The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-07

ferstute National GuUr0 anu
Southern Association Bill VIII
BE Prepared for Congress to Act
Upon-What Gen. Bend Has to
Say Concerning 1t.
Gen. w. B. Bend will, during the latter
part of this month, attend joint con-
vention of the Interstate National Guard
association and Southern National Guard
association at Indianapolis, when he will
present to the gathering the outline CT a
bill to be introduced in congress that will
entirely reorganize the national guard Of
the various states and put 1t on n ia
tional basis. 1t has a long time been a
debatable question whether the present
plan of organization was the most de-
sirable, and the recent experience OF tho
government during the Spanish-Amerlcan
war fully demonstrated that change
is necessary.
In brief the bill which Gen. Bend will
present provides for an organization of
the guard, supported by the government,
with the exception of the two items Of
armory rent and camp expenses that will
be paid by the various states. rhe presi-
national guard in times of necessity.
Under the present law the guard can
only be called out through the governors
of the various states. The organic atoms
will be directly under the charge of the
commander in-chief of the army, in
stead of the war department., and be
in harmony with the regular army organ
ization. The bill will carry with it an ap-
preparation for $4,500000. Gen. Bend has
been tireless in the interest of the national
guard, and has been conspicuous at ma
tional guard conventions in the past 1t
is his idea to have committee of two
or three from each state appointed
and go to Washington and use their in
f1uence to secure the passage of the bill.
The bill shifts to large degree the
scources of the appropriations that main
tain the guard and makes 1t more of
, national organization. Cities will be res
lieved of paying armory rent, and the
only items that the state will have to
make provision for are, as stated, rent
and camp expenses.
Discussing the matter yesterday Gen.
Bend said:
Eat indianapolis on Tuesday, the 23d,
there will be joint convention of the In
terstate National Guard association and
the Southern National Guard association.
All the states have been urged to send
representatives, as business of Importance
will be considered. The national guard
has suffered for long time from made
quate appropriations by congress. AS
consequence Of the pars.mony of the gen
eral government, the guard is not armed
with modern weapons, and it is not sup
piled with field equipment. This was
particularly noticeable during the Spanish
war. Efforts have been made during the
last two years to get an increased appro-
priation from congress, but there has not
been that unanimous working for the
object which is necessary for success
The committee of the Interstate as cocia-
ton which went to Washington last win
ter found that many congressman though
that before granting any more money
some of the defects in the nat onal guard
which were developed by the late war
should be remedied, and that a bill cover
ing the weak spots could be got through,
together with an increased appropriate on.
Among other things, 1t is thought nee
essary to prescribe that the organization,
uniform and equipment of the national
guard shall conform to that of the army,
so that when called into service the guard
will be in entire harmony with the regu-
shall, under certain circumstances, have
absolute control of the guard, without
being dependent ON the whim of the gov
ernor of any state" The following bill,
prepared by Gen. Bend, covering the fore
going points, will be presented for con-
sideration at the convention at Indian
apoliS on the I'D.
Under the provisions of this bill the
national guard of any state can be en-
1nd In, a Init Tod % NOT n
guard, and If it maintains a proper eff
ficiency it will be supplied with arms,
uniforms and field equipment of the lat
est pattern. No one can be commissioned
as an officer unless he passes 65 per cent
in an examination by a board of three
members, one of whom is regular Off
Ger. Politics are wholly eliminated from
the guard, most desirable feature. The
president can use the guard anywhere in
the United States, and, when specially
authorized by congress, can use 1T with
in or without our territorial limits.
Subject to the limitations of the bill, the
national guard will be under the control
of the state authorities.
There is not much doubt that every
state will seek to have its guard. en-
rolled in the United States national
guard, as by SO doing it will receive large
government aid, and, in fact, will only
nave TO pay IOr armOFleS ana camp eX-
penses. Any state which is not willing to
place its guard under the provisions Of
the bill will be cut off from the aid it
now gets.
The advantage which will accrue to
the government will be to have a large,
well drilled and thoroughly equipped
force upon which it can rely at all times
and which will cost a comparatively
small sum.