The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-12-24
STATES GUARD
Adjutant- General R. Heber
Breintnall Submits His
Report to the Gov
ernor.
URGES REVISION OF STATUTES
Passage Of the Military Bill
That Failed Last Year
Recommended.
URGES REVISION or STATUTES
special 10 "The Jersey city Newa.'o

Special TO ''The Jersey City News.'')
TRENTON, Dec. %, 1904. .-Adjutant-
General R. Herber Breintnan has sub
mitted the annual report of his depart
ment to Governor Murphy, accompanied
by the reports of the various departments
of the Nafional Guard and Naval Re
serves of New Jersey. These reports
1 give detailed history of the workings
of the organizations during the year, and
make variety of suggestions for their
further betternent
Conspicuous among the recommended
tions made by General Breintnall is the
enactment of the law which failed last
winter, revising the statutes relating to
the State militia with view of making
1T conform as nearly as possible to the or
ganization, armament and discipline of
| the regular army. The bill aroused op-
| position when it appeared in the House,
members of the Guard being divided in
their views concerning it's irability
The fate of the bill was a surprise to
| General Breintnal, and in his comments
upon the matter he says:
This revision was prepared by de-
| tail of prominent and experienced mill
1 II. =
tary men connected with our National
Guard. The amended code was not
| serious change from the then existing
law, but was drafted with view to meet
| the demands of advanced military organ
ization and discipline. But little, if any,
| opposition to the revised code was antici-
pated, but to the surprise of my military
associates and myself, the Leg
islature failed to favorably consider the
passage of the bill, and it was defeated.
"Other States have amended their
laws to meet the requirement of the re-
cent act of Congress in more radical
manner than in this prepared bill, which
has received the approval of their law
making bodies. The officers and men II
our National Guard in general az
pleased with any modern requirement as
an Improvement on antiquated military
laws, when such amendments bring them
in closer touch with the regulations of
the regular army. Advanced conditions
are acceptable and looked for in profess
sions, trade, etc, then why not improve
ment in military government and disci-
pline?
"a compliance with the act of Con
gross brings financial support from the
general government for supplies and SER
vices Of our State troops in many ways,
thus relieving the State treasury of
many expenses that must now be provid-
ed for by our statute laws.
when Congress passed the act re-
ferred to, there was a general approval
Of military authorities everywhere and
it was the outcome of numerous confer
ences of the best military authorities in
the States, who well knew Of the needed
amendments to the existing antiquated
and obsolete laws of Congress for the
government of the militia of the States
"A new code containing the general
provisions and amendments of the bill
above referred to will be prepared for
presentation at the next session of the
Legislature with a hope that it will be
we'll and more favorably received"
Commenting upon the cost ito officers of
the National Guard, General Breintnall
says:
The several organizations Of the Ma
tional Guard and Naval Reserve are I'M
der the command of competent and faith
ful officers we'll qualified to instruct and
direct the discharge of any duty required
of them. Many competent and well-in-
formed enlisted men are now in the ranks
of our National Guard and Naval Re
serve, as we'll as men of character and in
telligenee in civil life with a knowledge
of military affairs whose associations in
an Official relation with the military would
lend dignity and be active factors in