. or fined 500 or I'M
prisonment In the county jail for not more
than one year. or reprimanded.
Col. Green said yesterday that he was
more than pleased with the new law.
I've have been cut down 10 what you
might term a fighting basis" he continu-
cd. ''The appropriation Is not a large one
when you come 10 consider the cost of
equipments. etc. but under II we will be
able TO live and give the state a good
and efficient service for two years. Tho
battery will be n strong addition to the
force. and is a much needed auxiliary to
the militia"
Capt. Parsons, of company, said tina.
IL was the best military bill by thou
sand per cent. ever passed by the legisla-
ture.