The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-26
Guardsmsn Prepare Amendments
to Present Laws.
READY FOR LEGISLATURE.
Committee OF Ofncers Completes Re-
vision of Statutes GOVERNING Ctti-
zen soldiery-wiil Ask Appropri-
ations for New Arm0rfes, Equip
ment of Battery and Many
Other Needed improvements.

The committee of officers of the National
Guard of Washington, appointed by Gen.
Mcintyre to consider the revision OF the
military code and kindred matters. has
completed its labors and will soon present
its report 1t is the intention to lay the
amendments recommended before the leg
islature this winter and secure their adop-
ton. l.. b. Parsons. T. b. Rawson and
J. E. Gould, all lieutenant colonies, have
had the work in charge.
According to present plans the entire
military code is to be rearranged and the
subjects ii embraces carefully CLASSIFIED,
in order that they may be more easily
found. The principal proposed changes
are as follows:
The minimum strength OF the guard Is
to be sixteen companies of infantry, which
may be increased by one battery and one
troop of cavalry before 1903 After that
time the governor of the state may in
crease the total strength to two regiments
If he SO desires
be increased by $500 per annum and the
auditing and purchasing boards will be
combined. thus giving more freedom in
the purchase of supplies and the sale OF
The regimentai organization will con-
form strictly to the regular army organi-
cred to, alter it at any time in conformity
with changes in the regular code. A
bureau of records will be established for
the preservation of the military records
or all Washington volunteers In all wars.
The officers OF chief signal onhcer on the
brigade stan will be discontinued. but a
signal corps OF thfrty-six regularly en-
listed men will be organized. A separate
organization Of one band to each regiment
will be allowed.
Examinations will be made more rigid
higher but graduated cadets Of the Uni
versity of Washington and the state
school of science may be appointed.
second lieutenants ii will be filed by COM
petitive examinations in which all SER
geants of the company interested will be
allowed to take part
A number of other changes. which are
improvements upon the methods now in
use. are recommended: Most OF these
changes are purely technical.
Col Gouldshas issued call for meet
ing of all Commissioned officers OF the
national guard at the Armory, In this
city. on the evening Of January at s
o'clock. At that time the proposed amend
ments will be carefully discussed and any
other changes that may be deemed neces-
sary or advisable will be inserted in the
list Col. Gould wishes a full attendance of
guard officers at that time.
In addition to presenting this revision Of
the code for the consideration of the legis-
ca wiz g. asked pp
q Os' ssr 'suardd. Three srlnot,es srs . b
a8K6U IOrJ one AZ 6eattl6. one ~ IacO1I8
and one at Spokane. The armory In Seattle
stands on ground for which no lease can
be secured and Is very dilapidated.
Tacoma Is little better of, while Spo-
kane has no armory at all, and her two
companies are compelled to use halls en-
tirely Inadequate for drill purposes The
sum of $4,000 will be asked for each of
these armories and the guardsmen argue
that a saving to the state will ultimately
result. as at present large sums are an
nually expended for rent.
Il DO ,lc q tx,fn fl<,s. In, rs
preparation for the purchase OF modern
arms. The Springfield rifles now In use
are antiquated, and II a call for active
service should come the guardsmen would
be much Handicapped. battery equip
ment Is needed, for while such an or
ganizatfon exists at Davenport II is In
reality little more than a name, and Is
held together solely In the hope that the
state will some time give the necessary
equipment.
The officers of the guard are very much
in earnest in advocating these reforms
and hope to secure all, or at least a ma
jority of them.