The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-04

Plans Discussed Mt the War Depart
ment-The Need of Il Better system
Recognized some Suggestions
Made by Prominent State officer.
The War Department viii shortly take
up the question of securing a closer rela-
ton between the National Guard of the
different States and the National Govern
ment. Several propositions have been
discussed by National Guard officers and
some recommendations have been made to
Colonel Sanger, who is particularly inter-
ested in this subject.
The question before the War Depart
ment is how to place greater responsible
ity upon the militia forces with view to
securing force that will be at all times
ready for the use of the Government in
case of an emergency. 1t is recognized
4 that at the present time the status of the
National Guard is so underlined that when
a young man enlists in it he can have no
clear understanding as to what his duties
and responsibilities are, who can order
him out in time of war, or where he may
be ordered The War Department is not
any more anxious to have this status set
tied than are some of the State organi-
cations, but UP to this time no plan has
been suggested that appears to meet the
approval of all the State organizations
An army officer said yesterday that it
was not so important that the questions
should be settled in any particular way
as that they should be settled. He added:
IF any solution of the problem is to be
found it can only result from a patriotic
treatment of the subject by officials and
officers of State organizations. Almost
everyone will have to make certain con-
cessions and possibly accept legislation
which is not in strict harmony with his
own judgment
That the War Department is determined
to present to Congress a plan for meet
ing the requirements of an improved Ma
tional Guard is well understood. Just
what this plan viii be remains to be de-
termined. Several suggestions have been
made by National Guard officers, and one,
which comes from an important State
official who has been prominent in militia
affairs, is that, first of all, the States
should recognize the right of Congress to
legislate for the State militia organi-
cations This right is given to Congress
in the Constitution, but has never been
exercised. and this officer says that the
recognition of this is the first essential
to an improved National Guard.
The Government, according to this Of
ficer, should be able to rely upon the
militia as an auxiliary force of the Reg
ular Army, and the militia should recog-
nize the responsibility which this change
would bring. Congress could then enact
such laws as would properly regulate the
auxiliary force. 1t is proposed by the
National Guard officer mentioned that
both the President and the State officials
shall have the power to order the Ma
tional Guard TO the front, which will give
the National Government the use of the
militia when necessary and which will not
interfere with the rights OF the States at
the same time
1t is pointed out that the militia should
correspond TO the rank and file of the
army and in the case of State artillery
forces that they should be trained for
their work in the harbor forts and receive
instructions in the handling of the guns
which they might be called upon to handle
in case of war This feature, ii IS
declared, would add responsibility to the
guardsmen and force them to recognize
that their work was of particular value
to the Government. 1t is not expected that
the different States will hold the same
view on the subject and in discussing the
question the War Department recognizes
that suggestions along various lines Wall
be made before any one likely TO meet with
the approval of Congress is adopted for
recommendation by the Secretary of War