Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Troops Will Soon Receive
Semi Annual Payment.
A NEW LIGHT BATTERY
BRIGADE FAVORED BY HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVE
Dick Militia Bill Signed by the Presi-
dent-What the New Law
Provides.
A NEW LIGHT BATTERY

Provides.
Ahe chief interest to the majority of the
District National Guardsmen at present Is
the matter of disbursing the appropriation
for pay of troops for the six months term
of service ended December 81 last. Capt.
Andrew Parker, acting paymaster, who is
now examining the rolls, announces that
payment will be made soon after the 1st
of February. The funds will be disbursed
by check, each guardsman entitled to pay
for his services receiving a check drawn
to his individual order. 1t will require
several days for Capt. Parker to write the
checks. about 900 in number. after the ex-
animation of the pay rolls has been COM
pleted.
There is reason to believe that the ap-
pointment of a new commanding officer of
the Naval Battalion will soon be announced.
The officer of the United States navy to
whom Gen Harries will tender the COM
mand of the Naval Battalion is at present
away from the city, but upon his return
the matter will be closed.
The work of constructing a dock for the
Fern and the Oneida to cover the cost of
which an appropriation of $1,000 is avail
able, will begin just soon as certain legal
questions regarding proper site have been
settled Major Davidge, judge advocate
general. and Major Averill, chief of engi-
neers, are now endeavoring to clear away
the legal distractions.
The organization of battery Of field ar
tillery for the local brigade is assured.
separate armory will be provided for the
battery.
Appropriations for the Brigade.
The bill making appropriations to provide
for the expenses of the government Of the
District of Columbia for the fiscal year
ending June so. 1904, as passed by the
House of Representatives, includes the fol-
lowing provisions relating to the District
militia:
For rent, fuel, light heat, care and repair
Of armories, practice ships. boats. machin-
cry and for telephone service, $4,000. The
appropriation for the current year under
this head is $1S,S25, which. however, in
cluded 5000 for the construction of a dock
for the Fern and the Oneida.
For lockers. furniture and gymnastic APP
paratuS for armorieS, $500.
For printing and stationery, $3.50.
For cleaning and repairing uniforms,
arms and equipments, and contingent eX-
penses, $3.50.
For custodian in charge of United States
property and storerooms. 5000.
For clerk, office of the adjutant general,
s12O.
The foregoing amounts are the same as
are allowed in the current appropriations.
II
This is an increase of $500.
For expenses of rifle practice and matches,
5000. This is the same as was provided
in the current appropriation.
More Money for Camps.
For expenses of camps, instruction, prac-
tice marches and practice cruises, includ-
ing fuel for cruising purposes. $4,000. This
Is an increase of $1,000 over the amount
provided in the current appropriation.
For pay of troops, other than government
employees, to be disbursed under the direc-
ton of the commanding general, SIT 600:
Provided. That members of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia who re-
ceive compensation for their services as
such shall not be held or construed to be
officers of the United States, or persons
holding any place of trust or profit, or
discharging any official function under or
In connection with any executive depart
ment of the Government of the United
States within the provision of section 549S
Of the Revised Statutes of the United
States Provided further. That all moneys
collected on account of deductions made
from the pay of any officer or enlisted
man of the National Guard of the District
of Columbia account of government
property lost or destroyed by such individ-
ual shall be repaid into the United States
treasury to the credit of the officer of the
militia of the District of Columbia who is
accountable to the United States govern
Provided further. That all moneys collect
ed on account of deductions made from the
pay of any officer or enlisted man OF the
National Guard of the District of Column
Ola Tor or on account of any violation of
the regulations governing said National
Guard shall be held by the commanding
general of the militia of the District of
Columbia. who is authorized to expend
such moneys so collected for necessary
clerical and general incidental expenses of
the service, including books or for the
pay of troops, other than government en-
pioyes; and for all moneys so collected and
expended the commanding general shall
make an accounting in like manner as for
the appropriation disbursed for pay of
troops.
Several Changes Made.
The foregoing is the same as in the cur
rent appropriation bill, with the execution
that the words including books are added
to. and the provision that the act to pro-
vide for the organization of the District
militia shall be construed as covering all
days of service which the National Guard.
or any portion thereof, may be ordered to
perform by the commanding general" is
omitted from the bill recently passed nv the
House. 1t was considered unnecessary n
repeat this provision.
For general incidental expenses of the
ent.
Signed by the President.
President Roosevelt last Wednesday ar
tached his signature to the act to promote
the efficiency of the militia. Therefore. the
Dick bill' is now law, and the National
Guard is national in fact as well as In
name. The local brigade from the start
was deeply interested in the passage of the
bill, and the officers and men are congratu-
latfng themselves that ii has been enacted
The new law provides that the militia of
the United States shall be divided into two
classes-the organized militia. to be known
as the National Guard of the state. terri
tory or District of Columbia. or by such
other designations as may be given them by
the laws of the respective states or terri
tories. and the remainder to be known as
the reserve militia.
Inc organization. armament and dis
cipline of the organized militia in the sew
eral states and territories and in the Dis
trlct OF Columbia shall be the same as that
which is now or may hereafter be pre-
scribed for the regular and volunteer ar
mics of the United States, within five wears
from the date of the approval of the ACT
The President of the United States. In time
OF peace, may by order fix the minimum
number of enlisted men in each comnanv-
troop, battery, signal corps, engineer CORPS
and hospital corps.