The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-31
MAJOR RuRNS
,fAlcH Is CONSIDERED WORTHY
or SPECIAL ATTENTION =
TRAINING or OFFICERS.
The Agricultural Colleges Would BE
Good places for This Work.
Mai. Burns Has Long E#e-
rienee in Guard Affairs

navy Register ana EeleES " tAS go
nual report of Major James N. Burns.
U. s. Army. now on duty with the Ma
ttonaI Guard Of this State:
Major J. NJ. Burns. u. s. Army, re-
tiEed. on duty with the West Virginia
militia, has made an important recon-
mepdation to the effect that the agri-
cultural colleges, which are partly sup
ported by the proceeds of concession
al land grants, course OF study be
adopted with "a view to the training
of officers OF the organized militia.
The suggestion is considered as one
entitled to special attention, but all
that the War Department can do in
this matter would be to present the
advantages of such course in train
ing to the governors OF the various
States. Each State Legislature must
be relied on to take such action as
would be OF advantage to the national
guard. It has also been suggested
by Major Burns that officers Of the
organized militia of any State or ter
ritory be allowed to attend and pursue
course OF study at any agricultural
college where an officer of the army
is stationed as professor of military
science: and that, during such at
tendance. they be authorized to re-
ceivc from the annual appropriations
for the support of the army the same
travelling allowance. quarters, etc.
to which an officer of the regular army
is entitled under the same circnmstan-
ces together with Communication Of sub
sistence. etc. 1t is not probable, how
ever. that the existing law Is sun
ciently broad to include course OF
study of this sort
The Dick bill. which was approved
January 81. 1908, provides THAT when
ever any officer OF the organized mills
tia shall, upon the recommendation of
the governor of any State, territory
or general commanding the District Of
Columbia. and when authorized by the
President. attend and pursue regu-
lar course of study at any military
school or college of the United States
such officer shall receive from the an
nual appropriation for the support Of
the army the same travel allowances
and quarters. or Communication Of quar-
tiers, to which an officer of the regu-
Tar army would be entitled II attend
ing such school or college under OF.
ders from proper military authority.
and shall also receive continuation
of subsistence at the rate of one dol.
lar per day while In actual attend.
ance upon the course of instruction"
(These allowances would amount to
about $50 per month for captains AMI
lieutenants.) Major Burns holds that
as the agricultural colleges In the diff.
ferent States are partly supported BY
the government and that the law re.
quires that military science be taught
in each of these Institutions an Officer
of the U. S. Army is detailed as Pro.
fessor of Military Science, they should
be considered as military schools or
colleges of the United States, within
the meaning of the Dick bill, and IL
the present law will not permit OF
such construction. then 1t should be
changed so as to include these insti,
tutions and that the officer detailed
ms Professor of Military Science be
instructed to offer free OF charge a
six months course. such as is usually
given at military posts, to all officers
OF the National Guard of the State in
which they are located and who pre-.
sent themselves under proper orders.
Upon the completion of the courses
and after passing satisfactory eX-
animation the officer in charge should
give certificate of graduation, which
would entitle the holder to be muster
ed into the U. S. volunteers, without
further mental examination in case
his services were required by the gov
eminent.
1t might be argued that such
course would be very expensive to the
government, which is true. but when
we consider the great benefits to be
derived from such an expenditure 1t
would be remarkably cheap. There
are in the National Guard OF the DIFF
ferent states about Ave thousand COM
pany officers and to give each of them
the course recommended the cost
would be about $25O.OOO, and there
after the cost would only be few
thousand each year. Major Burns
has had large experience in National
Guard affairs. He was the first off,
Ger of the army ever detailed for du-
ty with the National Guard. He was
on the staff of Governor Campbell, Of
Ohio. in 1890 and rendered valuable
service to the guard of that State, and
in 1897 he was again detailed on thu
stan of Governor Bushnell. of tho
game State Major Rurns' first mil.