The San Francisco call., 1907-01-07
Appropriations for Guards
to Be Strongly Advocated
Recently Formed Association Makes
Ready for Legislative Battle


Commissioned officers of the State Is
Hooking forward to a busy time at Sac
rarnento during the session of the Leg
islature. 1t will support the demand for
the appropriation as submitted by the
State Controllers Office and will, by ar
/ gument before the military committees
of the Senate and House. endeavor to
show that the appropriations asked for
are not only not excessive but abso-
lutely necessary to carry on the organi-
zation for the next two years.
I'VE shall impress upon the minds of
the committees and individual members
of the Legislature" said General Kos
/ ter. president Of the association, last
week. that in addition to the amount
Of the loans by the banks to pay the
guardsmen who served during the
emergency call, the appropriations
asked for should not be reduced, and
4 if they are like the man from Missouri,
we will show them why"
The general stated further that the
association would be continued and
would hold sessions frequently for the
purpose of discussing matters for the
best interests of the organization, and
that if a point were lost in one legis-
lative campaign the association would
not be discouraged, but would renew
the fight and keep 1t up until the end
desired will have been attained.
AS vet no one has been selected for
the Office Of secretary of the new asso-
citation, for the reason that the right
man for the position has not been dis
covered. 1t is desired to secure a man
who has national guard knowledge, is
thoroughly acquainted with the needs
of the State soldiery to make it efficient,
who is possessed of sufficient tact to
present these needs to the legislators,
x.vHo h lie bo1a 70,
1 several months to the cause.
Brigadier General John A. Roster,
who was confined to his home for near
I ly ten days by illness, has recovered
and is again at the brigade headQuart-
ers of the n. @. C.
SUGGESTIONS ARE WANTED
A circular has been sent to every
! commissioned officer in the State call
! ing his attention to the appointment
/ of a special committee on revision of
the laws affecting the National Guard
and asking that each send to the COM
mittee, which is composed of Colonel
Kelly of the First Infantry, Captain
Bauer of the Naval Militia and Major
Keessling of the First Battalion of
Coast Artillery, any or all suggestions
each thinks would improve the serv-
! ice These suggestions will be dis
cussed by the committee and present
/ ed to the aw-makers for their ap-
proval
One of the objects for which Briga-
| dier General Lauck went to Washing
ton. D. c., recently, was to secure pay
ment of the claims of the California
volunteers for the back pay due them
for services in the Spanish-American
War. This applied to such as did not
receive their back pay in 1902. The
original claim was for S16,224.77. This
was scaled down by the auditor of the
War Department to $S669.SS, but upon
the showing made by the adjutant of
this State, who claimed that the men
were entitled to every dollar claimed,
the decision of the auditor was re-
versed and all but $602.34 was allowed.
making a sum of $15,622.43. Checks
against this amount to the number of
/ 755 have been issued and will be
mailed to those entitled to receive
1 them.
General Lauck has furnished addi-
/ tional evidence in the matter of held
up claims for s602.34 and hopes to be
able to satisfy the War Department of
/ the business of them.
WORK OF INSPECTOR
Major Thomas Wilhelm, U. S. A. Gre
tired), inspector for the United States
/ War Department and for the State,
\ will commence his work for the cur
rent year at the muster and inspection
of the First Company of the Signal
Corps at Los Angeles and will continue
until April s, when the last to be mus
tered and inspected will be Company
! A, Veteran Reserves. in Oakland.
There has been great deal of
preparation in every direction for the
coming of the major. and each organ
ization has been brushing UP and put
/ ting things in order for the night
/ of inspection, for it is understood that
/ of
inspection will depend the future of
the separate organizations.
Guardsmen have been discussing the
question whether the present method
/ of inspection is the one that is pro-
/ ductive of information as to the true
condition of the companies. Under the
| present system each body is given a
! long advance notice of the coming
of the inspector. and in that way the
commanders have an opportunity to
make a showing on a particular night
assigned. and on the high rating at
tained on that night the standing of
the organization is based for the al
lotment which the United States Gov
ernment makes to the State for thsr
guard. 81
NEED BETTER SYSTEM
1t is claimed that one showing does
not make company of guardsmen,
any more than one swallow makes a
summer, but that the basis of stand
ing ought to be upon the showing
made at the muster and inspection by
the representative of the War Depart
ment and upon the report of at least
two surprise visits by the brigade
inspector, one before and the other
after the governmental inspection.
Two of these would show the COM
panies when they have not FURNISHED
UP for a special occasion. and 1t is
claimed that If that We're the rule
true average would be attained.
Major Francis V. Keessling. brigade
INSPECTOR of the First Brigade, has
gone East on a business trip.
Captain Peckham of Company II,
First infantry, has rendered his resig-
nation as commander of the company,
and the same will be accepted.
Now that the holidays are over and
the month of rest, December. has
passed. the several companies of the
First have returned TO work.
Company E. Captain Wehser. held a
company meeting last week. which
was we'll attended, and at the next
meeting the company will get out on
the street for drill.
coon SHOWING MADE