Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-08
MILITIA.
Plan of National Government
for Its Complete Rcor-
ganization.
STATE EXPENSE AVOIDED.
Uniform Meth DDS of Drill and Discipline.
hut the State Is Responsible for En-
forcemcnt of the same Guards
men to lie United states Troop
ere Under Rules of Regular
Army.
STATE EXPENSE AVOIDED.

In view of the widespread interest man.
ifoStcd in the discussion Of the reorganiz-
atiCn of the National Guards the Free
Press publishes this morning the fun copy
of bill already introduced in congress
and which cmbodics the plan of the ma
tioual government for reorganization of
the militia. 1t will be seen that in main
tainnr guards will be- entirely done away
with. Following is the copy:
A BILL
To providc for organizing. armng, and
cquiping portion of the militia. To he
known as the active militia. and to lie
called tho National Guard of the Unit
cd States.
he 1t enacted by the Senate and House
'of Representatives of the United States
.or America in Congress assembled, That
upon the passage of this act the Presi-
dent shall proceed to call forth, organize.
arm. equip and discipline n portion OF
the militia, not to exceed in the aEgre-
safe of all arms, three hundred thousand
men, and shall apportion the same ne
tween the several States according to
their ratio OF the enrolled militia. liable
,o military duty under existing laws. Said
troops shall he known as the active milf
tia and shall he called the National Guard
of the United States.
Sec .. That the President shall appor-
tion the number of each arm of the SER
vice OF the several State quotas, and shall
prescribe their personal organization,
arms. and equipment. and the system oil
drill. discipline, and instruction tn be OBJ
served. which shall correspond as nearly
as may be with that of the regular army.
Sec. B. That the active militia hereby
organized shall he composed of men who
shall enlist in the service of their rcspec-
tive States and the United States foi
period Of not less than three years, and
their officers selected and commissioned
as provided by the laws OF thor rcspcC-
tive States They shall at all times he
subject to the orders of thor officers, and
shall he subject To active service when
ever called lpon ny the President as
hereinafter prescribed for a period of not
To exceed six months during any one pc
riod Of three years.
Sec. 1. The President shall have the pow
or-hy and with the consent of Congress
to call the whole or any portion of the
National Guard into the active service of
the United States Tor period not to cN-
coed six months. whenever their services
may he required. Such call may be made
through the governor OF the respective
States and when the whole force of any
State is called out company, battalion.
reS!mcntal and brigade organizations,
batteries and troops, shall be taken with
their respective commanding officers and
their stan, provided such organizations
are in accordance with the system pre-
scribod by the President, as hereinafter
provided. Whenever a less number than
the whole Guard Is required, the call shall
hc apportoncd to the several States as
nearly ms shall be practical according to
the number Of their enrolled militia, but
said organization shall be taken as n
whole when so many are required from
amy State with their commanding officers
and their stan. Each State shall be cred
tied with the number furnished and their
In rn
such service may be cdualized,
: Sec. = That the National Guard shall
bc organized by the several States In nc
icordance With the requirements of the
President as to numbers not less than the
allotment as herein provided, and as &c
ORGANIZATION, system Of tactics. drill, dis
ciplinc and instruction as shall be pre-
iscrib,d by the President as hereinafter
provided. Said Guard SO organized, ca
cor when called into active service OF
the United States shall he subject To the
laws Of their respective States. which
shall lie responsible for the drill, disci-
plnc and instruction of the same.
Sec. s. That the President shall order
the Guard To be assembled in camps oi
instruction or Tor manoeuvres which may
include the Guards OF one or more States
and portions Of the regular army, not Of
icner than once a year, and for periods
not exceeding twenty-one days, and. when
80 assembled, transportation to and from
tho same shall he furnished, with subSs-
,oncc and proper camping cquippage. 4,
such assembly the annual inspection and
reviews shall he had. When called into
active service or assembled by the Presi-
dent, or by the State in pursuance Of PIE
Scrihcd methods of instruction, the of
nc, rs shall receive as compensation the
: same pay per diem and allowances as Of
nCcrs Of like rank in the regular army
} and enlisted men shall be paid as follows
of
: stan, three dollars and nifty cents pei
day; non-commissioned officers of tn,
lcgimental stan, three dollars per day
iivSt sergeant, two dollars per day; ser
, geantS, ona dollar and scventy-iVe cents
per day; corporals, one dollar and fifty
5 cents per day; privates,' one dollar pei
day. When the National Guard OF differ
ont States or portions thereof shall b,
mohilizcd for purposes of instruction OF
active service they shall be under tn,
command OF the President, who may de
tail an officer of proper rank from III,
regular army To their command, and I,
the command of such battalions, regi
mepts, and brigades as may be organize,
from separate companies, battalionS ant
regiments, and commission their stan.
Sec, Z. For the purpose of securing uni
formity in discipline and drill Throughout
the Guard, the President shall detail from
the regular army on the request of tn
governors Of the several States, compe
tent officers who shall serve on the stat
. Of commanding officers of battalionS, reg
| lmonts, brigades and divisions and act a
instructors in tactics and military dutie
and shall assist in the drill and discipline
Of the Guard They shall conduct school
for officers of the guard under the direc
zion and supervision of such commandini
ofhcers, and the chief of the bureau O
the National Guard. Officors shall MAX
montnly reports of this work to the bu
reau OF the National Guard and receiv
the pay prescribed for like ranks in tn
army.
Sec, s. The President shall establish Il
the war department bureau, TO b
known as the Bureau of the Nationa
ICuard, which shall be devoted to the pro
motion and maintenance of the same. Ac
lcurate records shall he kept In this bu
reau Of all National Guard organization
and for this purpose commanding officer
iof National Guard organizations sha
make such reports TO this bureau as ma
he prescribed. The President shall az
point or detail a competent officer wit
the rank OF brigadier general, who sha
he adjutant general of the Nations
lGuard and chief OF this bureau, Tn
president shall also detail or appoint a
authorised by law for the army sue
clerks and subo rdinates as may be wees
sary for the duties of the bureau, who's
pay shall correspond with that of lis
grades in other branches OF the war de
apartment.
Sec. g. The President shall detail or ar
point an officer of suitable rank not high
Ter than the rank of colonel, as inspecto
general of the National Guard for eac
State, whose duty II shall be TO thorou Oh
lly inspect the Guard and report thereo
Ito the bureau of the National Guard III