The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-15
ABOUT The DICK BILL
NAL WILLIAMSON CALLED ON SEC
RETARY ROOT.
SERVICE OF THE TROOPS.
POINT ON WHICH THE SAVAN-
NAHIANS WANTED LIGHT.

Question That Militia of One State
Might be Called on for Service in
Another Was Submitted to the Sec
retarys of War--He Replied That
the Dick Bill Did Not Change the
status of the state Troops as to
S41, 900 Has Been Sent.
(By r. M. Larner.)
Washington, May 14.-Maj. w. w.
williamson of Savannah arrived here
this morning from Atlanta to confer
with the Secretary of War relative to
certain provisions in the Dick militia
bill. Maj Williamson is fresh from a
consultation with Gov. Terrell relative
TO the reorganization of the national
guard in accordance with the provision
of the Dick bill. There are several pro-
visions in the bill which require fur
Their explanation or construction by the
Secretary of War
Mai Williamson presented a formal
statement on the subject to the Secre-
tary of War this morning, and in adj
dition had a personal interview with
him on the subject. One of the ques-
tons under consideration relates to the
transfer of the national guard from one
state to another, to do police duty in
case of an emergency.
Want a Legal Construction.
There is considerable objection from
a legal point of view with this pro-
vision in the bill. Maj. Williamson. at
the instance of many of the most en-
thusiastic members of the Georgia
State Troops, desires the Secretary to
give a technical and legal construction
of that feature of the bill, so as to rem
der it less Objectionable to some other
members of the national guard VINO OBJ
iect to being sent into other states to
do police duty.
The Secretary of War and AdJutant
General Corbin agree that the point
raised by Mai Williamson is in the
nature of a hypothetical case which
has not yet arisen, and Whlch they
sincerely trust may never arise. How
ever in view of the uncertainty IN
the minds of some of the Georgia mill
tiamen and their friends the Secretary
of War will give the matter careful
consideration and reply by letter 10
Gov. Terrell.
secretary ROOI lHlOIIliC0 NhoJ'
hanson that the Dick law did not
change the status of the militiamen in
respect to any service that they might
be called upon to perform. The duties
and control of the militiamen. he SAID,
were defined by the constitution, and
remained as they had for more than 100
years,
AS TO the suppression of instructions
and disturbances by the United states
government in which the army or the
United States would be necessary, or
course the regular army would be en-
ployed. The secretary did not care,
he said, to surmise beyond that point
or discuss what might happen in the
event the regular army was not sutti-
cient to meet any emergency which
might arise.
800 for Encampments.
Adj. Gen Corbin informed Maj. Will
hanson that the Secretary of War to-
day notified Gov. Terrell that the SAL
600 due the state of Georgia in con-
nection with it's national guard en-
campment has been forwarded to him
to assist in providing regular en-
campment for the state troops. MAJ.
Williamson says there are several sites
under consideration but no selection
has yet been decided upon. BY making
Immediately available the $4l,OOO, the
secretary of war has strengthened the
hand of Gov Terrell, who desires that
the encampment be established as ear
ly as practicable
Mai Williamson took the afternoon
train for New York, and expects to
be back here next Monday, when ne
will have a further consultation with
the Secretary Of War on the subject of
the national guard in Georgia.