The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-07-20
STATE MILITARY FORCES.
ADJUTANT-GBNERAL COLE CON-
 MENTS ON CONDITIONS.
Innovations of the Year--An Important Change in the Laws as to the NOmi-

nation and Appointment of Officers, Etc.
 Adjutant-GeneraI George M. Cole, in Iris annual report to Govtrnor Roberts for the year ending September 30, 1905, urges the necessity of providing at once suitable quarters for the compa- nies of the Connecticut National Guard quartered in this city. He says that the present condition of the arse- nal and armory is, to say the least, re- grettable, and of no credit to the state. He adds that it is waste of money to repair the buildings, and he hopes that the incoming legislature will find it possible to provide this much needed building.
 AN IMPORTANT CHANGE.
 The adjutant-general speaks at length of the innovation introduced in the organized militia of the state dur ing the past year; first very impor- l tant change was made in the laws re- lating to the nomination and appoint ment of officers. What under the old law, he says, was great injustice and 1 hardship to many has been removed. Tn commenting upon this feature the report says:
 Formerly an appointment was made to fill vacancies, subject to eXamlna- tion, the officer being appointed acted in the office and was required to fur ntsh himself with a complete uniform and equipment and in many cases failed to pass the examining board land was discharged at great loss financially and otherwise to himself This is changed. Under the present law an officer of the grade of second | lieutenant, or above, who is nomina- ted to fill vacancy, remains in the grade held by him at that time, until he has passed the examining board, or by his failing to do so, shows his lack of appreciation of, and interest in the | service, which requires of him that he eb a student and progressive. In the case of company officers 1t is now re- | quired that all nominations to the of- 1 flee of second lieutenant must be made from the eligible list. This is a long step in the right direction, both for the commissioned personnel and the en- listed man. On application, properly indorsed and approved, any enlisted man, or civilian, can go before the ex- amining board and demonstrate his | fitness or otherwise for the position, and if successfully passing the board, he receives a certificate, which places him on the eligible list for a period of one year, and it, from present indica- tions, is prized by the receiver, and, again, it is an incentive to study, which is more necessary, I think, in the military than any other branch of the public service. The art of war is progressive science, and an officer to be of any value must keep up the study of his profession. When nom- ination is made for second lieutenant by a company from the eligible list the nominee having passed his examina- tion Is at once commissioned and en- ! ters upon his duties, and no further nomination Is required for promotion in the company, as promotion Is by seniority up to captain, after passing the examinations required by law. This goes away in 50 far as Is possible, or advisable, at the present time, with that unfortunate condition which has always existed in the state militia, the election of officers. A wise provision, however, is made which will obviate the perpetuation of a mistake The company has the power to protest, by two-thirds majority, if they so choose, against the promotion of an officer by seniority,
 ANOTHER INNOVATION.
 Another innovation introduced this year was the sending of the brigade into camp by regiment, and the prac- tice marches of the artillery and cav airy. This received the unanimous ap- proval of all interested officers, and they are much gratifed over the op- portunlties offered them, and the re- suits attained In carrying out exer- cises which could not properly be done at brigade encampment. It was a working camp, and while do not be- | lieve that results have shown the dis dom of, for the present at least, alter hating brigade and regimental camp
 The report also speaks of the rifle ranges that have been esta blished and of the need of such institutions in or- der that the members of the state may improve themselves in that important branch of warfare.
 TOTAL STRENGTH. The total strength of the National Guard at the date of the report was 3,041 officers and enlisted en. The state rifle match at Sea Girt, N. J., is l deal with, as is also the various pa- Tades, including the funeral of General Joseph R. Hawley, which the militia participated in.
 EXPENSES.
 The expenses of the National Guard for the year amounted to $t6l, ,41S.S4, di- vided as follows: Printing. stationary and office expenses connected with the l ladjutant-general's office, $4,t0O.09; quartermaster generals bureau, ST. 911.95; bureau of pay, $60,592.24; bu- reau of subsistence, $5s541,09; comp troller of salaries, sundries, etc, S1S,- 27s.47.
 The total military enrolment was 120,268, of whom 112,662 were liable for duty in case of war. The total number exempt for legal causes was S3,2S7 leaving the number liable for commit