Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-03
Amendment to Dick Bill
Now Before Congress
Means Much TO Siaies and to
the National Guard.
National Boiler Washing Co. In.
creases Capital Stock.

A matter which is attracting the at
tention of the military men Of the
state is Il bill which was introduced
in the United States Senate Jan. %,
and after having had two readings was
referred 10 the committee on military
affairs. This bill provides for various
amendments to the Dick bill, So
called, which was approved Jan. u,
1903, and was entitled AN Act to
Promote the Efficiency of the Militia
and for other purposes and if given a
passage means a great deal to the Ma
tlonal Guard of every state of the
Union, and TO the states which MAIN
tam the Guard. BY the provisions of
the act the Guard is constituted what
may rightly be called reserve regu-
lar army of the United States. Copies
Of the bill have been received at the
office Of the adjutant general.
A notable amendment included in
the new bill is that of Section :. Under
the existing law the President can call
forth the militia only for Il period of
nine months, but by the amendment a
the above section he can issue the
call for any specified period. The sec
sec. ;. That whenever the Presi-
dent calls forth the organized militia
Of any state, territory or of the Dis
trict of Columbia. to be employed in
the service Of the United States. he
may specify in his call the period for
which such service is required, and the
militia so called shall continue to
serve during the term SO specified,
either within or without the territory
of the United States, unless sooner re-
icved by order of the President; pro-
ViGcd, that no commissioned officer or
enlisted man Of the organized militia
shall be held to service beyond the
term of his existing commission or en-
hstment; provided further. that when
tie military needs of the federal gov
eminent arising from the necessity to
execute the laws of the Union, sup
press inSurrection or repel INVASION
cannot be met by the regular forces,
the organized militia shall be called
into the service of the United States
in advance of any other volunteer
force which it may be determined to
raise
TIE amendment of Section . Of the
bill does away with the medical exam
nation such as was required at the
time of the Spanish War, and also
with the DELAY which such an examir-
alton necessities The amended sec
lion says:
N"Sec 7. That every officer and en-
listed man Of the militia who shall b
called forth in the manner hereinbc-
fore prescribed, shall be mustered for
,,-;tI fin
without further medical examination
previous to such muster. except for
those states and territories which have
not adopted the standard of medical
examination prescribed for the regular
army; provided, however. that any Of
ficer or enlisted man of the militia
who shall refuse or neglect to present
himself for such muster. upon being
called forth as herein prescribed, snail
he subject to trial by court-martial
and shall be punished as such court
martial shall direct.
Another important amendment to
thc bill is that of Section Is. which
as amended reads as follows:
Sec. Is. That the secretary of war
is hereby authorized to procure ana
isSua from time to time to the organ
lied militia. under such regulations as
he may prescribe. such number of the
I-nIted States service arms, together
with all the accessories and such 9TH
er accouterments, equipments. uni
forms. clothing. equipage and military
stores of all kinds required for the
army of the United States, as are ne
ceSsary to arm, uniform and equip all
OF the organized militia in the severai
states. territories. and the District of
Columbia, in accordance with the re-
uuireinents of this act. without charg-
ing the cost or value thereof. or any
exnense connected herewith, against
the allotment of said state. territory
ar the District of Columbia. out OF
the annual appropriation provided by
Section 1861 of the Revised statutes as
amended, or requiring payment there
for. and to exchange, without receN-
ing any money credit therefor, am
munition or parts thereof sultaDle u
the new arms, round for rouhu' lo'
corresponding ammunition suitable for
the old arms heretofore issued to sat'
state. territory or to the District OF
columbia by the United States; pro-
yided. that said property shall remain
the property Oh the oiiltSo p'">'
cent as hereinafter provided, ana ps
annually accounted for by the Cover
nors of the states and territories IL
required by law. and that each state
territory and the District of Coiumbia
shall, on receipt of new arms or equip
mentsNturn in to the war department
or otherwise dispose of in accoroahct
with the directions of the secretary OIL
war. without receiving any money
credit therefor and without expense
for transportation, ali United States
property SO replaced or condemne3
When the organized militia is uniform
ed as above required, the secretary oil
war is authorized to fix an annual
clothing allowance to each state, ter
ritory and the District of Columbia
for each enlisted man of the organized
militia thereof and thereafter issues OF
clothing to such states, territories and
the District of Columbia shall be in
accordance with such allowance, and
the governor thereof shall be author
hi