Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17

49, HE appointment o. CAPT. Joseph +.
Hodgson, Company II. LIST Regiment.
to the vacant majority in the LIST
u Regiment has been received with
general satisfaction throughout the
guard Capt. Hodgson became a member OF
the brigade In 1898. after having served as
a second lieutenant In Company E of the
High School Cadet Regiment He enlisted
as a private in Company b of the 9Th Bat
talon. When the LIST Distric- Volunteer IN
fantry was organized he enlisted in Conn
pany G of that regiment as a private and
was shortly afterward made corporal in
which grade he served with the regiment In
Cuba. In 1889 he was made sergeant major
of the 4th Battalion, N. G. d. e.. and short
ly thereafter organized a company which
was mustered into the brigade as Company
d, I'd Battalion.
The designation was changed two years
ago to Company II. LIST Regiment. Capt.
Hodgson has made a satisfactory record as
company commander and when Col.
Ouraud requested the members of the I'd
Battalion to recommend some one for the
command of the battalion he was unani-
mously chosen Gen. HarTies will Toward
Capt. Hodgson's nomination TO the Presi-
dent. and 1t is probable that his commission
as major Will be signed within few days.
1t is understood that change Will be
made in the battalion staff. The members
of the staff will present their designations
to the new commander, as a matter or
course. but it is understood that he will re-
tain all the officers in the positions they
have heretofore occupied.
Need of Legislation.
The dawning of new era In national
guard work throughout the country is sup
posed to have followed the passage of the
so-called Dick bill. giving national aid to
Iii lnl hat
many things should be done in the national
guard which have not been done In the or
ganization of the District militiamen, be-
cause the Dick bill did not repeal the or
ganic act of the District guard, and until
the necessary changes can be made In that
law the progress of the District guards1nen
is impeded. The correction OF the error Is
q simple matter that will only cost Con-
sress and the government the time II takes
to put the bill before the national 1egisla-
tive houses and pass 1t. No appropriation
Is called for, nor is the expenditure OF
money in any way provided. Yet the bill
has been before Congress for two sessions;
has been favorably reported by the mill
tary and militia committees of BOTH has
been favorably reported by the Secretary
of War, the assistant secretary of war. the
chief of staff of the army, the various d.
visions of the general staff OF the army,
the District Commissioners and every off1-
Ger of the government to whom 1t could be
sent for examination. No reason Is given
for the QeIuy III making iIe OH d law III
the meantime the organization suffers and
does not receive the benefits that have come
to every other national guard organization
in the country.
Col Britton's Work.
In a recent publication in Brooklyn Col.
Edward e. Britton. assistant adjutant gen
eral of the ID Brigade of the National
Guard of New York, sums up the benefits
that have been derived from the Dick bill
by state organizations. Col. Britton Is
known as one of the closest students OF
military affairs and ablest militia officers IN
the country.
He was one of the most ardent advo-
Gates of the Dick bill before its passage,
and is the authority of many books and
papers on military matters that are ac-
cepted as authorities on the questions with
which they deal. He has observed the ef-
feet of the Dick bill, and has found that
the guard has fiourished under. the new
measure in spite of the croakings OF some
that the law would deal the force bad