The San Francisco call., 1901-11-27
Reorganization of Militia.

Of the militia laws the report says:
The present provisions of law relating to the
militia and the raising of volunteer forces are
quite imperfect and unsatisfactory The mill
tia law stands to-day practically as it was
enacted in 1892 and is practically obsolete. 1t
is very desirable that Congress should now ex-
ercise the power conferred upon it by the con-
stitution to provide for organizing, arrning and
dsciplining the militia. The organization and
armament of the National Guards Of the sew
eral States, which treated militia in the
appropriations made by Congress- should be
made the same those provided by Congress
for the regular and volunteer forces. The re-
lations of the National Guard organizations to
the national forces and the obligations and du-
ties of those organizations in time of war
should be clearly defined SO that the confusion
and distress regarding their action which ac-
companied the outbreak of the war with Spain
may not again occur.
The reliance of the country for the large
forces necessary in modern warfare must nee
essarily be chiefly upon volunteers. The method
and procedure of raising volunteer forces should
be prescribed in advance, so that instead of
waiting to devise plans for volunteer army
until the excitement and haste Of impending
war make perfection of design difficult and
satisfactory execution impossible, Congress will
have but to direct the execution of well
Serstood plan by Officers t each th one Of whom
play It is desirable that any plans adopted
should provide for utilizing. in the earlier vol
those citizens who shall have served already in
the regular and volunteer forces. If the earlier
volunteer organizations can be constituted of
these trained men, much valuable time and
expense can be saved, and many dangers may
be averted during the period while the ordinary
Provision should also be made for the selection
in advance of the officers of any volunteer force
which may be raised Careful selection is i'm
possible at the outbreak of war. 1t is en-
tirey practicable in time of peace.
recommend that the President be authorized
to convene boards of officers (incuding the
general service and staff college board) for the
: Examination of officers of the National Guard
and other citizens who may apply to be ex-
amined as to their qualifications to hold vol
unteer commissions; that the persons passing
hall
stating the Office for which they are found to
volunteer force shall be entitled to receive COM
, missions for such offices.
Arming of Guardsmen.
I recommend that the War Department be
authorized to arm the National Guard with the
present service small arms used by the rezu-
lar army navy and marine corps that the
National Guard of the several States be treated
as first reserve to be be called "a into the ser
of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel
invasons, the term of service under any call
to be limited to nine months; that the Presi-
dent be authorized on the request of the Gov
ernor of any State. to detail officers of the
State; that the War Department be authorized
to furnish transportation. rations and tentage
ganizations who shall take part with the
force of the regular army in annual encamp-
ment and maneuvers at national military
camps; that the department be authorized to
allow travel pay. computation of rations and
quarters, communication OF quarters to Off
GERS Of the National Guard attending and reg
ularly taking part in the courses of instruction
at the general service and staff college at Fort
Leavenworth. Both of these provisions shall
be within reasonable limits. proportional to the
numbers of National Guard organizations in
the several States.
1 recommend that the President be now
empowered to organize the volunteer forces
whenever called out, in the manner provided
for by the act of March 2. 1899. for the organi-
cation of the volunteer force which has recent
ly returned from the Philippines. with such
notifications as shall be necessary to give ef-
feet to the views above expressed
The chief of the signal corps again urges at
tention to the great Importance of an Ameri-
can trans-Pacific cable The requirements for
the use of such cable by our own Govern
ment in Hawaii and in the Philippine Islands
ed and owned by the Government, or If con-
structed by a private corporation the landing
rights should be granted upon such conditions
that the owners shall always remain in fact
American CORPORATION. and shall fbe sub
ject to such control and regulation by Con-
gress as will insure Government control when
, necessary. and commercial freedom in the use
of the cable at all times
The Secretary says that as veterans
| of the Civil War who remain In the navy
are permitted to retire at grade higher
! than they have reached in the active list.
! he asks that similar provision be made
for the veterans in the army.
/ The Secretary says Major General Yves
/ ley Merritt Major General John r.
Brooke and Major General Elwell S. Otis
are practically unrewarded for their dis