Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-26
Modified DEFENDERS
A Bill to Bring the Militia in Touch
With the Army
The Details Meet With General An.
prevail and the Measure 10
Likely to BE Adopted.

Gen. Doe, assistant secretary of war.
has prepared a bill looking to the greater
efficiency Of the militia Of tho country, and
1t is now before the Senate committee on
| military affairs, with favorable prospect
| of itS ultimate enaction into law. The
| measure was prepared with great care and
| Is most comprehensive in its scope. Prior
| to Its reference to the Senate committee
| it was submitted to a number Of prominent
national guardsmen. including Gen. Win
| gate, president Of the National Guard As
| ISOLATION. and Gen. Albert Ordway COM
| handing the militia of the District With
| out exception all were in favor of its an
| actment into law. Gen. Ordway said of
| the bill that it covered the ground in the
most satisfactory manner AS q scheme
Tor militia reorganization, he regarded it
as practical. wise and just In Its details.
inasmuch as 1t involves no increase Of
| expenditure 1t is regarded as having a fair
chance OF passage during the present Con-
greSs.
The bill is entitled AN act to promote
the efficiency Of the militia" The first
section provides that 1.-The m litla shall con-
sist OF every able-bodied male citizen of
the respective states territories and the
District of Columbia who is more than
eighteen and less than forty-ive years of
age. and shall be divided into two classes,
the organized. to be known as the National
Guard of the state, territory or District of
Columbia. or by such other designations az
may be given them by the laws of the re-
spectlVe states or territories, and the UNI
tia
Details of Enlistment.
The second section provides for the ex-
emp:ion Of all citizens of the United States
who are now exempted by the laws of
their reflective states. The third section
provides that 1.-The organized militia shall
consist of regularly enlisted troops as are
Or may be organized in and officers duly
commissioned by the governors of the sew
eral states. territories and the District of
Columbia" also. that an original enlist
ment shall be for not less than three years.
and a re-enlistment for not less than one
year"
1t Is provided by section four that the
reserve militia shall not be subject to any
military duty to the United States except
when called into service by a special act
OF Congress. The organized militia shall
not be subject to military duty to the
United States except when called into serv-
ice by special act of Congress or by the
PRESIDENT OF the United States. Any Off
Ger or enlisted man who shall refuse or
neglect to obey such call shall be subject
10 trial by court-martial and be punished
as such court may direct.
Other sections provide that such courts
martial shall be composed of militia Off
GERS only. and that the organization of the
militia and the number. rank and duties of
OF the respective states may require 1t is
prescribed, however, that such organiza-
ton and the discipline of the troops snail
conform as closely as practicable to that
presented for the army. 1t is also pro-
vlded that the organized militia shall be
trained in accordance with the regulation
systems of drills and tactics
Pay From General Government.
section ID provides as follows:
"hen the organized reserve militia
IS called into the actual service Of the
United States or any portion of the organ
lied militia be accepted under the proyis
ions OF section 10 of this act, their nav
shall commence from the day of their an
pearing at the place of battalion regimen
TAI or brigade rendezvous, and the expenses
incurred in moving the organized or re-
.erve militia of any state, territory or the
District OF Columbia to their places of rem
devious, In pursuance of call of the Pres
ident, or of the authority Of any state or
territory, and approved by him, shall be
adjusted and paid in like manner as the
expenses incurred after their arrival at
such place OF rendezvous but this provis-
ion shall not be construed to authorize any
species of expenditure previous to arriving
at the places of rendezvous which is not
provided by existing laws 10 be paid after
their arrival at such places of rendezvous"
In Case of Invasion.
Another section of the bill provides as
follows:
whenever the United States is invaded
or In imminent danger of invasion from
any foreign nation or Indian tribe, or of
rebellion against the authority of the gov
eminent of the United States, 1t shall be
lawful for the President to call forth such
number of the organized militia of any
state or states, or of the District of Column
bia, as he may deem necessary to repel
such Invasion or suppress such rebellion,
and to issue his orders for that purpose to
the governor or governors thereof. to
any officer or officers of the organized mi
litia for such number of such militia as
the President may think proper. and he
may, in time of peace. accept from the gov
ernor of any state or territory such num-
Der of the organized militia as may be Of
fered for the purpose of united instruction
the regular establishment. whenever proper
appropria lion therefor shall have been
made, and such troops, when so accepted,
shall be deemed to be in the service of the
United States during the period for which
their services have been rendered by the
governor and accepted by the President"
Suitable provisions are made for equip
ment. stores, ercampments. etc. 1t is also
provided that any officer. non-commis-
stoned officer OF private of the organized
or reserve militia who may be disabled by
reason OF wounds or disabilities received
or incurred in the service of the United
States, shall be entitled to all the benefits
of the pension rolls existing at the time of
his service In case such officer, non-com-
miSSioned officer private dies in the SER
vice of the United States, or in returning
to his place Of residence after being mus
tered out of such service or at any time
In consequence of wounds disabilities
received in the service. it is provided that
his widow and children, if any. shall be
entitled to all the benefits of existing pen
sion laws