Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-22
THE DISTRICT MILITIA
REPORT ON THE REoRGANIzA-
TON BILL.
Has Unanimous Support Of the House
Committee on the Militia-speedy
Action Desirable.

Representative Morrelf, chairman of the
House committee ON the militia, today sub
mitted in the House report on the Dill
introduced by him for the reorganization
of the militia Of the District of Columbia
The report recommends that the bill be
passed, saying it has the unanimous sup
port OF the committee. The measure has
been placed on the House calendar Tor
consideration at any time that unanimous
consent can be obtained. 1t is not be-
lieved this will be difficult, as the provls-
ions of the bill are not such as to call forth
political or personal opposition The re-
port filed by General Morrell states:
This measure is made necessary by the
enactment of the law to provide the eff
cheney OF the militia approved January Il,
1908.
1.-The statute in question requires that
within five years from the date of its APP
prevail there shall be such changes in the
organization armament and discipline OF
the organized militia of the several states
and territories and of the District of Co
lumbia as will bring them into substantial
harmony with the organization, armament
and discipline of the regular and volunteer
army of the United States.
ITO assist in the necessary reforms the
War Department, under date of October g.
1903, issued a circular in which were set
forth the fundamental principles essential to
compliance with the law. Those principles
have been carefully regarded in the con-
struction of this bill; many of these sections
use the precise language of the department.
and where there is necessary divergence
from the letter there is absolute accord with
the spirit.
Speedy Action Desirable.
Speedy action Is extremely desirable
because the authorities desire to have the
reorganization go into effect with the
opening of the next fiscal year.
Sections Except as to provisos), 4.
5, 6, rs, 8, 10, II, r. 10, IA, Is, 16, II, Is,
10, % and "a are as nearly as practicable
or locally advisable in the terms OF the
War Departments circular.
THE prOvisos in section give to the
army officer who may be detailed as adj
jutant general of the District of Column
bia militia the pay and allowances beft-
ting his rank, his duties and the personal
and official responsibilities incidental to
such detail at the national capital.
Section 3 provides for four additional
companies of infantry, so that another bat
mustered in If such a procedure is deemed
necessary by the authorities. 1t is not GER
tain that immediate advantage would be
taken of this authority but it seems ad-
visable that there be more of elasticity as
to the number of companies than Is now
possible. Provision is also made for pro-
portionate representation of coast artillery,
field artillery, cavalry, signal corps, hospi-
tai corps and bands.
Sections 20 and u are in accord with the
military codes of states seriously interested
in National Guard work and are designed
to give force and effect to existing law and
to this bill.
Section % does not differ materially
from similar law in National Guard states.
The language of the section is that OF the
Massachusetts, code.
Section Is remedies aninadvertent defect
in the language of the Act to promote the
efficiency of the militia. approved January
81, 1903 ana permits the Secretary OF war
to detail an officer On the retired list OF the
army to duty with the District of Columbia
militia.
Paymaster General Added.
Section &c adds to the general staff of
the militia a paymaster general with the
rank of major. This officer will have only
administrative duties, and will not as pay
master general, be part of the field force.
The militia staff has no place in this Dill;
for service in the field 1t has been super
seeded by the staff provided for In section
9 A paymaster general is needed to COM
plete the militia headquarters stan, winch
organization approximates the staH or Inc
governor of a state, and is provided Tor IN
the act of which this Is amendatory.
Section q will permit officers of the bri-
grade and who are herein provided Tor TO
retain the commissions they now nave;
Without this section all National Guard
commissions might be held to expire June
30 1904. Officers prize the commission
evidence of long service, and should not be
j deprived thereof.