The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-16
MILITIA BUREAU BILL
ACT WHICH PROVIDES FOR INNO-
WALTON IN NATIONAL GUARD.
INTERESTS LOCAL MILITARY.
COMPANION MEASURE TO DICK
BILL PENDING IN CONGRESS.

Passage of Dick Bill Means Depie-
ton of the Ranks of National
Guard - So Think SRvannahia ms.
Term of Enlistment VIII be Re-
uuired TO Drill "a Times n Year.
Means REORGANIZATION of the
National Guard - The Governors
Power Under the Measure.
Since the passage of the Dick bill,
the military men of Savannah-in fact,
all over the country-have turned their
attention to the Bureau of Militia Bill,
a measure now pending in Congress,
which. as it's name implies. provides
for the establishment of a bureau,
which will administer the affairs of the
militia, under the direction of the Sec
rotary of War.
The duties of this bureau will be dis
tinct from those of the War Depart
ment in regard to the regular army
the bureau being instituted for the pur-
pose of relieving the department, so
far as possible from the conduct and
direction of affairs which pertain to
the national guard, as reorganized un-
der the conditions of the Dick bill. The
establishment of the bureau would
mean the creation Of many offices, nota-
bly, that Of adjutant general of the mi
lltia, who would be an officer of high
rank. 1t would mean, too, the appoint
ment of numerous other assistants, and
the employment of a large office force.
What the Bill Is.
~ ~
Dick bill, and the passage of the lat
ter measure insured the passage of
the former, on which ii was dependent.
The bureau so constituted would be a
sort of executive board of the War De-
partment for the management of the
militia, where the many details of the
service would. in many instances, be
determined. so that only the approval
of the War Department would be nee
essary.
1t is the opinion of the military men
of the city that the passage of the
Dick bill will mean the temporary
dimunition of the national guard,
since the regulations prescribed are in
many instances identical with those in
force in the regular army, and will not
meet with favor with many who are
now enlisted.
in my opinion" said Maj Coney, in
discussing the matter, "a cancellation
of all enlistments in the militia will be
ordered, and the men required to en-
list for term to be later prescribed.
The term of enlistment, which has
been two years, has recently been re-
duced to one year in Georgia. / think
that the term for enlistment under the
new regulations will be at least two
and probably three years, the idea be-
ing that the government does not
consider that an enlisted man will ac-
quire enough knowledge of military
matters to warrant his enlistment for
only one year.
when Would Il Go Into ERectf
The question which now interests
the military is when the provisions of
the bill will become operative. l do
not think that any general orders will
eminate from the War Department I'M
Ill many of the states have subscribed
to the conditions of the bill. This will
be several months. Though the Legis-
latufes OF number of the states are
now in session. and action may conse-
quently be Immediately taken. the mat
ter Will not probably be taken UP in
Georgia until the Legislature meets
next June
The bill aims more at reorganization
IMAM at the institution of anything rad
said. 1t is intended to define what the
national guard really is, and what its
duties are in active service. OF course
IL is a reorganization, and il will mean
eventually that manv OF the officers
VIII resign their posts, and that there
will be many changes.
"One of the most important provis-
ions, to my mind. is that which regu-
lates the number of drills in which each
company must engage during the year.
Each company is required TO drill TWEEN
ty-rour times year, or an average of
once every two weeks, the year around
In addition to this, each one must have
at least five days practice march or
encampment each year, unless espe-
clalIy excused by the Governor.
Left With the Governor.
Under the generally accepted con-
struction of the bill, the Governor.
should he be called upon to furnish to
the President of the United States a
number of men not equal to that which
constitutes the guard of the state.
may. in his discretion apportion the
number which he furnishes. In other
words, 1t is the Governors right to
nominate from what localities the
troops snail come, and to excuse those
VINO are impelled by home duties to
ask to be excused from service: SO
long as he furnishes the number CALI
ed for by the President. Should the
President call upon the Governor for
the whole guard, of course no excuses
could be entertained by the Governor.
service being obligatory, under the
oath of enlistment which will be re-
CURED of the men,"