The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-18
The Militia.
r y VIEW of the fact that both the
secretary of war and the preSi-
l. dent. who no more than voiced a

VIEW o1 the latt tRat Dotn me
secretary of war and the presi-
l. dent. who no more than voiced Il
widely recognized need. have
earnestly called the attention of con-
gross to the nadequacy Of the laws
concerning the militia and have rec
commended that the reserve volunteer
military strength of the country be put
in better readiness than ii now is to
respond promptly and effectively to en-
ecutive call in national emergency, the
Rochester Democrat ana Chronicle sug
gests a law. the main features of which
might be as follows:
First, Il provision, copied from the
militia laws of 1872 reiterating the
"militin' principle, the principle OF
compulsory military service. by de-
claring that all able-bodied male cit-
zens of the United states within GER
tain specified age limits are members
of the national militia, subject to mill
tary duty at the call of the president.
Second, q provision for national
bureau or official to have charge of the
enrolment and Of such organiZat lion
as may be deemed cXpedient of this
militia. Third. Il provision that the or
gani2ed militia of the United States
shall consist of force of say 200, 900
men. of which each state shall furnish
and maintain its quota prOpOrtionate
to its congressional representation. to
be enlisted into the service Of the
| -rifn Sfs,ta f,,, tn.l t.,ri Of
years to be constantly maintained in
IL state of readiness for active service
and constantly subject to tn" call Of the
president, to execute the laws of the
Union, suppress insurrection and repel
invasion anywhere within the bound
aries of the Union. it's territories and
its colonial possessions. Fourth, min
ute and particular provision for organ
izing. arming. and training this militia
in exact accordance with the organi-
zation arming and training of the reg
ular army of the United States. Fifth.
a provision for the appointment by
each state of the officers for its quota
and the commissioning these officers by
the president. Sixth, a provision for
the appointment and commissioning of
other officers of the organized nationa!
militia by the president. with the ad-
vice and consent of congress. Seventh.
a provision for the payment Of all the
expense of organizing, arming, equipp-
ing, training and maintaining this
force out of the national treasury.
Eighth, providing for the employ
ment Of each state Of its quota of the
organized national militia on state
service. at such times as it is not ac-
lively employed in the service of the
United States, and for the payment
by the state into the national treasury
of an adequate monetary compensation
for such service to be calculated at Il
fixed rate per man for each day of
service
Our Rochester contemporary adds:
THE real trouble with the existing
system is that the National Guard is
solely II volunteer state force which
cannot, by any existing means. be con-
vercd, MS an organizations, into nn-
tionul force. If the services OF the
trained soldiers who compose ii are de-
sired by the national government they
must be asked to volunteer ana they
are as free 10 decline In volunteer as
amy citizen who is not Il soldier of the
Guard. No matter how much
money the national government may
appropriate for the maintenance of tho |
Guard nor how closely ii may
supervise the organization, equipment, |
discipline and training OF the National !