The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-02
MEASURE PASSED THE LOWER
 HOUSE AT WASHINGTON.
Provides for Reorganization of State Militia and Its Equip
 meat Along the, Most r.. !
 ~ Modern Lines. '..t' tf

Colonel w. w. Brandon, Adjutant- General of the Alabama National Guard, who reached Montgomery last night from his home in Tuscaloosa, received a tele- gram upon his arrival here, from Con gressman J. Fl. Bankhead, of the Sixth Alabama District, announcing that the Dick bill for the reorganization of the National Guard of the various States of the Union passed the House of Represent tatives yesterday afternoon under su5- pension of the rules.
 This is great news for the members of the Alabama National Guard" said Colo mel Brandon at the Exchange Hotel, If the Dick bill becomes a law, the National Guard will be completely equipped with all modern guar rtermaster and ordnance supplies. It's tendency is to decrease the star rding army, and depe more up on the volunteer soldiers of the country, which, in my opinion, is the greatest safe guard of a Government like ours. The bill seeks to draw the National Guard closer to the Government and the bill in fact places the guardsmen largely under the control of the War Department.
 The Dick bill" continued Colonel Brandon, was agreed upon by the Adiu- tant- General Association of the United States and Congressman Dick of Ohio who is himself an ardent friend of the guardsmen of the country. fathered the measure. It puts the National Guard on an equal footing with the regular army. and makes the Guard reserve of the army. By the terms of the bill the Ma tional Guard of the different States will become a standing army subject to the call of the President in time of war without any routine red-tape, but the Guards are to be used by the Governors of their respective States in time of peace, as has been the custom
 The feature of the bill that most strongly appeals to the men composing the State Guard is that it provides for equipment for the National Guardsmen exactly like the equipment furnished the regular army. The old equipment now on hand. both Quartermaster and ordnance, will be replaced by new and modern equipment if the bill becomes a law. This equipment is to consist of Krag- Jorgensen rifles, the latest improved uniforms for sunm r NFGr, oVCrco4,s. ponchos. haversacks. knapsG rks. canteers band equipment for each regiment, side arms for nou-eummissionCd officers blue shirts. report books. kitchen and camp utensils. and ammunition for target prac tice In short the National Guard of the States under this bill would be en- tirclV equipped and efficiently ofttcered and ready at q moments notice to go in- to active service.
 Another provision of the bill that ap- peals to National GuIrdsmen is that when there s residue from the Nation- al appropriation for equipment of State Guard it can be had in money tn aid in holding camps of instruction. In addi- ton thereto the bill carries certain ap- propriations for the sustenance and main tenauce of the commands.
 "If the bill becomes q law, officers Of the National Guard will have to stand examinations, 10th physical and mental before they receive their commissions Whenever :he Guards gre called into ac- tive service tho commisSions of these of ficers will hold good in the army. and the relative rank will take precedence ac- cording to the date of the commission. The bill contemplates that the Govern ment will look after the National Guard precisely as 1t does after the regular ar my. Officers will be designated by the regular army to make annual inspections of the various State Guards and report just as is done in the army"
 The Dick bill has received the hearty support of the officers of each of the National Guards of the Union. Colonel Brandon has labored diligently for two years to get the matter before Congress and he took a conspicuous part in the meeting of the Adjutant Generals Asso- citation when the proposed bill was under