Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-15

d. ne UTMOST control the cOnStltu
| ton will allow the general government tc
exercise over the selection, instruction
and inspection of commissioned officers
and rigid provisions as to the wedding
out of incompetents. In the line it is be
licved the elective system should be re
stricted to the lowest grade of commits
stoned officer, the candidates to be re-
stricted to men who have served honor
ably for certain period and who have
risen to certain non-commissioned rank
Examination should precede commission
Promotion to the higher grades should b,
by seniority in company. battalion, regi
ment. etc, according to local conditions
and always subject to examination.
"A. Professional and physical exami
nations to be prescribed and controlled by
the war department.
IS. Troops to have the same organiza
ton as those Of the regular army, to the
greatest practicable extent. The mini
mum number of men in each organiza
ton in time of peace should, within GER
tain limits, be left to the control of the
states.
IS. Administration and paper work Ia
be just as nearly like that of the regular
army as possible, to be prescribed and
superintended by the war department,
and all the books and blank forms to be
furnished from the same source.
~ The creation of a division of the
adiutant generals office to especially SUI
pervise the state troops, together with
the collateral subject, military instruc-
ton in schools.
IS. The detail of competent officers and
non-commissioned officers of the regular
army for duty with state troops. and ire
quent inspection to see that they are
qualified for such duty and in every way
form connecting link between the reg
uars and volunteers. For some years TO
come, and always in time of war, re-
tired officers should be employed on this
duty, but if they could be given the full
pay and allowances of their grade manly
of them could be found who would do in
valuable service.
80 instruction to be prescribed by the
war department, and to include schools
for volunteer officers with regular army
instructors. encampments with regular
troops. and practice at the seacoast de
fences.
10. Attracting volunteer officers Of
subaltern grades only to organizatio Of
the regular army for tours of duty of lin
tied duration.
III. At least an annual inspection of
every volunteer organization, on uni
form system, by regular officers not on
permanent duty in the State, to which the
troops belong.
~ And finally. but not the least i'm
portant, far more liberal appropriation
from the general government, at the
share of the appropriation if it does not
make a certain appropriation itself and
come up to other requirements.
with these objects always in view 1t
is believed a bill can be framed and
passed which will not conflict with the
constitution and will bring our State
troops up to point of efficiency they
have never known. 1t may not be gem
orally known. but ii is nevertheless
fact, that the State troops at the begin
ming of the Spanish war were tenfold
more efficient than in 81, and that
through their own efforts, for they have
received but little encouragement from
the general government.
"A bill, prepared in accordance with
the above ideas by Gen. John r. Rich
ards. adjutant general of Maine and the
writer, was presented in both houses of
Congress last winter butSas every one
knows. very little new legislation was at
tempted at that time. With but Sigh:
modification, to bring it up to date, it is
hoped the same bill may soon become
law. c. G. MORTON,
capt. Sixth United States Infantry