Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-13
TO Be GIVEN MEDALS
House Passed Resolutions to Pre-
sent Soldiers With Mementos.
SEVERAL O11UnWANS ELIGIBLE
Promotion of the Efficiency of the
Militia as Given in the Report of the
Executive Committee of the Inter.
state National Guard Association.

state National Guard Association.
Ottumwa will doubtless be interest
ed in report of the executive commit
tee of the Interstate National Guard
association, which has recently been
published and which contains among
other things a joint resolution author
izing the President of the United
States TO cause medals to be struck
and presented to officers and soldiers
and others who served in the late war
and for other purposes. Nearly every
one has a relative or friend who is
now or was engaged in the war and
will be glad to learn that steps are to
be taken to present each of them with
token of remembrance of their brav-
| cry in Offering themselves in defense
of their country at the time when they
were needed by the government. This
report also contains an act which is
expected to promote the efficiency of
the militia.
Passed Last June.
On the night of June 80 the final bill
passed the house under suspension OF
rules One hour and ten minutes after
the bill was brought before the COM
mittee of the whole, on vote of $50 to
% the house had acted on measure
which up to that time had been urged
in vain for ITO years in the message
of American presidents from Washing
ton to Roosevelt. This achievement is
due to the patriotic support of Presi--
dent Roosevelt, Secretary of War
Root, Assistant Secretary of War San
ger, Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives Henderson, the members OF
the house committee on rules and a
number of others. The act as passed
by the house of representatives is in
part rs follows:
Militia to Be Changed.
The militia shall consist Of every
. able bodied citizen of the respective
, states, territories and District of Co.
, lumbia, and every able bodied male of
/ foreign birth who has declared his in
, tention to become a citizen who is
/ more than eighteen and less than for
5 ty-five years of age. The militia will
: be divided into three classes, the or
5 ganized militia to be known as the Ma
) tional Guard of the state, territory or
: District of Columbia, the national vol
5 unteer reserves as provided for in this
} act and the remainder to be known as
3 the reserve militia
Some Will Be Exempt.
The vice president, the officers. jul
dicial and executive. of the United
States government, members and Off
y GERS of each house of congress, custom
e house officers and clerks, postmasters
+ nv ta6
# States in the transmission of mail
T are among those who will be exempted
j. from military duty, without regard to
d age.
S President Can Call Troops.
Whenever the United States is in
g vaded or is in danger of invasion by
y any foreign nation, or of rebellion
a against the authority of the govern
/ ment of the United States, or if the
y President is unable with the forces a
D his command to execute the laws o.
Z the union, the President may call fortf
u for period not exceeding nine
II months, such number of the militia
T as he may think proper. The Presi
n dent may specify in his call the period
u for which such service is required.
= In Ratio of Population.
h If the militia of more than one stat
At is called into actual service of tn
"a United States by the President, h
it may, in his discretion, apportion then
re- among the states, according to tn
r. population. Every person who is elig
n. BILE will be held to be in such servic
from the date of the publication Q
err such call, and any officer or man VIII
re refuses or neglects to obey such cal
is shall be subject to trial by cour
S. martial, and shall be punished as sue
he court-martial shall direct; the cour
n. martial to be composed of military off
he GERS only The militia when called il
Mt to actual service will be subject t
az the same rules as the regular troop
rs of the United States and be entitle
lr to the same pay and allowances.
ne Prizes for Best Shooting.
ai A bill was also passed by the hous
to providing for national trophy fc
*. rifle competition. That said prizes b
ci contested for annually under such re!
es ulations as may be prescribed for /
the secretary of war, said contest t
re- be open to the army, marine corp
af. navy and national guard or organize
of militia OF the several states and teri
tories. To meet the expenses of sue
ay contest it is further provided tn.
the sum of $4,000 be annually Apr
priated out of the treasury or othe
wise appropriated.
e. Medals for Soldiers.
A resolution was passed concernir
awarding of medals and is as follows
| hot tho ~