The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-19
THE CANADA MILITIA ACI.
UNDER ITS TERMS COMPULSORY
SERVICE MAY BE ENACTED.
Existing Ballot Act Has Force in
All Parts of the Dominion. and In
Case of Need as Many Men May

Special Dispatch to the Post-Inteligenecr.
OTTAWA. Feb. 1S.-The men OF Canada,
a a rule. enormously consider that they
are free from any obligatory military SER
vice yet the ballot act has full force in
all parts OF the Dominion. and can be put
in force at the option of the governor
general. The Canadian militia act pro-
vides for house TO house inquiry as 10
the suitability of all the male population
for service in time OF war, and choice
by ballot Of as many men as necessity,
at any time, may demand. These must
serve, whether they wish to or not. Such
is the way the law stands in the Domin-
ion of Canada today, although occasion
has never arisen TO put II into actual oper-
alton.
The classes from which militiamen are
to be drawn In the event OF compulsory
service as follows:
/. Eighteen to thirty years unmarried
or widowers without children.
2 Thirty to forty-Ave years. unmarried
or widowers without children.
3. Eighteen TO forty-five years, married
or widowers with children.
&. Forty-five TO sixty years, married or
widowers with children.
The above is the order In which the
male population of Canada win be called
on TO serve, IL necessary, in time of great
danger. The exemptions are: Judges,
clergy. college professors and teachers in
religious orders. revenue officers and en-
ployesi wardens, guards, etc, of peniten-
tiaries and public iunatic asyums, those
physically incapable and the only son of
widow. he being her only support. All
males coming WITHIN the above classes,
and not exempt. are liable to be enrolled
and, IL so enrolled. are subject TO be
chosen by ballot
To provide for the defense Of the Dom
mi str .ps i ~ sh was iorganzed Inc
tied by law TO 5000, rank and file. Its
present establishment, including the per-
manent force of about 1900, consists of
RON hut y~fs
i've of the Northwest Mounted Police
This. of course, Is Canada's first line OF
defense IN case OF attack, and IL the force
used 10 quell internal disturbances Up
10 the present time the force has always
proved quite sufficient for Canadas needs
and has been called on for service on
twenty-four different occasions since con
federation. But the time may come when
either this force should fan away below
strength IN time OF peace. or not be large
enough In time of war to cope with Can
adas enemies. In either case volunteers
would then be called for, and II a sufii-
cIent number OF these were not fortheom-
ing. the ballot would have 10 be resorted
70: the method of procedure In the en-
ollfnent OF the men, and the ballot, is thus
Iaid down in the militia act: The enroll
ment of the militia shall be made IN each
company division by the captain thereof
with the assistance of the officers and
noncommissioned officers of the company
divisions ana the captain. and under his
orders, the other officers and nonrom.
missioned officers OF the company dfyig-
leH sldlif ny actuai inquiry a each house
therein, and by. every other means IN their
power make and complete from time TO
time, and at such times as are fixed by
tne sovernor-in-council, corrected roll
IN duplicate, OF the names OF all the men
in the different classes resident In the
company division. The enrolment shall
be held TO be an embodiment Of all the
iniiitiamen enrolled and shall render them
iiapie TO serve under this act. unless eN-
empt by law" All the arrangements for
enrolment ana balloting are left In the
al ~ a -.tf.st.. All.
man chosen by ballot can become ex-
empt from service, for the time, by pro-
Viding an acceptable substitute
The rates Of daily pay OF the militia
are as follows: Lieutenant colonel SiS1.
major, $3.50; paymaster ssS; ndinfant
with rank Of lieutenant. sea: adiutnnt
with rank OF second lieutenant 81 Is: sur.
geon. 1856; assistant surgeon S2t3, quar-.
termaster. H.s4; captain. 50 50: lieutenant
N5S. second lieutenant sl2S: serpeant
major, 81: quartermaster sergeant nay.
masters clerk. orderly room clerk hospi-
30 cents; sergeant IS cents: corporal az
cents ougier, 80 cents private. 80 cents.