Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-28
NEW MILITIA BILL
State Organizations for Ma
tional Defense.
LONG-NEEDED REFORM
GENERAL DICK EXPLAINS PRO
POSED LEGISLATION.
Plan Embodies Views of the Secretary
of War as Well as Interstate Ma
tional Guard Association.


Representative Charles Dick of Ohio,
whose position as chairman of the commit
tee on militia, and whose record in the
Ohio National Guard, well as in the
Spanish war, makes him an authority on
matters concerning the national guard OF
the country, has introduced a bill for the
reorganization of the militia, which en-
bodies the views of the Secretary Of War
and of the Interstate National Guard Asso-
citation In speaking of this bill, which has
been favorably reported, General Dick said:
THE present federal law governing the
militia is one hundred and ten years old
and has long been obsolete. Nearly all the
Presidents from Washington to the present
time have in their annual messages to
Congress referred to the subject and urged
the necessity for change. While nearly
every state has national guard, so called
the force IS not now national guard, but
a state guard, for the reason that the fed
eral government has heretofore failed to
exercise it's power to organize. arm and dis
cipii1e the militia, and beyond small an
nIal appropriation has shown no interest
in the matter. President Roosevelt Is heart
lily in favor of a new and effective law on
the subject, and the Secretary of War is
enthusiastic for an improvement in the mi
litia and has devoted great deal of time
and thought to the necessary legislation 10
accomplish that result. The Interstate Ma
tional Guard Association, at it's annual
meeting held in this city lately devoted al
most it's entire sessions to considering the
matter, and finally agreed, with practical
unanimlty, upon measure.
Age Limit Changed.
THE new bill makes no change in the age
limits of those liable to military duty. All
able bodied citizens, with few exceptions,
as well as those who have declared their
intention to become citizens, between the
ages of eighteen and forty-five, are liable
to military duty and constitute the militia.
The militia is divided into three classes
the organized militia national guard, the
national volunteer reserve and the reserve
militia.
The present national guard of the states
and territories, by whatever name called,
are made a national guard in fact as well
as In name, and constitute the organized
militia. Their organization, armament and
discipline is to be the same as that pre-
scribed by law and regulations for the
regular army. The reasons for this pro-
vision are apparent that there should
be no question about it's adoption. In case
of war the two forces will act together, and
they should be armed, equipped and drilled
alike.
Presidents Control.
The President may call out the National
Guard. or such portion thereof as he may
deem necessary, for a period not exceeding
nine months, or to repel invasion, suppress
rebellion, or enable hin: to execute the laws
Of the Union in any part thereof, and may
issue such orders to the militia for that
purpose as he may deem proper and d.
rect to such portion as he chooses to call
on. He may specify In his call the period
for which such service is required, not ex-
ceeding nine months, and may in his dis
how
and territories, and the District of Column
bia according to the representative popu-
lation.
"Courts-martial for the trial of officers or
men OF the militia shall be composed of
militia officers only, and when called into
the active service of the United States the
volunteer troops are subject to the same
rules and articles of war as the regular
army, and receive the same pay and allow
ances, which commence from the day of
appearing at the place of the company
rendezvous.
New Rifles.
"The bill provides for equipping the entire
National Guard with the service magazine
rifles and carbines. and all the equipments
and other accoutrements which are In use
IN the regular army. without expense to
the states themselves; said property in the
meantime to remain the property of the
United States and to be annually accounted
for by the governors of the respective states
and territories
THE payment to the different states and
territories of their proportion of the annual
appropriation made by Congress for arm
Ing, equipping and organizing the militia is
put under the effective supervision and con-
troll Of the War Department by making it
prerequisite that the National Guard or
militia of the state is sufficiently armed
uniformed and equipped for active duty in
| the field; and in addition shall, during the
year next preceding, have participated in
practice marches or gone into a camp of
instruction at least five consecutive days
and have assembled for drill and instruc-
ton, or for target practice not less than
tWenty-four times and been inspected by
an officer Of the National Guard or of the
regular army: which fact must appear by
the report of inspections made at least once
each year by officers detailed by the Secre-
tary of War for that purpose.
This annual appropria ton has heretofore
been available only for arms, ordnance
stores, quartermasters' stores and camp
equlpage, and has not been of much value
to many of the states for the reason that
they have provided these things themselves.
The new bill makes this appropriation avail
able for the payment, subsistence and
transportation of such portion Of the organ
lied militia as shall engage in actual field
or camp service for instruction, and officers
and men, while so engaged, shall be en-
titled to the same pay, subsistence and
allowances as officers and men of the regu-
lar army. Said appropriation is also to be
available for the issuance of any stores
supplies. material of war or military publ
cations furnished to the army.
Annual Encampments.
Provision is made for the participation
of the organized militia Of any state or
territory, on the request of the governor
! thereof. in the encampment, maneuvers
and field instruction of the regular army
with the same pay and allowances
"A very important and valuable feature
is that which provides that officers of the
National Guard. who have been nominated
| by the governors and appointed by the
President for that purpose may attend and
pursue regular course of study at a mill
tary school or college in the United States,
with the same travel allowance and quar-
tiers to which an officer of the regular army
would be entitled under the same circum-
stances, and subsistence at the rate of 81
per day.
When the troops Of the national guard
are encamped at any military station or
post Of the United States they are to be
furnished with ammunition and given in
struction in target practice.
The pension laws of the United States
are extended to cover the case of all Of