The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-02-23
BILL REVISING
MILITARY LAWS
Principal Features of the
Measure That Will Be
introduced.
ARMORlES FOR NATIONAL GUARD
State Military Board Is Given Au-
thoTity to Erect the
Structures.
Attack ON the Reed Chair Industry at
the Ionia Reformatory-M
igan Teachers Want -s---.,
Better Pay, ~

Lansing, Mich, Feb. l0.--The COM
mittee OF Ave commissioned officers OF
the Michigan National Guard which
Aas heeQ working for several weeks
on a bill thoroughly revising the laws
governing the states military estab-
lishment has completed its work The
state military board has gone over the
proposed bill, has made minor amend
ments here ana there, and will have
the measure presented 10 the leglsla-
ture at once. Two OF the principal
features OF the bill provide for state
armorles In the various cities where
companies OF the National Guard are
located and for the payment OF enlist
cd men for attending drills.
Power TO Erect Armories.
The armory section confers upon the
! state military board authority 10 erect
state armorles IN such cities as Il
deems necessary. or TO purchase ar
morles now IN use. The cost OF armo-
ries IL limited 10 $4,000 for single
company. S27 800 per company for
from two 10 four companies, $4,000
per company for regmental armories.
Provisions for the payment OF tho cost
OF these armorlcs will be n bond Issue,
bonds 20 run for n maximum period OF
fifteen years and bear per cent In
terest These bonds are 90 be retired
by the revenue from one-twentieth
Of mill tax during the term OF the
bond issue. The expense OF maintain
| Ing these armories will devolye upon
the companies occupying them, all rev.
enue from rentals for any purpose 70
l 90 into the maintenance fund.
The bill provides FOR paying the en-.
listed men ana officers FOR attending
not more than forty drills per year,
the minimum rate OF compensation be.
ing 20 cents per meeting for prlvatos,
the rate Increasing with the grade OF
/ the soldier Like amounts are TO DO
/ forfeited for each unexcuseo absence
from drill IT Is proposed To encour-
nge craftsmanship by providing for
adding certain percentage OF tho
above compensation 10 those soldiers
I'm the craftsmanship and shaIpshoot-
er class.
Qualifications for Promotion.
II Is proposed TO do away entirely
with the present system Of electing
officers above the grade OF second lieu,
tenant. an promotions 90 be governed
by seniority and the fitness OF the can.
dldnte The existing law empowers
the governor 20 appoint tho brirndier
general from among The officers anove
a. ---s- -l.-s- sNN Aiu =.
,ae IanN oi cap.ain .nv ne" s.-- go
vides that this selection shall be made
by the governor from among the colo.
nels OF the brigade. Even second lieu
tenants will no longer be elected II
this bill becomes o law, but viii be
chosen by competitive examination.
Provision IL made FOR nh Inspector
OF small arms and rife practice. such
Inspector 10 rank as major and 10 have
full supervision OF state ranges and
ammunition.
The present rate OF cents per cap.
TIA creates fund Of $4,000 per year
FOR the support Of the military estab.
lIshment II r. proposed to Increase
the rate 10 G cents per capita. thereby
/ Increasing The annual revenue 10 Si5l..
600.
Chair.Maklng M ionie.
Following the decision OF The su.
preme court that the brooni-makng IN.
dustry az Jackson is being carried on
IN contravcntlon of the convict labor
! provision OF the state constitution. an
attack has been made on the reed chair
industry az the Ionia reformatory The
dcfcnse is that this industry does not
conflict with any community the chief
supply 81 which Is manufactured In
Michigan Warden Fuller states In
his annual report. just issued. that this
contract Is the most satisfactory one
ever entered into NJ the Ionia prison
10 gives employment 10 822 prisoners
whose services yield the state 5000
per month In addition 20 this the
convicts. by accomplishing more than
the prescribed tasks. are enabled 20
earn 5000 per month on their own ac
count In many instances this latter
earning goes 10 help support families
~ home thus not only encouraging
thrift. but greatly benehtlng wives.
mothers ana children 81 convicts IN
their hard struggle FOR existence dur.
Ing the enforced absence ~ the prin.
clpai wage Garner Of the family.
Pays $50, 900 for Free Labor.
Attention y called by Warden Fuller
10 tho fact that. In addition 90 what u
rays the state and the conyicts the
chair contract pays $4,000 annually
FOR free labor in Ionla. not taking into
account large sums paid for free labor
that enters into materials procured
away from the city. II Il figured by
the warden that this contract pays 70
Michigan free labor, either directly or
indirectly, fully $4,000 per year, and
he contends that this more than com
pensates free labor for the alleged IN
Jury done the 100 persons employed In