Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10

iatIons of the United States Army
! sections Z3a and 23b are necessary
| provisions in use in most Of the states
| X X
sections 25 and 20 follow as closely as
possible the practices in the regular serv-
| ice.
Section ga provides for a reserve corps
| for the National Guard of the District of
Columbia
General Orders, No. g. War DEPART
ment, current series, establishes the min
mum number of enlisted men for each
organization in time of peace. The bill
now before the House establishes the
bodies" AZ - s,e ~ s"1ii
The reserve corps, made up of officers
and men who have qualified for war,
supplies the deficiency in strength exist
ing In regiment at the outbreak of war
ana goes away with the necessity of fill
r lug ne companies to war strength with
In addition, such body enables men tn
continue their connections with their for
mer mHitary commands when their bust
them to perform full military duty.
Ihis Dill as reported from the commit
zee does not In any way change or other
wise interfere with the existing commits
SONS or omcers OF the National Guard
OF the District Of Columbia other than
when IT becomes absolutely necessary
TO abolish an Office to conform to the or
ganization as prescribed for the regular
service.
submitted with the report is a letter from
the Judge advocate general of the United
states army recommending the bill. The
letter Is addressed to Chairman MorrelI and
follows:
II beg to acknowledge receipt of your
nf tho
Of the bill submitted, with view to modify.
to some extent. the existing statutes which
regulate the local militia establishment.
The provisions Of the Constitution in re-
ployment Of the militia apportion certain
duties and responsibilities in connection
with that force between the state and fed
eral governments. Congress is authorized
to provide for organizing, arming and dis
ciplining the militia. and for governing such
part of them as may be employed in the
service OF the United States but the power
Is reserved to the respective states of ap-
pointing the officers and training the militia
according to discipline prescribed by Con-
gress.
What is known. as the Dick bill repre-
sents the legislative policy of Congress In
respect to such authority over the militia
as Is vested in it In the Constitution, and
its efficiency. preceded that the states in
port of the militia with a view to increase
Its efficiency, provided that the states In
the conduct of their training shall conform
to certain conditions which are embodied in
that enactment.
.'The Dick bill does not attempt to pro-
vide for the entire support of the militia;
1t simply furnishes a certain amount OF aid
to assist in defraying the expenses of en-
campments and In defraying the expenses
Of its practical instruction. leaving to the |
states the chief burden Of its support For
that reason every state has upon Its statute
Its organised militia. and each state in its
annual acts Of appropriation makes provi- |
sion for Its support. In the District OF
for that reason It 10 necessary that Con-
gress should perform toward the organised
militia of the District the same functions |
that each state legislature performs in re-
the field that is covered by the present law |
regulating the organization, ETC., OF the
District militia.
-
'srhe existing law was prepared by Gen. |
Ordway In the act Of March 1. 1889. That |
enactment was a good one, was well adapt |
ed to Its purposes, and has stood the test |
of practical experience. Some defects have |
been discovered. however, which 1t is the |
purpose of the inclosed bill to remedy.
II think have made it clear that the |
Dick bill Is not sufficient standing alone, |
to regulate the organization and admins |
tration Of the District militia. and that |
some additional legislation IL necessary |
to the militia acts which are /
In force In the several states.
AS to the last clause of your letter, 1t Is
proper to say that section 8 Of the Dick bill
contains the requirement that the organi- I
nation of the militia of the several states
shall within five years be brought into con-
formity with that existing in the regular
army. In the execution Of that enactment |
Congress becomes charged with the duty
Of the National Guard in the District OF \
as are necessary to make 1t con-
form to that OF the regular army, just as
the state legislatures are expected within
tbc peri06 NJ ~ IN ana ~ Sfot ,, 1