The San Francisco call., 1899-03-12
General Dickinson's
Bill Will Pass.
MAY GET EVEN ON OFFICERS
LATEST ITEMS CULLED FROM
SPECIAL ORDERS.
What Is Being Done in the Naval
Militia-Marlinspik Seamanship
on the Marion-Military
HonorS.

During the past week the Legislature
did something in the line of putting the
| National Guard on an active footing
again. The Senate by a unanimous vote
passed the amended bill for reorganization
that was introduced by Senator Dickin-
son. and it went to the Assembly. The
friends of the bill are confident that the
House will pass it as it came from the
Senate and that the Governor will sign it.
One important amendment is that the bill
shall go into effect at once instead of at
the expiration of sixty days asl in the
original measure.
The bill introduced by Assemblyman
Chynoweth came back from the Commit
tee on Military Affairs with some slight
amendments and it passed, and is now in
the Senate This is the measure that was
introduced for the purpose of fixing the
status of the members of the Guard who
enlisted in the Spanish-American war.
There was some talk after 1t left the As
sembly that it might be amended as to
that section which declares that if the
party who so enlisted wishes to return to
the guard, If an officer he shall serve un-
til the expiration Of the term of office to
which he was elected or appointed. If the
change is made it will be that officers who
wish to return to their former commands
can do so if elected by the company. This
would give the men a chance to get even
with any OIL I061G OIIlC6TS WHO Uldy nave
treated them in a shabby way.
In special orders issued last week the
resignation of Lieutenant Junior Grade H.
p. Gray, Naval Militia, is accepted. In
the case of Lieutenant Junior Grade A. E.
Williams, having absented himself for
more than thirty days without leave, he
was deemed to have resigned, and his
resignation was accepted.
First Lieutenant Ira A. Robie, Second
Infantry, has been appointed member of
the special examining board to act in con-
| junction with the examining board of the
Third Brigade in the examination of the
officers-elect in Company G, Second Infan-
try, and Of the Signal Corps of the Third
Brigade.
Lieutenant c. B. Strong, Troop. b, cav
airy, Third Brigade, has been placed on
the retired list with the rank of first lieu
tenant from June e. 1888.
There is considerable activity in the
naval militia at this time, and much is
being done in the way of recruiting the
several divisions to their limit.
On board the Marion Lieutenant Com
mander T. A. Nerney has instituted sys-
tenn of drill which includes single stick
exercise and marlinspike seamanship.
which in other words is the science Of
knots and spices. Until further orders
infantry drill will be suspended, The Off
night was attended by all the officers and
a very pleasant evening was spent. In
der good of the service number Of mat
ters connected with the building up of the
militia were discussed, and it was de-
cided to advance that branch of the Ma
tional Guard with all the energy the off,
GERS can command.
The special service men on board the
Pinta, that is the men who are detailed
by the United States Government as care
takers of vessels loaned to State Govern
ments, had an examination last week at
Mare Island with the result that Cox
swain E. Cotter reshipped, Joseph Hill.
fireman of the first class, retired, Give
Brown was named to take his place and
Louis Algren, seaman, was named vice
Adolph Groux.
Two members of the Second Division
have made application for appointment
as warrant officers on board of the
Marion, one for the position of gunner
and the other for that of carpenter.
Captain L. II. Turner has applied for
certificate of exemption. Louis and Leon
Slcss and J. Neibaum having been seven
years as honorary members of the Naval
Militia have received certificates of ex-
emption. Louis f. Gerstle has been elect
ed an honorary member of the Naval
Militia.
The medals won at the target were dis
tributed during the week. without cere-
mony, to those entitled to receive them.