Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-21
TO OBTAIN HARMONY
GEN. OLIVER'S DRAFT OF A GEN
ERAL MILITARY LAW.
It Has Been Submitted to the Govern
ors of All the States for Sug-
gestion and Amendment.

Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver acting secre-
tary of war, who is particularly interested
in the organized militia of the country and
their reorganization under the provisions of
the act of Congress, approved, January 81,
1903, has completed the preparation of a
draft of a general military law, which he
has submitted to the consideration of the
governors of all the states and territories
with the view to having the laws of the
states brought more. in harmony with each
other and with the federal statutes than is
the case at present.
In circular accompanying the copies of
the proposed military code, Acting Secre-
tary Oliver explains its purposes as fol-
lows:
In view of the fact that the provisions of
section 3 of the Act to promote the eff
cheney Of the militia and for other pur-
poses approved January q. 1903, which
contemplates that the organizat ton arma-
ment and discipline 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 requirements
of the general militia law in respect to the
organization of their several military estab-
lishments.
With this idea in view the following out
line of a general military law is suggested
as covering the most important points in re-
lation to these questions. the fundamental
principles being embodied in the draft, to
which such additions and modifica tons
should be made Is will be calculated to fit
the varying and peculiar conditions of each
state. Certain sections are given in full. as
being of especial importance and which it
would seem best should be adopted by all
states alike, if they should meet their views.
1t is distinctly to be understood however
that this outline of the law is in the nature
of suggestion merely for the considera ton
of the various states as being the first step
toward rea aching the end desired in bringing
the general organization and administ stration
of the organized militia in the several states
into substantial harmony with that of the
army in so far as it is practicable to do So
THE draft which is inclosed embodies
provisions which have been taken from the
military laws of several states and which
represent their working experience in that
regard during very considerable periods of
time they have been selected with great
care and it is believed that all of the sec
tions submitted will meet the test of prac-
ticai experience. 1t is conceded that the
needs of no two states in respect to military
legisla ton precisely the same, some
codes being much more comprehensive
than others. but the general outline which
is presented is believed to be sufficiently
comprehensive to meet the needs of indivd
ual states in respect to an efficient military
code 1t need hardly be said that when
mentioned III the draft. they are to be re-
garded as suggestions merely, and are sub
ject to modification in accordance with the
reeds of local administration.