The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-11-09
A UNIFORM
MILITIA LAW
Hawaii Asked to
Pass a New
Bill.
Legislature Has Con-
formed With Federal
Statute.
General Oliver Sends a Circular
Letter TO ~, States and
Territories.

Col Jones, commanding the Hawai-
the War Department copies Of a
militia law which the legislature is
asked to pass in Hawaii. This is with
a view to obtaining uniformity of the
militia law in all states and terrific
ries of the union.
The proposed law is drawn by Gen.
Robert Shaw Oliver, assistant secre-
tary of war, and does not differ mate
rally from the law now in force in
the islands The new law passed by
the last legislature was framed by
Col. Jones from copy of the Dick
military bill, and it is not believed
that the legislature will need to make
drawn by Secretary Oliver were also
sent to Governor Dole.
In a circular accompanying the
copies of the proposed military code,
Acting Secretary Oliver explains it's
purposes as follows:
'In view of the fact that the pro-
visions of section of the Act to pro-
mote the efficiency of the militia and
for other purposes approved Janu-
ary 21, 1903, which contemplates that
the organization, armament and dis
cipline of the organized militia in the
several states and territories and in
the District of Columbia should be the
same as that which is now or may
hereafter be prescribed for the regular
and volunteer army of the United
| States, within five years from the date
| of approval of that act, it is highly
| desirable that the military laws of the
| several states should, in certain fun
| damental respects, meet the require
ments of the anera1 militia law in
| respect to the organization of their
several military establishments.
| with this idea in view the follow
| ing outline of a general military law
| is suggested as covering the most i'm
| portant points in relation to these
| questions, the fundamental principles
being embodied in the draft, to which
| such additions and notifications
| should be made as will be calculated
| to fit the varying and peculiar condi-
| tions of each state. Certain sections
| are given in full, as being of especial
| Importance and which 1T would seem
best should be adopted by all states
! alike, if they should meet their views
| 1t is distinctly to be understood, how
| ever, that this outline of the law is
| in the nature of a suggestion merely
| for the consideration of the various
| states as being the first step toward
| reaching the end desired in bringing
| the general organization and admin
| istratfon of the organized militia in
| the several states into substantial har-
mony with that of the army in so far
as it is practicable to do so.
THE draft which is inclosed en-
| bodies provisions which have been tax
en- from the military laws of several
| states and which represent their work
| ing experience in thaM regard during
very considerable periods of zine;
they have been selected with great
care and it is believed that all OF the
| sections submitted will meet the test
| of practical experience. 1t is conceded
| that the needs of no two states in
| respect to military legislation are pre-.
| cistly the same, some codes being
much more comprehensive than 9TH
| ers, but the general outline which is
| presented is believed to be sufficient.
| ly comprehensive to meet the needs
of individual states in respect to ar
| efficient military code. 1t need hardly
i be said that when numbers, ouanti
4 ties, or money amounts are mention
ed in the draft, they are to be regarded
as suggestions merely, and are sub
ject to modification in accordance
with the needs of local administra
tion.''