The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-01

company organization under this act and that recommended by the War College Board in it's interpretation of the Militia Act. Namely:
 | ization and as a matter of practice ser wants are hired for such duty.
 Infantry companies have no musicians nor artificer.
 Cavalry troops have only four duty ser geants and one trumpeter, no farriers, saddler nor wagoner, but have one vet erinary surgeon and one guidon sergeant.
 Batteries tall of field battery) have no stable sergeant, nor artificers, only one musician (called trumpeter), only four duty sergeants and eight corporals: but have one veterinary and one guidon ser geant.
 There is a general failure to conform even to the imperfect organization au- thorized by State law most organizations missioned officers authorized. whiie in- fantry companies have musicians. though they are not contemplated by law.
 Support of Military.
 The State generously pays to each or- ganization which musters twenty-five Fmen once a month the sum of $2O0. annu- ally, payable quarterly. It also author izes County Commissioners to pay each organization $25 monthly. Many counties
  cities pay a similar sum for the main tenance of organizations within their Him. it's. Moreover, some cities have assigned certain portions of their municipal build ings as quarters for the National Guard, notably, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mo bile, Tuscaloosa, Florence.
 The State has appropriated for many years money to pay the expenses of plac- ing the National Guard in camp for one week. The amount for 1903, 1904. 1905 and 1906 IS $l5,000 each year. Out of this the transportation is first paid by the Quar- termaster General. the balance being di- vided among the three regiments, the ar tillery and cavalry. according to the strength in camp. Regiments may buy rations. hire horses, buy forage. mess equipment and dishes, or pay any camp | expenses from their share. The State pays the expenses of the Adjutant Gen erals office and actual travelling expenses of all officers and men on duty. If called into active service. officers receise half | and enlisted men double the pay of oili- | cers and men of their grade in the reg ular army for the time So in service.
 Bonds are prescribed from company commanders for the safe keeping of pub lie property, but several officers were found who had given no such bond, and l there has yet to be recorded any suit to recover on such bond. though many or l them.
 A weak feature of the law is that pro- 1 viding for the election of officers and l limiting their term to three years Bet ter results would be had If an examina- 1 ton were prescribed, even after election, and if tenure of office were for good Le- havior.
 No man unfit for office would strive | for election, If he knew that successful passage of an examination were a nec- essary condition precedent to appoint ment.
 The law should enable the Governor to order an officer before a board to deter mine his efficiency. and to discharge him | whenever such board so recommended. At present the Colonel of one Regiment is relieved from command, and has been | for more than a year, though never tried or examined: the Governor seems pow erless to discharge him. and he is con testing in the courts the Governors rights | to relieve him of his command. Mean while the Regiment suffers through the Quarrels of his friends and enemies. The oath of enlistment does not require support of the Constitution of the United States, but the oath required of officers in accepting commissions does. Compa- nies may prescribe their own by-laws, which are effective after approval by the Adjutant General Some companies have | support of the Constitution of the United States bat this promise Is not made Gn- der oath. nor is 1t in the enlistment.
 Discharge and Discipline.
 The code prescribes the method of dis charge from the service, yet fin many companies 1t is customary for company commanders to drop from their rolls the names of men who have failed to attend drill for some time, or who have left the | county or State with without leave. | It is rare to hear of a written discharge being given at the expiration of a mans service. or when so dropped. Sometimes men continue to drill and serve with an organization after the expiration of thcr service. without being enlisted for another term. These men all consider themselves properly enlisted and they would no doubt | serve if called out, though of course not 1 legally bound to service.
 | The discipline of the United States Army Is adopted bodily. but 1t is doubted If this is sufficiently definite to stand the | scrutiny of courts It would be better to define specifically all military crimes and misdemeanors by statute, and prescribe | their punishment.
 General, (for trial of offlcers). regiment al, summary and company court martidls are authorized; the last three for trial of enlisted men only. The limits of punish ment are for the general court dismissal,
 
 the county jail; regimental court, dishon- orable discharge. me of $1O0 and sixty 1 days confinement; summary court, fine of $25 and six days confinement; company court, fine of $25 and ten days conlne- l ment
 The weakness of this law consists in that most of the companies are alone, that their courts martial include enlisted men in the membership. who may become | defendants before the same court and that no sentence becomes effective until approved by the Governor. who then Cr- ders execution by the sheriff. This re- quires too much correspondence and time for minor offenses such as absence from drill. and the assembling of court of officers involves expense.
 1 The summary court, as it exists in the army. should be adopted, the only ap- proval being that of the senior officer at the station, on which the sheriff should be directed to arrest the delinquent or | levy upon his personal property to pay the fine
 | The code wisely provides that members of the National Guard are exempt from payment O. the poll tax, road tax, street tax, and from service on a jury. l Unusual powers are given a command ing officer when in active service. such as closing saloons, stores where arms are sold, and arresting disor1erly citizens about their camps.
 Uniform of Soldiers. By this code the uniform is made to con . form in style and material to that of the