The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-01
THE MILITIA BILL.

The militia bill. introduced into the
Senate by Senator Hawley and into
| the House by Representative Dick, is
based upon suggestions made by the
| Secretary of War in his annual re-
port. 1t is intended to take the place
of the antiquated militia law of 1872,
and TO meet long felt want. Wheth-
er it is just what is needed will doubt
less become apparent as the discus
sion Of it proceeds in Congress and
the public prints. 1t is admitted that
the militia law that we now have is
entirely out of date; and also that
there is a need of a law that will give
the country an effective militia force
that can be used promptly If the oc-
casion for its use should arise.
1t is not forgotten that the country
was wholly Inprepared when the war
with Spain began. The regular army
was not properly equipped. being with
out arms of the latest pattern and
without a sufficient supply of ammu-
. nition. And there was the greatest
confusion of ideas in respect to the
militia. Some of the states responded
to the call for troops by sending entire
regiments of their organized militia
and others sent volunteers. There
were whole regiments in camp without
arms or uniforms. There was con-
fusion as to officers and as to about
everything else connected with the
hastily collected volunteers.
The aim of the pending bill is to
bring order out of confusion and to
provide the government with a mill
tary force that can be called into the
field promptly in aid of the regular
army. And the fact is kept in mind
that this must be accomplished with
out awakening too much of a military
spirit.
Two distinct military bodies are pro-
vided tfor, and they are of course in
addition to the regular army. One is
to be known as the organized militia,
and the other as the volunteer forces.
The first is to consist of the organized
militia, and is to be equipped and
drilled as the regular army is and kept
in touch with 1t. When there is proof
that the organized militia of a state
has complied with the requirements of
the law it will be permitted to share
in the appropriation made for that
branch of the military service. Or
ganizations of the organized militia
will be permitted to volunteer as bodies
and to select their own officers, and
will be expected to be ready. at all time
to respond to call for active service.
The volunteer forces are to be COM
posed of 100000 men who have served
in the army, in the volunteers or the
organized militia. They are to be en-
rolled for five years and each man
on reporting yearly in accordance with
regulations which are to be made, is
to receive a retaining fee of $40. This
force is to be officered by men who
have been examined by board of
officers appointed by the War Depart
ment as to their qualifications to COM
mand or act as staff officers. Appli-
cants for these positions, however,
must have had experience in the or
ganized militia, the army OF the vol
unteer forces. or have been instructed
in military schools and must not be
above the ages fixed for such offices.
1t is provided that the volunteer forces
shall be organized while the organized
militia is in the field.
OF course the foregoing is the merest
outline of the bill. Doubtless il will
undergo many changes before it re-
ceives the approval of Congress. It is
step in the right direction. While
Congress has this matter of providing
more thoroughly organized militia
force under consideration, it should do
the work thoroughly. 1t should deal
with the organized militia in liberal
manner. The members of it ought to
be relieved of all burdens in the way
of expenses which necessarily belong to
their organizations.