Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-18
Committee of Militia Officers
Acts Under New Law.
SUBMITS Recommendation
Accompanies Suggestion by State
ment of Reasons.
BENEFITS NATIONAL GUARD
Answers to Board Questions of Gen.
eral Policy Observation-Disclosures
of Members Present.

At a meeting Of the national militia
board late yesterday I'm the offices Of
the division OF military affairs Of the War
Department a number OF recommends.
tons were made to the assistant secre-
tary of War. under section OF the War
Department orders for the guidance OF
the board
Brig Gen James A. Drain. chief OF
ordnance OF the state Of Washington. and
president OF the board. presided. Col
II. NJ. Weaver. chief OF the division OF
military affairs of the War Department.
was the secretary OF the meeting.
In response to questions the board
made certain recommendations. with tho
reasons therefor. substantially as follows:
That the organized militia cannot DO
fully equipped for field service for the
sum Of S2.VD00O0: that the process OF
equipment must be carried on for a period
OF two years before II can be completed:
that for the fiscal year beginning July
issues under the law be made pro rata
upon a basis of the organized enlisted
strength Of the militia shown by the
inspection reports Of the United States
officers for 1905: that the methods fol-
lowed in making and filling acquisitions.
as well as the forms thereof shall corre-
spOnd as nearly as possible to the methods
followed and forms used in furnishing
supplies for the regular troops: that al
acquisitions be transmitted through the
chief of the division Of militia affairs. and
action thereon by lie War Department
be addressed to the adjutants general OF
states, territories and the District of CO.
lumbia and sent through the chief Of the
division of militia affairs.
Clothing Allowance Per Man.
That the clothing allowance be
$3.50 Is FER man per year: that 1t shall
go into effect when. In the opinion OF the
Secretary OF War. the provisions of the
law relative to the subject have beea
carried out that the method OF comput-
ing ii shall be based on the report of the
organized enlisted strength Of the militia
as shown by the last inspection reports
Of the United States officers: that the
clothing allowance shall be available 10
arm, uniform and equip the organized
militia for field service. IL all is not re-
Qufred In any given year; that an ap-
portionment Of 2J per cent OF the oorre-
spending regular army ammunition al
lowance be issued the states, territories
and the District OF Columbia according
to their organized enlisted strength, as
shown by tie last inspection reports Of
United States officers. and an additional
Is FER cent upon showing satisfactory
viOus issue has BEEN judciously expended.
That the Issue referred to In the letter
from Gen. Bird w. Spencer. submitted
by the assistant Secretary of War. be not
made from the sum available under the
provisions OF the act approved May "a,
1905; the issue OF a uniform decoration
for classification under special course C
by the individuals qualifying Hereunder
District OF Columbia, the cost and manu-
facture of such issue to be charged to
the allotment of the states under the pro-
visions Of section 1851. Revised Statutes,
as amended. and that. to such OF the
states as may allow their men to qualify
under the regular army course. decora-
tons for such qualification be issued to
the states in similar manner.
Order Of Precedence.
THAT the l24th Article OF War b
amended SO as to place the order OF
precedence. regardless of the date OF
commission. as follows: Regular. militia.
volunteer. instead Of as now provided.
namely. regular. volunteer. militia
That the articles OF clothing to be al.
lowed under the clothing allowance shall
be those included in the annual allow.
ance to the regular service with the ex.
ception Of articles pertaining to or con-
stituting a part OF the dress and full dress
uniforms. but including ponchos: that. for
the purpose OF allowing tn, states to make
immediate acquisitions for stores. under
the provisions Of the act OF May % 1905,
a safe maximum TO be fixed by the Secre-
tary of War is Sl3 per man Of the or
ganized enlisted strength. as shown by the
last reports OF the United States officers,
and that in future inspections OF the mill.
tia by the United States members of or
Of a state who are temporarily
M hall f.s.-
attached, by competent authority to other
organizations of the same state for in
spection.
In conclusion the following statement 10
made:
The board rallies the Importance OF
the work which has been assigned to IL,
and 1t has attempted at this meeting
only to consider the definite questions
10 il by the Secretary of War
and some minor questions which were
raised at the meeting by the members.
On the broad questions Of general policy
involved in the execution of the act OF
May %. 1903, the beard does not yet feel
that IL Is fully qualified TO Offer recon-
or suggestions. The ques-
tons to be consider. d are OF such mag
n tude that 1t desires to be more fully ad.
vised before making recommendations
along the lines Of general policy"
Names of Members Present.
The report is signed by James A. Drain,
brigadier general. chief OF ordnance. state
Of Washington. presden;: Oran Perry,
brigadier general. adjutant general. state
Of Indiana. member: Nelson H. Henry,
brigsdier general. adjutant general. state
Of New York. member: Bibb Graves.
br gadier general adjutant general. state
Of Alabama. member. and c. r. Board
man. brigadier general adjutant general
state of Wisconsin. member.
GARFIELD AT HONOLULU.