The Washington times., 1901-11-14
TO IMPROVE The MILITIA.
Secretary Root VIII Recommend
National Guard Reorganization.
No Specific Plan to he Suggested in
His Annual Report-Need of Con-
gressionuI Enactment Recognized
by Army and State officials.

| One of the principal features of the an
nual report of the Secretary of War,
which will be made public shortly, relates
to the question of a reorganization Of the
National Guard of the country. Secrt tary
Root has decided to cover this subject in
a general way in the annual report, and
while he will discuss the necessity for
some action by Congress looking to the
reorganization of the militia. it is said
that he has practically determined not to
make any specific recommendations as to
how this legislation should be framed.
Secretary Root will make recommended
tions looking to bringing the State troops
and regulars together I'm joint maneuvres
on the great camp grounds of instruction
to be provided, and he will also make rec
concentrations for giving militia officers
every facility to secure the practical train
ing and instruction Of Regular Army Of
ticers. This, however, does not touch the
special subject of reorganization of the
militia by which they will be of greater
value to the National Government in time
Of war, and by which their relation to the
National Government will u, more clearly
defined. That question of status has re-
mained undetermined for hundred years
or more. and every attempt to secure leg
State militia and ti7e National Govern
ment has met with Failure when brought
before Congress.
Secretary Root will not therefore. make
the mistake of favoring any particular
plan of reorganization which may bring
about friction between tie War Depart
ment officials and the officers of the State
organizations. While il is acknowledged
by a great many National Guard officers
that some kind of Legislation is needed.
the question of what form such legisla-
ton shall take is much disputed 1t is
said that the War Department officials
are convinced that it is essential to bring
the militia more under Federal control.
but a careful enquiry by the War Depart
ment has developed great deal of op-
position to this view.
Those persons who have favored a plan
bringing the militia under the more di-
rect control of the Federal Government
are also advocates of more liberal appro-
priations by Congress of Federal money
for the support of the State militia organ
izations. They claim that If the State or
CARNATIONS would only agree upon form
of legislation by which the Government
can be able to secure the services of the
National Guard organizations, it would be
found that the National Government
would be more liberal I'm the expenditure
of money to build up the State organiza-
tions.
Secretary Root and Colonel Sanger, As
sistant Secretary of War; have made a
careful study of this subject. for the pur-
pose of securing unity Of action in aTriv-
ing at some conclusion with the National
Guard organizations; but have been un-
able to secure the unanimous support of
the States to a general plan of reorgan-
iz2tion. Secretary Root realizes there
fore. that it would be inadvisable to sug-
gest any detailed scheme for the reor-
ganization of the militia, and will call at
tention to the necessity for legislation
without dealing with the subject specific
ally. He will at the same time urge rea-
SONS for Immediate action.