The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-01

NJ SftSS Is expected 10 plSS lIlS
y winter is the militia bill,
which last winter passed the
house ans H. now before the senate
committee on military affairs. The pur-
pose OF this measure is to bring about
harmonious relations between our resu-
lar military establishment and the un-
professional citizen soldicry or second
line of defense" Its details represent
the fruits Of many conferences and
compromises between regula.' army and
civilian influences, and the support in
it's favor is now practically unanimous.
poses and provisions emanating from
the war department:
Tie Fundamental idea of the bill is
10 recognize tho value TO the national
government of the National Guard,
when is capable Of being utilized first,
as active militia when called out by the
president for the specific purposes
enumerated in the constitution: second,
AZ an already organized volunteer force
when its organizations respond as such
tu calls for volunteers FOR general mill
tary purposes under authority of con-
sross; and third, Us the sreat school of
The volunteer soldier, the benefits of
which are received by the country when
the members of the guard respond indi-
Nidualiy to calls for volunteers. The
bill undertakes to regulate and provide
70" these various relations OF the Ma
tion;. Guard and its members to the
general system; to conform the organ
i2alion, armament. and discipline Of the
guard to that Of the regular and volun-
tt.er armies Of the United states; to
establish closer relations and better co.
operation between the National Guard
ana the rcSuu" army; to promote, the
efficiency ana dignity Of the guard as
I, pnlt OF the military system of the
United States.
"'rO aid III accomplishing these OBJ
jrcts, and in recognition or the bene-
hts to the srners, government that
come. rrc,n rhr guard altogether out
side Of It's SerVic. To the individual
states, the bill provides that the gen
crHi government shall furnish TO the
guard the same arms whicn it furnishes
10 the regular army, and for the Volun-
tHry participation by the guard will
tie regular army in manp@uvr.s and
rcll EXERCISES iur brief periods in each
year. The bin also contains provisions
making lhc National Guard organiza-
tions which choose voluntarily to go
bey onG the limitations of militia SER
Nice in effect Il First Volunteer Reserve,
ana r,utEe" provisions for the enroll
ment of Il Second Volunteer Reserve
not rNcecding 1000, 10 be composed OF
trained lnrn VINO have served in the
National Giuard or in the regular army
or tbs volunteer arruies of the United
States. These would constitute the first
volunteer regiment after the National
Guard volunteers lnder any Cull by
congress. II also provides tor ascer-
tanning by practical tests, in advance Of
It call for volunteers, the fitness of
inp niprrs Of The National Guard, Srudu-
atcs or the military schools and coll
legcs, and other Giti2ens with military
training, 10 hold volunteer commissions,
thus constituting al eligible list from
NlNIl II III Ns'SS VI a VII l''l Nblhi'lftI =
the officers OF he Second Reserve must
ha taken. and The Officers of the gem
cral body OF volunteers may be taken.
with the system provided for by the
bill carried into effect "e should he able
while mainiainng It standing army OF
hut 6O,o00 men 10 put force of at least
.5O, 800 we'll trained men nIo the field
instantly upon a declaration OF war,
and the cost would be less thau TO
maintain but few additional regi-
men,s OF regular troops.
"'rhs military force OF the United
States would then be as follows First.
The Regular army, capable or enlarge-
ulcnt by tine president, when he sees
war coming, 10 100000. Second. Such
of the organized militia (aheady trained
as II national guard, and just as vam-
aple, whea used in the manner herein-
after Indicated, as amy other tFoops) as
the president shall see fit to call into
the service OF the United States for nol
exceeding nine months, 10 repel in-
vasion. Third. \ First Volunteer he
serve composed Of such companies
troops, and regiments of the organized
militia already trained as a national
guard as volunteer By organizations
With all their officers and men. Fourth