The Washington times., 1905-02-12
GUARD INSPECTION
IS NOW At END
Seems to Have Been Quite
Satisfactory to Men.
M0RRELL ORGANIZATION BILL
W&s Drafted at Headquarters OF Local
MiEtia-WouId Benefit the
Citizen Soidiery.

went through the annual inspection and
the officers and men are not sorry that
the trying ceremony is done with for a
year. The larger portion of the Guard
has yet to pass under the scrutiny of
the inspector, but if the program map
ped out some months ago by Adjutant
General Lloyd NJ. Brett. the inspection
of the brigs4de of mfiitiamen viii be con-
cluded next Thursday evening, when the
First Separate Battalion Of citfzen-soi-
diers and its quarters are looked over.
Judging from the comment heard
around the a-nsory and National Guard
headquarters this inspection which has
proved a saecessfui one thus far and
has amply aftested to the efficiency OF
the local Guard. will show marked
increase in the attendance.
Basis of Marking.
The commands are marked with per-
centage which depends upon the num-
Der of men in line and their appearance
as well as that of their quarters. Some
of the marks were extremely low last
year, anu 100 per cent was given to
less than half a dozen commands.
Adiutant General Brett aroused the in
terest and enthusiasm of the men long
ago, and il is believed the highest mark
will be chalked up to more companies
this year.
a
Guard conform with the regular army,
officers of the organization and their
friends arc straining every nerve TO pro-
cure the aassage of the Morren bill,
which was introduced in Congress sew
eraI days ago The bill calls for the re-
organization of the Guard on widely diff |
ferent lines and bids fair to be passed
at this session of Congress. Ia the /
House several days ago it was favorabiy |
reported and it is not anticipated that |
any difficulty will be experienced in get |
ting the measure through the senate
Bill Drafted Here.
Coi. Brett says the Morrell bill was |
drafted by the headquarters staff OF the |
local militia which is one Of the most |
efficient in the country and ranks next
to the regular army. The officers after |
drawing up the measure turned 1t over |
to General Efarries, who had it forward |
ed to the War Department where it was |
promptly approved and sent 1t to Con- /
gress.
The principal object of the bill is to |
make the National Guard Of the District |
as efficient as the regular army SO that |
in case of an emergency the brigade can /
be used the - 'f''ff@ff STATES army
troops.
Another c1..ss effect |
more than sn Sd ne local |
Guard -wouf5 the Of T
fee of rife |
In the is no
such thing o2s tai ana |
general ins tee, OF /
battalion a lie rank |
of FIRST lientenat4ts Nor |
.rer bill go into effect Major James E. |
Bell. inspector general of rifle practice. |
one of the most competent instructors
in the use of firearms and a better |
handler OF the rife, would lose his po- |
sition on General Harries' staff. but 1t |
IS believed that the commanding .ofncer |
would find another position Tor him, as |
there is room on the staff TOR one or |
more officers.
Places for the Others.
The regirnental and battalion inspec- /
tors would doubtless be, given commaEst-tl !
of companies which would be organized |
after they were iegisiated out of OF /
dce. In the case of the battalion quar-
ternasters who are first iieutenants. /
the change would be that they would |
act as conrnissaries as well as quarter |
masters and have the rank of second |
leutenants as in the regular army.
Colonel Brett specified in the bill just |
presented 10 Congress that in case of |
glot or war the National Guardsmen !
would receive three times the regular /
pay that enlisted men IN the United |
States army receive. 1t was pointed !
out that it would hardly be fair TO |
require citizen soldiers TO leave their
places OF enpio.yymentt y !. where vi re- dhey a re
and go into the field for stipend OF
Si3 month.
An Engineer Company.
new section inserted in the bill fol-
lows:
Section TO- That the engineer com
pany shall consist OF one captain. two
first ieutenants. one second lieutenant.
one first sergeant, one quartermaster
sergeant, with the rank, pay and allow
arce of sergeant; eight sergeants tent
corporals, two musicians, two cooks,
tkfrty-eight frst-class and thirty-eight
seeond-class privates: Provided. That !
the commanding general may, in his
discretion, increase the number of ser
geants in the company to twelve the
number OF corporais to eighteen, the |
number OF. hrst-class privates to sixty
four and the number of second class
priyates TO sixty-four.
The only other amendment consists of
the addition 10 the section that reads
THAT nothing herein contained shall be
held TO change or otherwise interfere
with the dates Of existing commissions
OF officers of the National Guard of the
District Of Columbia, Of the words --or
with the Organization of the naval bat
talon thereof
MI Mo-relPs Views.
Ia favorabIy reporting the bill and
unanimously recommending it's passage
the House. Committee on Militia
through Chairman Morrell. said: /.
This measure is made necessary by {
the enactment of the law to promote
the efficiency of the militia.' approved
January II. 1903
''1'he statute in question requires that
within FIVE years from the date of its
approval there shall be such changes in
the organization. armament. and disei-
pltne OF the organized militia Of the sey-
erai States and Territories and of the
District OF Columbia as will bring them
into substantial harmony with the or
ganszation,~ armament, and discipline
of the regular and volunteer army OF