Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Officers of Brigade to Attend Presi-
dents New Year Reception.
MEMBERSHIP At HIGH WATER MARK
Victory of Second Regiment Team
in Rifle Competition.
FOR ENSUING YEAR

No orders have been promulgated from
District militia headquarters during the
week, the Christmas holidays making a
decidedly quiet and inactive period, so far
as local military affairs are concerned. Ad-
jutant General Love has been hard at work
on the annual return of the militia, while
the other officials have by no means been
idle. 1t is of interest to note that a pres
ent the enlistments outnumber the dis
charges at the rate of four to one, and
that the membership of the brigade is larg-
er today than it was in 1896. time that
Is referred to as one of the most fourishing
in the history of the Guard.
Will Attend Presidents Reception.
The commanding general and the officers
of the general staff, District of Columbia
militia, will attend the reception at the
White House Monday, in order to pay their
respects to the President of the United
States.
An invitation has been extended to the
oflcers of the District Of Columbia National
Guard to attend the reception. The place
OF assembly designated is the Office of the
major general commanding the army, War
department. Full dress uniform will be
worn. The time of assembly will be II %
o'clock.
In this connection the commanding gen.
efal mas issued circular. as follows:
'Ofhcers of the District of Columbia Ma
tional Guard who desire to pay their re-
spects to the President of the United States,
Monday, January l. 1900 will assemble at
brigade headquarters Monday morning not
later than IL o'clock. Only those officers
who are in full-dress uniform will be per-
mitted to proceed to the Executive Man
SION"
In the Rife Gallery.
The competition in the rifle gallery We'd
nesday evening last between teams of thir-
ty men, representing the list and I'd Regi-
ments, was won by the ID Regiment team,
it attaining lead of 1875 points over its
opponent.
Captain ]. s. Tomlinson having received
his commission as inspector of rife prac-
uce, I'd Regiment, has assumed his duties
as such.
The official small arms practice for 1900
Will open Monday evening, when the I'd
Battalion will occupy the rifle gallery The
4th Battalion will face the targets next
Tuesday evening, and the 9th Battalion
Wednesday evening.
AS heretofore stated, volley firing will fol-
low the individual practice at each range
three vOLleys being fired by each company,
kneeling. proper record of the results.
to be entered in the company target record
book, will be certified by the inspector of
rife practice and included In the annual
Companies will be reported at the rife
gallery promptly at 8 o'clock pm, in un-
dress uniform. armed and equipped.
The rife gallery will be opened every day,
except Sunday, from to o'clock D. M,
for voluntary practice Ammunition will be
furnished on the payment of one cent for
each round. An inspector of rifle practice
Will be In attendance and. on request, will
certify scores to the captains of companies,
to be credited as part Of the required prac-
tice. Company commanders may obtain per-
mission to use the gallery for target prac-
tice on unassigned nights by applying to
the superintendent.
First Sergt. Charles F. Roberts Company
ID, 4th Battalion, has been nominated for
commission as adjutant, and Private w.
M FarrOw, Company A. 9Th Battalion. as
inspector of rife practice of the 4th Bat
talon, both with rank Of first lieutenant.
Organization of Army Reserve.
The general committee of the two Ma
ticnal Guard associations. the one that met
in Florida last winter and the one that met
at Chicago, have had several conferences
and have agreed upon a general law to Of
fer Congress for the purpose Of aiding and
perfccting the organization of the National
Guard as army reserve. says the Army
and Navy Journal. This bill will not in any
way change the character and organization
of the National Guard in the various states,
except that in time of peace the entire Ma
tiOnal Guard will be under the control of
the War Department for mobilization and
camps of instruction for two or three weeks
each year.
The committee had with them in their
conferences, by consent of the War Depart
ment, Col Mills of the army, superintend-
ent of the Military Academy, and Col.
Davis to aid them in keeping within the
Constitution and to arrange law that
might prove acceptable to both the army
and the National Guard. There are some
errors in the first print. After conference
between the committee and the Secretary
of War the bill will be 30 amended as to
make this creation of a reserve acceptable,
and will add to the compensation to be re-
ceived by the state troops. Gen. Butter
field has given much study and attention
to it, and it is considered with great favor
by officers of the regular army and several
adjutants general of states and National
Guard officials
To Compel Restoration.
A matter of interest to National Guards
men is the case of Major Clinton H. Smith
of the list Regiment, N. G. s. N. Y, whose
recent application to be restored to duty in
the regiment was denied by Justice Truax
in the supreme court Of New York. Maj.
Smith. through his counsel, asked that the
court should grant to him writ of prohibi-
ticn debarrng Gov. Roosevelt from order
ing the assembly of a state board to pass
upon his qualifications to be an officer of
the National Guard Of the state of New
York. This app ication was denied and an
appeal was lahtH u lAS appellate DIVISION
of the supreme court. When the Dewey
parade was arranged for Maj. Smith de-
manded that he be allowed to head his regi-
ment. but was not allowed to do So He
then applied for the writ of mandamus
which Justice Truax denied. Justice Truax
said that the object of the writ was to re-
lieve Maj. Smith Of the suspension to which
he had been subjected by Gov. Roosevelt,
| who is the commander-in-chiefo of the state
| militia. The attempt made by Maj. Smith
to compel Maj. Gen. Roe as commander of
the brigade to which the list Regiment be-
| longs to restore him to his command could
! not therefore be sustained as Gov. Roose-
| vet is the superior officer of Gen. Roe
| The appellate division decided against Maj
| Smith, who. 1t is understood. will continue
| his legal fight.
Highest Figure of Merit.
| Under section SO of the military code
| three prizes are annually awarded the New
| York National Guard in each brigade to the
| companies having the highest figure of
merit. the prizes being of the value of 500,
SIS and $50. respectively. The following
| are the prize winners in each brigade of the
1 for