Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-09
Commander Of the State Militia
Will Have More Direct Con-
troll of Management.
REGULATIONS ARE AMENDED
Believed That Great Good Will be the
Result Of Placing More Responsible
ity on the Commanders and Making
Matters a Little Easier for the Nor
--Des Moines News.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican,
Des Moines, Dec. 9.-The manage
ment of the Iowa National guard will
be from this time more under the d.
rect control of the commander In chief
than ever before. New regulations
have been promulgated, or rather some
important amendments, and these were
the work Of Governor Cummins per-
sonally, after consultation with officers
of the companies, chiefly at the time
of the recent camps in Iowa. The
amendments to the regulations were
referred to in this correspondence sew
eral weeks ago. They go direct to the
control and management Of the men,
and 1t is believed they will result III
great good to the companies. They
are in the direction Of popularizlng
the guard and making 1t somewhat
easier for the men and yet holding
company commanders more to full
accountability. For instance. there Is
this regulation provided, which shows
the general nature of the changes:
"Officers or enlisted men who, after
going into camp, fail to remain during
the full tour of duty then ordered, will
not be entitled to pay for the period
present or transportation for return
to the station, unless a written applt-
cation for leave of absence stating
their reasons therefor is approved by
the company commander. granted by
the regimental commander, and filed
with the adjutant general. The man
ner in which this power is exercised by
the officers named, will be carefully
scrutinized by the commander
chief"
The rule is changed as to examin;l-
ton OF officers who areEre- commissl
ed to get commissions of lower rank
than they have held and they do not
have to pass examination. The men
who we're ordered to headquarters for
examination are allowed pay. There
is a provision for making recruits who
have enlisted within thirty days of
camps, eligible, If they have had prev
ious experience, on the company corn
mander making q proper showing TO
the chief. Governor
Cummins then makes the following
general provision for drill work, sup
erceding other regulations: :.
"Company quarterly reports Will
show the date of each drill held, the
number of officers, sergeants, corpor-
ais. cooks, musicians, and prlvates IN
attendance. the time consumed In drill
bv each person, the number OF officers
on leave and enlisted men on furlouf,h,
the number of officers and enlisted men
absent and excused for that drill only.
Men must not be reported excused un-
less an application has been made for
excuse at or prior to the time the drill
began, and then only when the COM
pany commander can say, upon his
honor as an officer, that the reason as
signed for absence is good and suffi-
cient, having in view the obligations
assumed by enlistment, as compared
with the ordinary duties Of civil life.
"The report will also show the ,ag-
gregate strength Of the company, and
detailed statement Of gains and losses
since last report.
cit is obvious that in times Of peace
the company commander is not only
the most important officer Of the guard
but is required to give more Of his time
without compensation than any other
officer connected with it. He cannot
succeed unless his men will give him
loyal and faithful support, and this
support is nowhere more necessary
than in a persistent attendance upon
the weekly drill.
ITO the end therefore, that the eff
cheney Of the guard may not only be
maintained, but increased, any com
pany whose drill reports during any
year show an average attendance at
drill of less than 65 per centum OF the
average strength Of the company will
be mustered out of the service unless
some extraordinary cause intervenes
to prevent such attendance"
If Marshalltown wants another COM
pany in the Fffty-third regiment the
chance is now open by reason Of the
mastering out OF the Charles City COM
pany. Marshal1town has always been
looked upon with favor by the guard
officials because of its central location
and because of the Soldiers Home be-
ing located there.
There will be no padding of the CEN
sus returns next year. The law under
which the enumeration is to be taken
provides that the executive council has
full authority to secure fair enum-
alton and in case it is found that the
enumeration is unsatisfactory in any
county or portion of county the
council may send men to the county to
do the work at the expense OF that
county. The council has just prepared
and printed little books In which Will
be written by the enumerators tne
name of every person enumerated with
his postoffice address or street MUM
her and each name is numbered to
CORRESPOND to the slip on which his
name appears. The names will not be
received until these books are 'alled
out If there are any errors the coun-
ell IL In a position to correspond direct